Exploring Easter Emotions

Lesson Overview

Subject: Religious Education
Key Stage: KS1 (Year 1 & 2)
Time: 45 minutes
Class size: 21 pupils
Objective: Pupils will explore the story of Easter and recognise the emotions it evokes. They will express their feelings using colour and art, linking emotions to different parts of the Easter story.

Curriculum Links

Religious Education (RE) - KS1

• Understanding Christianity: Recognising that Easter is an important celebration for Christians.
• Personal, Social, and Health Education (PSHE): Recognising and discussing emotions in response to a story.
• Art and Design: Using oil pastels to create expressive artwork.

Resources Needed

• Printable cross templates (one per pupil)
• A3 white paper (one per pupil)
• Oil pastels in a variety of colours
• A large colour chart with a range of colours
• Visual aids showing different parts of the Easter story
• Emotion cards (with words such as "happy", "sad", "angry", "excited", etc.)

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Story Discussion (10 minutes)

• Begin by asking: What is Easter? Why do people celebrate it?
• Briefly recount the main points of the Easter story:
  • Palm Sunday – Jesus welcomed into Jerusalem (happy)
  • Good Friday – Jesus’ crucifixion (sad)
  • Easter Sunday – The resurrection (happy)
• Ask pupils: Which parts of the story make you feel happy? Which parts make you feel sad?
• Show a colour chart and discuss: Which colours do we associate with happiness? Which colours with sadness?
  • E.g. Yellow, pink for happy / Grey, dark blue for sad

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2. Art Activity – Expressing Easter Emotions (20 minutes)

1. Cross Templates & Colour Smudging

   • Each pupil places a cross template on A3 white paper.
   • Using oil pastels, they smudge colour around the cross.
   • Lift off the template to reveal a blank cross surrounded by colour.

2. Happy & Sad Crosses

   • Pupils create two crosses:
     • One with "happy colours" – Representing joyful parts of Easter.
     • One with "sad colours" – Representing upsetting parts.
   • Inside each cross, they draw or write things that make them feel that way (e.g. a heart for joy, a tear for sadness).

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3. Discussion on Other Emotions (10 minutes)

• Introduce different emotions: angry, excited, surprised, worried, scared.
• Ask pupils to:
  • Show emotions using their face and body (e.g. cross arms for anger, wide eyes for surprise).
  • Talk about times they have felt these emotions.
• Relate back to Easter story: At which points might Jesus, his friends, or the crowds have felt these emotions?

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Plenary (5 minutes) – Sharing & Reflecting

• Pupils hold up their crosses and share something about them.
• Ask: Was it easy to choose colours for emotions? Do you think colours can show feelings?
• Reflect on why Easter is important to Christians and how it can make people feel a mix of emotions.

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Assessment for Learning (AfL) Strategies

• Questioning: Check understanding during discussions.
• Observation: Monitor engagement in art activity.
• Self-reflection: Pupils explain their colour choices and how they link to emotions.

Differentiation

• For support: Provide emotion word prompts and help with blending oil pastels.
• For challenge: Ask pupils to explain why their colour choice matches their emotion.

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Teacher Reflection & Next Steps

• Did pupils engage with the discussion about Easter emotions?
• Did they successfully express emotions in their artwork?
• Consider linking this lesson to further Christian festivals (e.g. Christmas) or PSHE discussions on emotions.