Helping Others

Overview

This 30-minute lesson introduces Year 1 students to the story of the Good Samaritan, exploring themes of kindness, helping others, and respect for people who are different from us. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum for England’s Religious Education strand: Beliefs and Practices and Meaning, Purpose and Truth for KS1.

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National Curriculum Links

• Understanding Christianity: Understanding the story of the Good Samaritan as a Bible story which teaches Christians about loving others.
• RE Attainment Targets for KS1:
  • AT1: Learning about religions and beliefs (storytelling and understanding concepts of caring and helping).
  • AT2: Learning from religions (reflecting on ways we can show kindness).
• Early Learning Goals: Understanding simple ethical values in stories.
• Framework Reference: Understanding Christian stories and what they teach about how to live.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

• Know the story of the Good Samaritan in simple terms.
• Understand the key message of helping and caring for others, regardless of who they are.
• Begin to recognise the importance of kindness in everyday life.

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Resources Needed

• Illustrated picture book or large colourful story cards telling the Good Samaritan story
• Large paper or mini whiteboards and markers
• Role-play props (scarves, hats, simple costumes)
• “Helping Hand” paper templates (hand-shaped)
• Sticky tape or Blu Tack
• Emotions face cards (happy, sad, worried)

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Gather the children in a circle. Briefly discuss what it means to be kind or helpful (link to everyday experience: holding doors, sharing toys).
• Ask children to share a time when someone helped them or when they helped someone.
• Tell the children today they will hear a special story about helping others from the Bible called the Good Samaritan.

2. Story Time and Discussion (10 minutes)

• Tell the story of the Good Samaritan using the illustrated book or story cards.
  • Emphasise the problem (a man hurt on the road), the people who didn’t help, and the Good Samaritan who did help.
  • Pause to ask simple questions: “What would you do if you saw someone hurt?”
• Show and discuss the emotions face cards during the story to help children connect with feelings of the characters (hurt, worried, kind).

3. Role Play Activity (10 minutes)

• Divide the class into small groups (about 5 children each).
• Assign roles: injured man, Good Samaritan, bystanders.
• Using simple props and guided prompts, children act out the story.
• Encourage children to express kindness and talk about how it feels to help.
• After role play, briefly discuss: “Why was the Good Samaritan a good helper?”

4. Reflecting and Creating “Helping Hands” (5 minutes)

• Give each child a “Helping Hand” template.
• Ask them to draw or write one way they can help someone at school or at home.
• Display these helping hands on a classroom wall or board to remind them about kindness.

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Assessment

• Observe children’s participation in story discussions and role play to assess understanding.
• Use their “Helping Hand” drawings as evidence of recognising ways they can show kindness.
• Listen for vocabulary related to helping, kindness, and caring.

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Differentiation

• Support less confident children by pairing them with peers during role play.
• Use picture prompts for children who find writing challenging.
• Challenge more able children by asking how kindness helps build friendships or community.

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Cross-curricular Links

• English: Listening carefully to stories, speaking clearly during role play.
• PSHE: Recognising emotions, showing empathy and respect.
• Art: Creating helping hand prints.

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Extension Ideas (Home or Future Lessons)

• Encourage children to show kindness at home and bring in examples to share.
• Link to other religious or non-religious stories about helping and kindness.
• Create a “Kindness Tree” in the classroom where leaves represent kind acts noticed by pupils.

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This well-rounded and engaging plan combines storytelling, active learning, reflection and creativity to inspire Year 1 pupils to understand and live out the core message in the Good Samaritan story in accordance with the national curriculum expectations.