New Life and Easter

Curriculum Area: Religious Education

Level: Key Stage 1 (Year 1) – Ages 5-6

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand the symbolism of eggs in connection to new life.
• Recognise how new life in Spring relates to the resurrection of Jesus.
• Explain why Christians celebrate Easter.
• Illustrate scenes from Good Friday and Easter Sunday on an egg template.

Lesson Structure (60 Minutes)

1. Introduction – What Do Eggs Represent? (10 mins)

Teacher Prompts & Questions:

• Show the class a real egg. Ask:
  • What do we find inside an egg?
  • What happens when a chick hatches?
• Discuss how an egg holds new life and new beginnings.

Link to Easter:

• Explain that Christians believe Easter is about new life because Jesus came back to life.
• Like a chick coming from an egg, Jesus emerged from His tomb.

2. Spring and New Life (10 mins)

Discussion:

• Display pictures of spring: baby animals, flowers blooming, trees growing leaves again.
• Explain that Spring is a time of new life — just like Easter!
• Ask students:
  • What signs of new life do we see in Spring?
  • Why do we celebrate Easter in Spring?

3. The Easter Story – Good Friday & Easter Sunday (15 mins)

Storytelling (Use simple, engaging language):

• Good Friday: Jesus was placed in a tomb after He died.
• Easter Sunday: The tomb was empty! Jesus had risen.
• Show two simple images: one of a closed tomb, one of an open tomb with Jesus alive.

Questions for Engagement:

• How do you think Jesus’ friends felt when they saw the empty tomb?
• How does this connect to the idea of new life?

4. Activity – Drawing on an Easter Egg (20 mins)

Task:

• Provide each student with a large egg-shaped piece of paper.
• One side: Draw a picture of Good Friday (Jesus in the tomb).
• Other side: Draw Easter Sunday (The tomb open, Jesus alive).

Discussion while they work:

• Ask: Why do Christians use eggs at Easter?
• Reinforce: The egg is a symbol—just like Jesus, new life comes from inside!

5. Reflection and Recap (5 mins)

• Share some of the children’s drawings.
• Revisit key points:
  • Eggs = new life
  • Jesus = new life
  • Easter = a time of celebration
• Ask: What is something new you have learned today?

WOW Factor – Extension Idea

• Bring in a chocolate Easter egg and carefully break the shell.
• Ask: How is this like the Easter story?
• Let children explain the symbolism of the egg cracking open.

Assessment Opportunities

• Observe responses during discussions.
• Assess how well students connect new life, eggs, and the resurrection through their drawings.

End of Lesson – Happy Easter! 🎉