Loving Father

Introduction

Year Level: Year 3
Class Size: 25 students
Duration: 45 minutes
Unit: Understanding the Holy Trinity
Lesson 1 Title: Introduction to God

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Context and Curriculum Alignment

This lesson is designed in alignment with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh and the focus for Years 0-3 within the learning area of Religious Education. It carefully incorporates the development of key competencies such as Relating to Others, Managing Self, and Using Language, Symbols, and Texts.

Curriculum references:

• Learning Area Intent: Encouraging students to explore questions about beliefs and values, recognising the spiritual dimension of life (aligned with curriculum principles).
• Phase 1 (Years 0–3) Critical Focus: Children thriving in supportive environments, learning about themselves and others, and developing oral language to express ideas and understandings.
• Key Competencies:
  • Relating to others: Engage in respectful conversations and active listening about beliefs.
  • Using language, symbols and texts: Communicate ideas about God through oral language and visual representation.
  • Managing self: Show curiosity and willingness to ponder concepts related to faith.

This lesson embeds explicit teaching, interactive discussion, and the use of visual and tactile resources to ensure accessibility and engagement for all learners, supported by inclusive practices from the curriculum refresh guidance, .

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Learning Outcomes

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

1. Describe God as a loving Father in a simple and personal way.
2. Understand that God cares for people and the world.
3. Share ideas about how God’s love can be seen in families, nature, and their own lives.
4. Participate in respectful group discussions and creative activities expressing their understanding.

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Resources Needed

• Storybook or illustrated visual showing God as a loving Father (simple, age-appropriate)
• Large paper and colours for drawing
• Hands-on object/activity props (e.g., pictures of families, nature visuals)
• A short, simple song or prayer about God’s love to conclude
• Reflection prompt cards with simple questions

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Lesson Outline (45 minutes)

1. Welcome and Settling (5 minutes)

• Begin with a calm breathing activity to create focus and a sense of belonging — this supports emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn .
• Briefly introduce the lesson concept: “Today we will learn about God and how God cares for us like a loving Father.”

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2. Engage: Story and Discussion (10 minutes)

• Read a short story or show a picture book that illustrates God as a loving Father who cares for children and the world.
• Pause to ask questions like:
  • “How do you think God shows love?”
  • “Can you think of ways your family shows love like this?”
• Use turn-taking and encourage all voices, modelling respectful listening and valuing all contributions .

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3. Explore: Hands-On Activity (15 minutes)

• In small groups or pairs, provide sets of images (families, nature scenes, helping hands) and ask students to talk about how these show God’s love as a Father.
• Students create a group collage on large paper representing “God’s Love”
• Teacher circulates, prompting deeper thinking with questions and supporting vocabulary around love, care, kindness.

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4. Express: Creative Drawing and Sharing (10 minutes)

• Students individually draw a picture of what a loving Father (God) means to them — it could be a person, a heart, a home, or nature.
• Invite volunteers to share their drawings and explain their ideas in simple terms.
• Encourage positive feedback from peers to build confidence and community.

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5. Reflect and Close (5 minutes)

• Gather as a class for a short, simple song or prayer about God’s love (e.g., "God’s love is big, God’s love is strong") or spoken reflection.
• Highlight learning by revisiting the idea that God is like a loving Father and cares for each person uniquely.
• Use a quick “exit ticket” where students say or whisper one word that shows what they learnt about God today.

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Assessment for Learning

• Formative ongoing assessment through observing:
  • Participation and engagement in discussions and activities.
  • Use of language related to God’s love and care.
  • Ability to express simple ideas about God as a loving Father.
• Use observations to scaffold future lessons in the unit and tailor support to individual needs .

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Teaching Considerations

• Use flexible grouping to support varied learning needs and encourage collaborative learning .
• Incorporate multiple modes of expression (oral, visual, kinesthetic) respecting cultural diversity including Māori views on spirituality as part of a comprehensive programme.
• Acknowledge student prior knowledge and connect learning to their own lives and families .

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Follow-Up

• Next lessons in the unit will explore the Trinity concepts of the Son and the Holy Spirit.
• Encourage students to notice signs of love in their daily life and bring stories or examples to share.

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This lesson plan is crafted to nurture spirituality and understanding in line with the values and competencies of the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, offering teachers a detailed, practical, and inclusive framework for engaging Year 3 learners in Religious Education.

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If you would like, I can also provide suggestions for the subsequent lessons in the "Understanding the Holy Trinity" unit with similar curriculum alignment and depth.