Love and Sacrifice

Overview

This 30-minute lesson is lesson 3 in the unit Easter Explorations: Love and Sacrifice. It is designed for a mixed Reception–Year 2 class of 14 students, combining EYFS and KS1 children, including SEN and mixed-ability learners. The lesson explores the themes of love and sacrifice in the Easter story, linking Biblical teachings to the children’s own experiences of showing love. Activities incorporate Christian values in line with the National Curriculum (England) for Religious Education (RE), nurturing empathy and reflection through discussion, art, and writing.

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National Curriculum Links

Religious Education (Statutory Framework for RE, Cumbria Agreed Syllabus):

• EYFS: Understanding the world – People and communities: Recognise that people have different beliefs and celebrate special times in different ways.
• Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2):
  • Enquiring, Investigating and Reflecting: [L1] Show an awareness of some religious and moral stories and how they influence believers’ lives.
  • Knowledge and Understanding: [L2] Recognise that Jesus is an important figure in Christianity and describe how stories of Jesus teach ideas about love and sacrifice.
  • Skills Development: Listen, respond and discuss ideas about religion and belief, asking questions and expressing personal views.

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Learning Objectives (I Can... Statements)

• I can talk about how Jesus showed love and sacrifice in the Easter story.
• I can share ideas about how I can show love to others in my life.
• I can contribute to a class ‘Love Tree’ by drawing or writing ways to show love.

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Success Criteria

• I can recall key examples of Jesus’ love and sacrifice from the Easter story.
• I can participate in a group discussion using a thinking routine to share my thoughts.
• I can add a picture or sentence to the ‘Love Tree’ showing how I can show love to others.

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Resources

• Large paper/poster board for the ‘Love Tree’ with pre-drawn tree trunk and branches
• Sticky notes or paper leaves for children to write/draw on
• Pens, crayons, markers, colouring pencils
• Sentence starters displayed on a board or printed handouts (e.g. “I show love when I…”, “I feel loved when…”)
• Short, age-appropriate Bible story summary of the Easter story (or a children’s Easter storybook)
• Quiet space for reflection and writing/drawing letters (extension)

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Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up & Introduction (5 minutes)

• Gather children in a circle (on carpet or outdoor space).
• Recap previous lessons briefly and introduce today’s theme: Love and Sacrifice.
• Read aloud or tell the Easter story focusing on Jesus’ love and sacrifice (keep it simple and engaging).
• Ask simple questions to check understanding:
  “How do you think Jesus showed love?”
  “What does sacrifice mean?”

2. Thinking Routine Discussion: “Think, Pair, Share” (8 minutes)

• Pose the question: “How can we show love to others like Jesus did?”
• Think — Children reflect quietly for 1 minute.
• Pair — Children share their ideas with a partner (EYFS children can pair with a TA or Year 2 peer).
• Share — Voluntary sharing with the whole class; teacher models how to listen carefully and respond positively.

Differentiation:

• Sentence starters provided
• Support from teaching assistant or peer support for SEN children

3. Create the ‘Love Tree’ (12 minutes)

• Introduce the ‘Love Tree’ where the class will add ways to show love to others.
• Children choose to either:
  • Write a short sentence (using sentence starters if needed) or
  • Draw a picture representing ways they can show love (e.g., helping, sharing, kind words).
• Children add their leaves to the tree.
• Teacher facilitates and supports children as needed, encouraging creativity and thoughtful responses.

Differentiation:

• EYFS and younger children focus on drawing with adult scribing if needed.
• Year 1 and 2 children encouraged to write simple sentences with support if needed.

4. Reflection & Extension (5 minutes)

• Gather children to observe the completed ‘Love Tree’.
• Recap some examples chosen by the children.
• Explain the extension activity (optional): Writing a short letter to someone they love to express their feelings (Year 2 focus).
• Provide sentence starters and paper for those who want to try it.
• EYFS and Year 1 can dictate letters or draw them.

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Differentiation Summary

Challenge	Strategies	Support Person
Articulation of ideas	Sentence starters, oral discussion before writing	Teacher, Teaching Assistant
Writing skills	Encourage drawing instead of writing, scribing for EYFS	TA support, peer buddy
Attention & engagement	Use of familiar routines (Think-Pair-Share), short clear instructions, movement breaks	Teacher proximity, breaks
SEN needs	Small group/grouping with adult support, visual aids, simplified language	Teaching Assistant

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Assessment Opportunities (Formative)

• Observe children’s participation in discussions using thinking routine.
• Review contributions to the ‘Love Tree’: ability to express love through words or pictures.
• Informal verbal feedback during group reflection.

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Extension Activities

• Write a letter to someone they love, saying why they love them and how they will show love continuing forward.
• For advanced learners (Year 2): Include examples from the Easter story and personal experiences in the letter.
• Share the letters with the class or take them home to share with family.

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Additional Notes for Teacher

• Use the outdoor area for ‘think time’ or ‘share’ discussions if weather permits, linking with continuous provision and the school’s emphasis on nurturing the whole child.
• Encourage Year 2 children to support EYFS and Year 1 peers during paired activities to build confidence and peer mentoring skills.
• Integrate Rosenshine’s principles by reviewing previous lessons at the start and checking for understanding throughout the lesson.
• Model empathy and respect in discussions, affirming all contributions.
• Record key ideas from children on board to visualise the learning process.

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This lesson plan balances curriculum requirements with pastoral care and practical, creative engagement—perfectly suited to your rural C of E primary school setting. It provides scaffolded opportunities for all learners to relate Christian teachings to their everyday lives and develop empathy, a vital foundation for personal, social, and spiritual growth.