Calling the Disciples

National Curriculum Objectives

Religious Education (EYFS & KS1):

EYFS: Use religious stories to explore beliefs and values appropriate to Christianity (Understanding Christianity – "Salvation" unit).
KS1: Retell and suggest meanings of some Bible stories, including those about Jesus (RE curriculum from Derbyshire SACRE / Cumbria Agreed Syllabus).
Explore how Christians show that they belong to a church family, focusing on Jesus’ special friends (disciples).

Learning Objectives ("I can" statements)

I can listen to and retell the story of Jesus calling his disciples.
I can understand why Jesus chose special friends to help him.
I can use role-play to express parts of the story.
I can respond to the story by sharing my ideas about friendship and helping others.

Success Criteria

I listen carefully to the story and join in with retelling.
I use the fishing net prop to show the story’s key moments.
I express ideas about friendship linked to the disciples.
I remain engaged during group and independent activities.

Resources

Bible or storybook version of Luke 5:1–11, 27–28 (age-appropriate language)
A real or toy fishing net
Simple costume pieces (e.g., hats or scarves) for role-play
Large paper and crayons or pens for drawing
Visual story sequencing cards
Soft ball (for an optional warm-up game)

Lesson Structure (30 minutes)

1. Introduction & Engagement (5 minutes)

Welcome children and briefly recall previous lesson (Lesson 2: Why Jesus Was Special).
Use a soft ball to play a quick name and ‘catch’ game: toss the ball and say your name and something you like about a friend or family member. This engages children and introduces the theme of friendship.
Introduce the fishing net prop, showing it to the children with excitement: “Today we will hear about Jesus calling his special friends – his disciples.”

2. Storytelling with Prop Interaction (10 minutes)

Gather children in a circle, hold up the book or Bible and read the story of Luke 5:1-11, 27-28 in a lively but clear voice.
Pause to show the lake and fishing net prop: “Jesus told the fishermen to put their nets down again.” Invite children to gently cast the net or pretend to fish, deepening kinaesthetic understanding.
Emphasise Simon Peter’s surprise and the idea that Jesus chose the disciples because they were special helpers.
Retell the calling of Levi (Matthew) with children miming “getting up and following,” reinforcing the idea of leaving old work to follow Jesus.

3. Role-play Drama Activity (8 minutes)

Assign simple roles: Jesus, fishermen, Levi, and narrators (depending on children’s confidence). Support SEN learners with one-to-one help or paired work.
Let children use costume pieces and the net to act out the story in small groups. Help prompt dialogue such as “Come and follow me!” and “We will follow you, Jesus!”
Encourage children to think about why the disciples followed Jesus — as friends who wanted to help.
Use positive reinforcement and open questions (“How do you think Peter felt? Why did Jesus want friends?”) to deepen understanding.

4. Reflection and Creative Response (5 minutes)

Bring children together and talk about friendship: “Jesus called friends to help him. Who are your special friends? How can you help each other?”
EYFS differentiation: children draw their special friend or a picture of fishing and Jesus.
KS1 differentiation: children write a simple sentence or caption about the story or friendship (e.g., “Jesus called friends to follow him”).
Encourage sharing if comfortable, with praise for effort and ideas.

5. Plenary and Assessment (2 minutes)

Recap the story briefly using the visual sequence cards.
Ask children to show a thumbs up/down/sideways to say if they understood the story and why Jesus chose his friends.
Summarise: “Jesus chose the disciples so they could help him teach and do good. We can all be friends who help.”

Differentiation Strategies

Use clear, simple language and visual props to support understanding.
Pair SEN and less confident children with peers or adults during drama.
Provide extra sentence starters for writing or drawing for children with fine motor or language needs.
EYFS children focus mainly on listening, drawing, and imitation; KS1 children extend to writing and deeper reflection.

Extension Activities for Advanced Learners

Create a “Disciples’ Promise” poster; write or draw ways to be a good friend and helper, linking to the disciples’ role.
Encourage children to find other stories where Jesus chooses helpers, comparing similarities.
Older KS1 write a short diary entry imagining they are a disciple and how they felt being called by Jesus.

Outdoor / Continuous Provision Suggestions

Set up a “Fishing for Friends” role-play area with nets and costumes.
Outdoor creative area: paint or collage the fishing scene or disciples.
Friendship circle games to practice helping and sharing skills.

Teacher Reflection (for ongoing development)

Did children engage well with the prop and drama?
Which children needed additional support with the language or role-play, and how well did differentiation work?
What questions sparked the most curiosity or discussion?
Plan follow-up based on interests expressed, e.g., more on friendship or Bible stories about Jesus’ helpers.

This detailed, interactive lesson reflects the National Curriculum’s aims for early RE, focuses on narrative and empathy, and supports mixed-age and mixed-ability groups in a nurturing, rural C of E primary school setting.