Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension

Curriculum Reference

Subject: Religious Education
Level: Key Stage 4 (Year 10)
Exam Board Relevance: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC/Eduqas (GCSE Religious Studies)
Topic: The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus
Learning Objectives (LOs):

• Understand the significance of Jesus' resurrection and ascension.
• Evaluate how these events influence Christian beliefs and practices today.
• Develop skills in verbal feedback and peer assessment.

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Lesson Structure: 60 Minutes

1. Behaviour Expectations (5 mins)

• Establish classroom expectations (Respect, Active Listening, Participation).
• Ensure students are aware of peer assessment and verbal feedback focus.

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2. ‘Do Now’ Task (10 mins)

Task:
"Explain two Christian beliefs about Jesus’ resurrection" (5 marks).

Instructions:

• Students independently write responses on paper (3 mins).
• Peer swap; use the verbal feedback checklist provided. Each student reads a peer's response and provides verbal feedback based on these criteria:
  • Clarity of explanation
  • Biblical references
  • Use of key terms
• Whole-class discussion on strong answers.

Teacher Prompts:

• "Why do Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus?"
• "Which Bible passages support your points?"
• "How do these beliefs impact Christian faith?"

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3. Teacher Presentation – What Happened Next? (10 mins)

Key Information:

• After resurrection, Jesus appeared to multiple people (Mary Magdalene, disciples, over 500 others).
• His resurrection story spread quickly due to multiple eyewitnesses.
• After 40 days, Jesus told his disciples of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus then ascended into heaven.
• Mark and Luke’s gospels document the ascension.

Biblical Quotation:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Teacher Prompts:

• "Why do you think Jesus appeared to so many people before ascending?"
• "How does multiple eyewitness testimony strengthen Christian beliefs?"
• "What do Christians believe about the Holy Spirit?"
• "Why do you think only some gospels mention the ascension?"

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4. Inquiry-Based Discussion – Why Did Jesus Stay for 40 Days? (10 mins)

Discussion Questions for Class:

• "Why didn’t Jesus ascend immediately?"
• "What was the purpose of Jesus staying on Earth?"
• "What would be the impact if Jesus had ascended immediately?"

Encourage students to explore ideas such as:

• Preparing his followers for their mission.
• Strengthening faith by fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.
• Ensuring that there were multiple witnesses to validate the resurrection.

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5. Assessment Task – Influence of the Ascension (15 mins)

Task:
"Explain two ways the ascension influences Christians today" (4 marks).

Work Process:

• Students individually write responses (5 mins).
• Peer assessment: Swap answers and use the marking checklist to provide verbal feedback (5 mins).
• Class discussion: Share strong responses and discuss key points (5 mins).

Teacher Prompts:

• "How does the ascension give Christians hope?"
• "How might this event influence Christian practices?"
• "What role does the Holy Spirit have in Christianity today?"

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Plenary (5 mins)

• Summarise key points about the resurrection and ascension.
• Ask students to reflect: "How does understanding these events help Christians today?"
• Set a challenge: "Find a modern Christian person or group who demonstrates belief in the Holy Spirit’s guidance."

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Resources Required:

• Peer assessment checklists
• Bibles or printed excerpts of relevant Gospel passages
• Worksheet templates for writing responses

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This lesson effectively meets UK GCSE Religious Studies requirements by incorporating structured tasks, verbal feedback, and critical thinking. It ensures student engagement through collaborative discussion, prompting deeper understanding of Christian beliefs about resurrection and ascension.