Bringing Easter to Life

Lesson Overview

• Year Group: Year 3
• Subject: Religious Education
• Lesson Number: 5 of 6 in Easter Stories Unveiled
• Duration: 60 minutes
• Curriculum Area: Religious Education – Christianity (The Easter Story)
• UK National Curriculum Link:
  • Key Stage 2 RE – "Exploring religious stories and their significance to believers"
  • **Students should explore Christian beliefs associated with Easter and express their understanding through creative storytelling."

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Retell key events of the Easter story through drama and role play.
2. Recognise the significance of key figures such as Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the disciples.
3. Express emotions and perspectives of different characters.
4. Work collaboratively to produce a short dramatic piece.

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Resources Needed

• Story summary sheets (featuring the Easter story in simple language)
• Role cards (Jesus, disciples, Mary Magdalene, Roman soldiers, crowd members, etc.)
• Simple props (e.g., fabric for robes, small wooden crosses, palm leaves)
• Blank paper and pencils for planning scenes
• Small whiteboard/flip chart for key points

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (10 minutes) – Easter in Five

• Think-Pair-Share:

  • Display five key moments from the Easter story on the board (e.g., Palm Sunday, The Last Supper, Crucifixion, The Empty Tomb, Jesus Appears to the Disciples).
  • Ask pupils to discuss in pairs: What do you already know about each event?
  • Gather responses as a class and briefly clarify any misconceptions.

• Hook Question:

  • How do you think the people involved in the Easter story felt at the time?
  • Explain that today, they will step into these characters' shoes and act out the events to bring them to life!

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2. Main Activity (40 minutes) – Drama and Role Play

Step 1: Assigning Roles (10 minutes)

• Divide students into groups of six.
• Hand out role cards that include brief descriptions of the characters.
• Each group will focus on one key moment from the Easter story.

Step 2: Planning the Performance (10 minutes)

• Ask groups to take 5 minutes to plan their scene:
  • Who is in this event?
  • What emotions are felt? (Fear, joy, sorrow, confusion)
  • What actions take place?
• Encourage creativity: students can add simple dialogue, movements, or facial expressions to enhance storytelling.

Step 3: Rehearsal (5 minutes)

• Groups practise their short re-enactment.
• Teacher circulates to support groups, ensuring key messages from the Easter story remain clear.

Step 4: Performances (15 minutes)

• Each group performs their scene for the class.
• After each performance, pause for a 30-second reflection:
  • What moment stood out the most and why?
  • What emotions were clearly shown?

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3. Plenary (10 minutes) – Reflection on Emotions & Meaning

• Gather all students in a circle.
• Pose the question:
  • If you were one of these characters, what would you have thought and felt?
• Ask students to close their eyes for a moment and visualise being part of the Easter story.
• Final Reflection Activity:
  • Each student shares one word that summarises the Easter story’s impact (e.g., "hope", "forgiveness", "faith", etc.).
  • Write responses on the board as a closing thought.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Support for lower ability:
  • Provide key phrases or dialogue suggestions for role play.
  • Assign narrator roles for those hesitant to perform.
• Challenge for higher ability:
  • Encourage deeper questioning in their performances (How does Judas feel? What does Peter think after denying Jesus?).
  • Allow them to direct/lead their group’s scene.

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Assessment for Learning

✔ Observation during role play – are students engaging and expressing character emotions?
✔ Discussion participation – can they explain events and emotions of key figures?
✔ Plenary reflection – do students connect with the deeper themes of the story?

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Teacher's Final Thought

"By stepping into the shoes of those in the Easter story, we don’t just retell events – we feel them. Today, you've not only remembered the Easter story, but brought it to life!"

Next Lesson Preview:
Lesson 6 will focus on How Easter’s Message is Celebrated Today – we’ll explore modern Christian Easter traditions! 🌿🐣✨