Moses Royal Rescue

Overview

In this 60-minute session with Year 2 students, we will explore the story of Moses being found by the Egyptian princess, focusing on themes of kindness, protection, and God's care. Students will engage in storytelling, discussion, and a creative collage art activity to reflect on these themes. This lesson is the first of a four-part unit titled "The Journey of Moses."

The lesson aligns with the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh, emphasising oral language development, values exploration, and key competencies, ensuring inclusivity for ESOL learners and cultural responsiveness to Aotearoa New Zealand perspectives.

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Curriculum Links

Learning Area: Religious Education

• Explore Christian traditions and stories with personal and cultural significance
• Recognise how stories express values like kindness and protection
• Develop understanding of how God’s care is shown in biblical stories

Key Competencies (NZ Curriculum, pages 12-13)

• Relating to Others: Show empathy and respect by understanding kindness and protection
• Using Language, Symbols, and Texts: Listen, respond to stories, and express ideas through art
• Participating and Contributing: Collaborate in shared storytelling and creative activities
• Thinking: Reflect on story themes and how they relate to students’ own experiences

Values (NZ Curriculum, page 10)

• Respect – For others' feelings and stories
• Kindness – Acting with care for others
• Contribution – Engaging in group activities

Oral Language Development

• Retell key story details with expression and clarity
• Use narrative language with sequence words (first, next, then)
• Develop comprehension by asking and answering story-related questions

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Listen to and retell the story of Moses being found by the Egyptian princess.
2. Identify and discuss the themes of kindness and protection in the story.
3. Express understanding of how God cares for people through story and art.
4. Create a visual collage representing the moment Moses was found, fostering creativity and symbolic thinking.

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Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Description	Supports/Resources
0-10 min	Welcome & Introduction	Begin with a discussion: "What does it mean to be kind and to protect someone?" Connect to students’ experiences (e.g. helping friends). Set lesson purpose linked to Moses story.	Visual prompts (photos/icons of kindness)
10-25 min	Storytelling & Comprehension	Read or tell the story of Moses as found by the Egyptian princess using expressive voice and visual aids (story images or puppets). Pause to explain new vocabulary and check understanding. Use gestures and repetition for ESOL learners. Highlight themes: kindness, protection, God’s care.	Storybook or simplified retelling script, puppets or pictures
25-35 min	Discussion & Reflection	Guide group discussion with questions like: "Why did the princess help Moses? How did she show kindness?" Connect to how God watches over us. Invite children to share stories of kindness they have seen or experienced.	Question prompts, empathy chart
35-55 min	Creative Collage Activity	Students create a collage depicting the moment Moses was found in the basket. Provide a variety of materials: paper, fabric, shiny paper, natural items (reflecting Aotearoa nature), glue. Encourage students to talk about their artwork and the emotions it shows.	Art supplies, examples of collages
55-60 min	Sharing & Closure	Invite students to share their collages and one thing they learnt about kindness or protection. Close with a simple reflective prayer or thought about God’s care.	Circle time seating

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Teaching Considerations

• Use simple, clear language with visual supports for ESOL learners.
• Encourage all students to contribute in ways they feel comfortable (verbally or non-verbally).
• Use culturally familiar examples and local Aotearoa connections where possible to reinforce understanding.
• Provide positive reinforcement and scaffold storytelling with a story map or sequencing cards.
• Incorporate movement or role-play to help embody story understanding for kinaesthetic learners.

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Assessment / Evidence of Learning

• Observation of student engagement in storytelling and discussion: able to retell main events and express ideas about kindness.
• Completed collage artwork illustrating key story moment creatively with symbolic elements.
• Student sharing articulates connections between story themes and personal experiences.

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Resources

• Visual story aids (illustrated storybook or digital images of Moses and Pharaoh’s daughter)
• Puppets or props to act out the story
• Art materials: coloured paper, glue, natural items, fabric scraps
• Question prompts and empathy chart for guided discussion

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Reflection for Future Lessons

• Build on this session with lessons about Moses’ journey in the wilderness and leadership themes.
• Continue integrating oral language development and expressive skills through storytelling and group activities.
• Support ongoing cultural responsiveness by connecting biblical stories to local values of protection and care, including Māori perspectives on guardianship (kaitiakitanga).

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This lesson blends the NZ Curriculum's foundation focus on literacy, values, and oral language development with Religious Education content to nurture Year 2 students' holistic learning and connection to story and self, especially within an ESOL-inclusive Christchurch independent school setting .