Light in Life

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Curriculum Overview

Subject: Religious Education (RE)
Key Stage: KS3 (Year 7–8 in a special school setting; pupils working broadly between EYFS and Year 3 levels)
Curriculum Link:
This lesson supports the aims of the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, focusing on developing pupils’ knowledge and understanding of major world religions, specifically Christianity, and exploring the concept of "Believing" – learning about how beliefs are expressed and what they mean to believers.

Learning Objective (LO):
To explain how Christians use the Bible and why it is important to them.

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Lesson Length

Duration: 50 minutes
Class Size: 9 students
Setting: Special school – pupils have behavioural and attention difficulties, and struggle with abstract concepts—lesson will be multi-sensory, broken into short, clear sections.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

• Recognise the Bible as a special book for Christians
• Identify why the Bible is important to Christians
• Participate in a group activity related to Bible messages
• Create a simple piece of symbolic art showing their own ‘important message’

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Resources Required

• Large sensory storybook version of the Bible or simplified illustrated Bible
• “Bible or Not?” sorting cards with images/words
• A suitcase or treasure chest prop
• A small, friendly puppet for storytelling (optional)
• Paper template scrolls (rolled like ancient scrolls)
• Crayons, felt tips, glue sticks
• A3 sheet for ‘Class Treasure Book’
• Music for calm sensory environment (optional)
• Printed large visuals: Bible, candle, cross, church, happy people, etc.
• Emotion fans or thumbs up/thumbs down paddles

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Hello & Settle (5 minutes)

Greet pupils warmly. Begin with a sensory calming activity:

• Light a (fake) candle or turn on a soft lamp.
• Play gentle instrumental music quietly.
• Introduce the session:
  “Today we’re going to look at a very special book that helps Christians to know how to live and feel calm, just like we’re feeling now.”

Use a visual symbol to represent the day’s subject – hold up a big Bible and ask gently,
“Do you know what this is? Let’s find out why it’s important!”

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2. Hook: What’s in the Treasure Chest? (5 minutes)

Present a small suitcase or treasure chest.
Open it slowly and dramatically – inside: the Bible, a wooden heart, a small torch, a peace symbol, photos of people helping others.

Explain each item briefly:

• Bible: a special book for Christians
• Heart: shows love
• Torch/light: shows guidance and comfort
• Helping hands: Christians learn to help others

Ask: “Why do you think Christians would call the Bible a treasure?”

Sensory activity idea: Let pupils hold or pass each object and describe how it feels/what it might mean.

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3. Story Time – The Lost Sheep (10 minutes)

Tell the parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1–7) using a puppet or storytelling voice.

Use large visuals or toys—1 shepherd, 10 sheep (hide one!). Engage pupils in helping the shepherd find the lost sheep. They love interactive elements!

Reflection
Ask:

• “Why did the shepherd look for his sheep?”
• “How does this story show love?“
• “Why might it be in the Bible, do you think?”

Link back to the LO: Christians read the Bible to learn stories that teach about love and care.

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4. Practical Game – Bible or Not? (10 minutes)

Instructions:

Lay out image/word cards: some taken from Bible stories, others completely made up or everyday items (e.g., Noah’s Ark, Harry Potter, Moses, mobile phone, David and Goliath, Cinderella). Briefly explain each.

How to play:

• Students work in pairs or groups.
• Each child holds up a “Bible!” or “Not!” card.
• Teacher confirms the answer and provides a short, positive explanation.

Extension: Challenge pupils to put “Bible words” into a ‘Treasure Basket’ to make a link to earlier part of the session.

Why this works: It’s hands-on, playful, helps with attention span issues, and teaches recognition.

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5. Creative Art Activity – ‘My Special Message’ Scroll (15 minutes)

Objective: Students understand that Christians use the Bible to find messages of encouragement, comfort or love—and that they, too, might want to share a special message.

Instructions:

• Each pupil receives a paper scroll template.
• They decorate the scroll with a short message (teacher scribes if needed):
  ideas like “Be kind”, “Share with others”, “Don’t give up”, “It’s OK to be you”.
• Include Bible inspiration: “Love your neighbour”, “God is with you”, “Trust”.

Support: Use symbol mats or sentence starters. Allow for use of emotions fans or drawing if writing is too difficult.

Extension/Group Finish: Combine all scrolls into a “Class Treasure Book”– bound with string and title: “Messages That Matter”.

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6. Plenary – Light the Way (5 minutes)

Light the (fake) candle or switch on a lamp again.

Ask:

• “What message do you remember from today’s Bible story?”
• “Why do Christians read the Bible?”
• “What was your favourite part?”

Use emotions fans or thumbs up to check how they felt about today’s session.

Final Thought:
“Just like we have books or songs that help us feel better, the Bible helps Christians. It tells them stories about love, kindness and how to keep going.”

Invite pupils to take home their scrolls or display them proudly in class.

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Assessment Opportunities

Formative Assessment Throughout:

• Participation in sorting activity
• Verbal contributions during discussion
• Engagement in story session
• Contribution to scroll artwork
• Understanding shown through responses, gestures, or facial expressions

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Differentiation Strategies

• Use of puppets and visuals for storytelling
• Paired/group work to reduce pressure
• Pre-prepared sentence starters/symbol mats
• Tasks modelled by teacher or TA first
• Emotional choice tools (fans, pictures) for non-verbal communication

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Extension/Deepening Opportunities

More confident students could:

• Match symbols to Bible verses
• Add a second message to their scroll or decorate with extra symbolism (hearts, light, cross)
• Record a voice message of their scroll reading

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Next Steps/Follow-Up Ideas

• Compare how people of different religions use holy books
• Visit or virtual tour of a local church with focus on where/how Bible is used
• Create a class display: “Books that Matter to Us” including Bible and others they love

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Wow Factor Reflection

This multi-sensory, warm and inclusive session gives every pupil access to the meaning behind the Bible without overloading them with doctrine. By connecting the Bible to ideas of love, comfort, and guidance — supported through active storytelling, games and accessible symbolic art — pupils understand something deep about belief systems in a way tailored perfectly to their abilities.

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End of Plan
Let the light shine!