The Easter Story

Lesson Overview

Subject: Religious Education
Year Group: Year 3
Unit: Easter Stories Unveiled (Lesson 3 of 6)
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 30 students

Curriculum Links

This lesson aligns with the Religious Education Curriculum Framework for England, particularly within:

• Key Stage 2 (Lower)
  • Learning about Religion: Understanding key aspects of Christianity, including beliefs, teachings, and significant stories.
  • Learning from Religion: Reflecting on emotions, values, and moral lessons from religious stories.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand the sequence of key events in the Easter story.
• Identify significant moments leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
• Discuss the emotions and perspectives of different characters in the story.

Key Vocabulary

• Crucifixion
• Resurrection
• Disciples
• Betrayal
• Forgiveness
• Hope

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Lesson Structure

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – Mystery Clues

1. Display five picture clues on the board (e.g., a palm leaf, a loaf of bread, a cross, a tomb, and a sunrise).
2. Ask students: What do these objects have in common? What story could they be from?
3. Encourage paired discussion for two minutes before gathering responses.
4. Reveal the lesson focus: We are going to explore the key events in the Easter story!

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Main Teaching (15 minutes) – The Easter Story Unfolded

1. Engaging Narrative:
   • Read a simplified yet vivid retelling of the Easter story, covering:
     • Palm Sunday (Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem)
     • The Last Supper
     • Judas’ Betrayal
     • Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion
     • The Empty Tomb and Resurrection
   • Use expressive storytelling and invite students to close their eyes and imagine they are witnessing these events.
2. Character Focus Discussion:
   • Pause at key moments and ask: How might Jesus, the disciples, and the crowds have felt?
   • Relate feelings to students’ experiences (e.g., betrayal – feeling let down by a friend).
3. Quickfire Quiz (Call and Response Format)
   • "Who betrayed Jesus?" (Judas!)
   • "What meal did Jesus share with his disciples?" (The Last Supper!)
   • "What happened to the tomb on Easter Sunday?" (It was empty!)

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Activity (20 minutes) – Storyboard Challenge

1. Task Introduction:
   • Pairs will create a six-box storyboard depicting key moments from the Easter story.
   • Each image must be labelled with a short explanation.
2. Differentiation:
   • For emerging writers: Provide sentence starters.
   • For confident writers: Encourage deeper reflections.
3. Plenary Showcase (5 minutes)
   • Invite 2-3 pairs to share their storyboard with the class.

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Plenary (10 minutes) – Silent Reflection & Discussion

1. Reflection Time (2 minutes of quiet individual thought)
   • Ask: What part of the Easter story stood out to you the most and why?
2. Pair & Share (3 minutes in partners)
   • Discuss feelings and thoughts about the story.
3. Final Whole-Class Reflection (5 minutes)
   • Consider deeper themes: What does this story teach Christians about hope and forgiveness?

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observing participation in discussions.
• Reviewing storyboard detail and explanations.
• Listening to reflections in the plenary to assess depth of understanding.

Resources Needed

• Picture clues for starter activity.
• A printed Easter story narrative OR an illustrated storybook.
• A3 storyboard templates.
• Coloured pencils/paper.

Differentiation & Inclusion

• Written scaffolds for students needing support.
• Verbal storytelling support for EAL students.
• Encouragement of creative responses for visual learners.

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Homework/Extension

• Optional Task: Ask students to write a diary entry as a witness to one event in the Easter story. How would they feel? What would they see?

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Teacher Reflection (Post-Lesson Notes)

• Were students engaged with the narrative?
• Did they grasp the sequence of events?
• How well did the storyboard activity reinforce learning?

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Teacher’s WOW Moment!

This lesson immerses students in the emotion and meaning of the Easter story, encouraging active listening, visual storytelling, and personal reflection—a highly engaging way to bring Religious Education to life!