Celebrating God

WALT (We Are Learning To)

Explore ways to celebrate God.

Success Criteria

• Students can list two ways to celebrate God.
• Students participate actively in group discussions.
• Students can verbally share their ideas clearly.

Curriculum Links

This lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh and the learning area of Religious Education for Year 1 students, focusing on:

• Understanding and exploring religious ideas and practices.
• Developing key competencies:
  • Relating to others through group discussions.
  • Participating and contributing by planning a class celebration.
  • Using language, symbols, and texts by expressing ideas about celebration.
• Encouraging values such as respect and empathy through understanding diverse ways to celebrate God.

Duration

30 minutes

Class Size

25 students

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Lesson Overview

This is lesson 10 of 13 in the unit "Growing Closer to God". The focus is on exploring and recognising ways to celebrate God in everyday life and special occasions. The lesson is designed to be interactive, inclusive, and mindful of diverse learners, with a dyslexia-friendly approach.

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Resources Needed

• Picture cards or images showing different ways people celebrate (singing, praying, sharing food, helping others, artwork, dancing).
• Chart paper and markers.
• Celebration ideas handout (dyslexia-friendly format, with images and simple text).
• Space for group sharing.
• Optional: Music related to celebrations or worship.

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Lesson Plan

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Teacher activity:
  • Welcome students warmly, recap briefly what they have learned in previous lessons about God and growing closer to God.
  • Introduce today's focus: "Today we are going to explore ways to celebrate God."
  • Use simple language and clear visuals.
• Student activity:
  • Listen and think about celebrations they know or have experienced (e.g., birthdays, cultural festivals, church services).

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2. Group Discussion (10 minutes)

• Teacher activity:
  • Show picture cards/images of different celebrations (singing songs, praying, sharing food, helping others, making artwork, dancing).
  • Ask guiding questions:
    • "What is happening in this picture?"
    • "How might this be a way to celebrate God?"
  • Organise class into 5 groups of 5 students.
  • Provide each group with 2-3 pictures and the dyslexia-friendly celebration ideas handout.
• Student activity:
  • Discuss in small groups what they see and think of other ways to celebrate God.
  • Assign a student in each group to share a key idea afterwards.
• Differentiation strategy:
  • Use visual supports and the handout with simple sentences and images to assist dyslexic students.
  • Group discussions support students needing social interaction or verbal processing time.

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3. Class Sharing (8 minutes)

• Teacher activity:
  • Invite group representatives to briefly share two ways their group thinks people celebrate God.
  • Write these on chart paper, creating a class list.
  • Acknowledge all contributions warmly.
• Student activity:
  • Listen actively and learn from others' ideas.
  • Ask or answer simple questions if they want to.

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4. Planning a Class Celebration (5 minutes)

• Teacher activity:
  • Explain the extension activity: "Next time, we will plan a special class celebration for God based on some ideas we have shared today."
  • Help children brainstorm simple ideas suitable for their age, such as singing a favourite song, making a thank-you card, or sharing a small food treat.
  • Emphasise cooperation, kindness, and fun.
• Student activity:
  • Offer ideas and preferences.
• Extension strategy:
  • Encourage more advanced learners to take leadership roles in planning the celebration.

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5. Closure and Reflection (2 minutes)

• Teacher activity:
  • Recap the success criteria: "Today we learned two ways to celebrate God. Can you remember one way you learned?"
  • Encourage volunteers to share briefly.
• Student activity:
  • Share one way they can celebrate God at home or in school.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment through observation of group discussions and sharing.
• Check that each student can name at least two ways to celebrate God by the end of the lesson.
• Monitor verbal contributions to gauge understanding and engagement.

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Additional Notes

• Ensure activities allow for movement and engagement appropriate for Year 1 attention spans.
• Use clear, positive language and culturally respectful content reflecting New Zealand’s diversity and bicultural heritage.
• Partner discussion and cooperative learning support key competencies: relating to others and participating and contributing.
• Provide a calm, supportive environment for all learners including those with dyslexia or other learning needs.

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This lesson plan respects and follows the principles, values, and key competencies highlighted in the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh to provide effective, engaging Religious Education for Year 1 learners.

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Referenced principles from the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh: Vision, Principles, Values, and Key Competencies pages; literacy and oral language development guidance from Te Mātaiaho English Curriculum Year 0–6; inclusive and differentiated teaching strategies