Forgiveness and Responsibility

Overview

A 50-minute lesson designed for Year 6 students to explore the story of the Prodigal Son in Religious Education. This lesson connects deeply with the New Zealand Curriculum’s values, key competencies, and aligns with the curriculum’s emphasis on emotional and social development through engaging storytelling, discussion, role-play, and reflection.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand the key elements and moral lessons of the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
• Explore the concepts of forgiveness, responsibility, and empathy.
• Express how different characters might have felt at significant moments in the story.
• Collaborate effectively in small groups to role-play characters.
• Reflect personally on the themes of forgiveness and responsibility.

Curriculum Links

• Religious Education strand (implied within the Social Sciences and The Arts): Understanding diverse beliefs and values, and their impact on individuals and communities.

• Key Competencies:

  • Relating to others — Empathy and negotiation in role-play.
  • Participating and contributing — Collaborative activities and sharing reflections.
  • Thinking — Considering different perspectives and ethical reasoning around forgiveness and responsibility.
  • Using language, symbols and texts — Engaging with story texts and verbal expression during role-play and discussion.

• Values (New Zealand Curriculum p.10): Encouraging Respect, Integrity, Humility, and Empathy.

• Phase 2 (Years 4-6) Critical Focus: "Expanding horizons of knowledge, and collaboration".

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Lesson Plan

Duration: 50 minutes

Class Size: 27 students

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Materials

• Prodigal Son story text (simplified version appropriate for Year 6).
• Role-play cue cards for each character (Prodigal Son, Father, Older Brother, Servants).
• Reflection worksheet (provided below).
• Whiteboard/flipchart markers.

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Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Description
5 mins	Introduction	Begin with a brief overview of the story of the Prodigal Son. Ask students if they have heard it before and what they think it might be about.
10 mins	Story Reading and Discussion	Read the story aloud together, pausing at key moments (e.g., the son's departure, spending money, returning home, father welcoming him, older brother's reaction). Use questions to prompt understanding and feelings (“How do you think the son felt now?”).
15 mins	Role-Play in Small Groups	Divide students into 6 groups (4-5 students each). Assign roles in the story and give cue cards. Students rehearse and then perform short role-plays showing key moments from the story, focusing on feelings and reactions of each character.
10 mins	Sharing and Empathy Discussion	Groups share performances. Facilitate whole-class discussion on how each character might have felt, encouraging use of empathy and linking to real-life situations where forgiveness and responsibility matter.
8 mins	Reflection Worksheet	Students complete an individual worksheet with prompts about forgiveness and responsibility, linking story insights to their own experiences and values.
2 mins	Conclusion	Summarise key lesson points, emphasising forgiveness and moral responsibility. Encourage students to think about how forgiveness can change situations for the better.

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Reflection Worksheet

Name: _____________

1. Who was your favourite character in the story? Why?

2. How do you think the Prodigal Son felt when he left home? How did he feel when he returned? Write two sentences.

3. What do you think the Father was feeling when his son came back?

4. How did the Older Brother feel? What might he have done differently?

5. What does this story teach us about forgiveness?

6. Can you think of a time when you or someone else showed responsibility or forgiveness? Write about it.

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Teacher Notes

• Use clear, age-appropriate language consistent with the English curriculum advice for Year 6 students, helping them understand abstract concepts like forgiveness and responsibility through concrete examples in the story .
• Encourage respectful listening during role-play. Remind students to think about feelings behind actions.
• Support groups with prompts to ensure inclusion, managing different learning needs.
• Connect the story values to New Zealand’s cultural context where appropriate – for example, referencing the importance of whanaungatanga (relationships) and manaakitanga (kindness and caring for others) as part of exploring forgiveness and responsibility.
• Assess students informally based on participation, understanding shown in role-play, discussion, and their reflections on the worksheet.

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Alignment Summary

Curriculum Aspect	Alignment Detail
Values	Respect, Integrity, Empathy in story themes
Key Competencies	Relating to Others, Participating and Contributing, Thinking, Using Language and Texts
Learning Area	Religious Education concepts through story, Social Sciences, The Arts (Drama & Discussion)
Year Level Focus	Phase 2 critical focus on expanding knowledge, collaboration, and broadening perspectives
Skills Developed	Oral language, empathy, role-play, critical reflection, comprehension of abstract ideas

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This lesson offers a rich, multi-modal learning experience where students engage cognitively, emotionally, and socially, fulfilling the New Zealand Curriculum’s aspiration to develop confident, connected, and responsible learners who understand diverse worldviews and moral values .

If you would like, I can also provide a printable format of the worksheet or further adaptations!