Overview

This lesson is the fourth in the unit "Easter Explorations: Love and Sacrifice" designed for Reception to Year 2 students at a small rural Church of England primary school in Cumbria. It aligns with the National Curriculum for England — Religious Education (RE) Key Stage 1 and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

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Learning Objectives (I Can Statements)

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• EYFS & KS1:
  • I can share personal or family Easter traditions. (EYFS: Communication and Language ELG / KS1: RE - Understanding Christianity units & Local Agreed Syllabus)
  • I can identify and describe simple Easter traditions from other countries. (KS1: RE national curriculum / Early Learning Goal – Understanding the World – People, Culture and Communities)
  • I can create a map marking countries and add drawings showing Easter celebrations. (EYFS: Expressive Arts and Design / KS1: Art & Design)

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National Curriculum Links

• Religious Education — Key Stage 1:
  Pupils learn about beliefs and practices of Christianity including Easter as a celebration of love and sacrifice. They begin to appreciate diversity within Christianity and other cultures, recognising Easter customs around the world.

• Understanding the World (EYFS):
  Understands similarities and differences in relation to places, objects, materials and living things. Shows interest in different cultures.

• Expressive Arts and Design (EYFS & KS1):
  Use materials creatively to express ideas about the world and people around them.

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Success Criteria

• I can say my family’s Easter tradition using simple sentences or sentence frames.
• I can place different Easter customs on a world map and add my own drawings.

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Resources Needed

• Large world map poster or floor map (age-appropriate, simple outline)
• Images/videos showing Easter traditions from countries such as: UK (egg hunts), Australia (Easter Bilby), Italy (scoppio del carro), Mexico (Paschal candle tradition), Ethiopia (Easter feasts)
• Sentence frame cards: "At Easter, my family ______________."
• Coloured pencils, crayons, and paper for drawing illustrations
• Sticky dots or pins to mark countries on the map
• Tablet/iPad or laptop for short video clips (optional)

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Lesson Structure (30 minutes)

1. Welcome and Engage (5 minutes)

• Brief intro: "Today we will explore how people around the world celebrate Easter."
• Ask a few children to share their family’s Easter tradition using sentence frames if needed. Model examples: "At Easter, my family … hunts for eggs."
• Use visual prompts to support speech for SEN and EAL learners.

2. Explore and Learn (10 minutes)

• Show a world map and explain that Easter is celebrated in many countries, but people celebrate it differently.
• Show pictures and short videos of 3-4 Easter traditions from different countries. Use simple language to explain each.
• For younger/EYFS learners, focus on one or two traditions with vivid images. For KS1, allow questions and short discussions.

3. Activity - Creative Mapping (10 minutes)

• Give each child a paper or small printed map outline to colour or use a class world map on display.
• Ask children to place a sticker or draw on the country where each tradition comes from.
• Children then draw or colour a representation of the Easter tradition next to the country.
• Support SEN by pairing with a peer or adult helper; provide drawing templates or exemplars.

4. Share and Reflect (5 minutes)

• Invite children to show their drawings and explain an Easter tradition they’ve learned about or share again their own family tradition.
• Use sentence frames to scaffold spoken responses and encourage listening to peers.

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Differentiation Strategies

Learner Type	Strategies
SEN	Use sentence starters, visual aids, peer support, and adult modelling in small groups.
EAL	Provide vocabulary cards with pictures; allow responses in first language if needed.
EYFS	Focus on sensory, visual stimuli with fewer spoken words; lots of repetition and modelling.
KS1 higher ability	Encourage more detailed sentences about traditions and reasoning behind practices.
Visual learners	Use pictures and videos extensively; offer drawing tasks over writing tasks.
Mixed abilities class	Use paired/share activities; multi-level questioning; support materials like maps & frames.

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Extension Activity (for Early Finishers / Advanced Learners)

• Choose one Easter tradition from the world map.
• Use a simple book or child-friendly internet resource (adult supervision) to find one or two interesting facts about that country’s Easter celebration.
• Present findings in 1-2 sentences or a simple drawing/story to the class in the next lesson.

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Reflection Notes for Teacher

• Monitor engagement during sharing to identify quieter children or those needing more support.
• Note which traditions sparked most curiosity for potential further exploration.
• Scaffold language development by modelling answers for SEN and EAL.
• Use Rosenshine’s strategies: frequent questioning, clear modelling, small-step introductions, and guided practice.

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Links to Current School Context

• As a small rural C of E primary, build on children’s existing knowledge of local Easter traditions but broaden horizons through global cultural awareness.
• Use the outdoor area or continuous provision for follow-up creative art or role-play linked to Easter customs learned.
• Incorporate Christian distinctiveness—link concepts of love and sacrifice across cultures to C of E values.

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Summary

This lesson combines personal reflection with cultural learning, hands-on map work, and expressive art activities tailored to Reception to Year 2 children. It supports attainment of RE and foundation stage goals within the English National Curriculum, nurturing whole-child understanding of Easter as a meaningful global celebration of love and sacrifice.