Peace and Joy

Overview

This 30-minute Reception class session explores the Christian themes of peace and joy, anchored in the story of the Road to Emmaus. A carefully scaffolded experience will develop pupils’ emotional literacy, understanding of Christian teachings, and social skills through active sharing and reflection.

Curriculum Links

• Religious Education (RE) - Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) / KS1 Transition

• Understanding Christianity ‘People of God’ & ‘Gospel’ units

• Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021):

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED): managing feelings and behaviour, making relationships
  • Communication and Language (CL): listening and attention, understanding

• The Birmingham Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2017 (Reception unit):

  • Explore feelings connected to Bible stories
  • Recognise key symbols and what they mean
  • Express ideas about values such as peace and joy

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, pupils will be able to:

• Recall and retell key emotions the disciples felt on the road to Emmaus.
• Identify and describe the gifts of peace and joy.
• Recognise simple symbols for peace (e.g., olive branch, dove) and joy (e.g., sun, smile).
• Share peace or joy through kind actions with a classmate.
• Reflect verbally in a group about giving and receiving peace or joy.

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Resources

• Story picture cards illustrating key moments from the Road to Emmaus
• Emotion flashcards: sadness, confusion, peace, joy
• Photographs depicting peaceful scenes (e.g., calm lakes, quiet gardens) and joyful scenes (e.g., children playing, smiling faces)
• Symbol cards: olive branch, dove, sun, smiley face
• A small decorated “Gift Box” containing symbolic items (small olive branch twig, paper sun, smiley badges)
• Floor space arranged for circle time
• Answering tokens (small laminated cards with smiley or dove icons for children to hold when sharing)

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Lesson Structure

1. Welcome and Introduction (5 minutes)

• Gather children on the carpet.
• Recap the Road to Emmaus story briefly, using picture cards: Emphasise how the disciples felt sad and confused at first, then felt peace and joy when they understood Jesus was with them.
• Use emotion flashcards: Ask children to show what ‘sad’, ‘confused’, ‘peaceful’ and ‘joyful’ look like on their faces.

2. Exploring Peace and Joy (7 minutes)

• Show photographs of peaceful and joyful scenes. Ask:
  “What do you feel when you look at this?”
  Model replies: “I feel calm and peaceful…” or “This picture makes me happy and joyful.”
• Introduce simple symbols for peace and joy, showing each symbol card:
  • Peace = olive branch, dove
  • Joy = sun, smiley face
• Invite children to point or hold up the symbol that matches the feeling you describe.

3. Sharing Challenge Setup (3 minutes)

• Present the decorated “Gift Box.” Explain:
  “You’re going on a special challenge to share peace or joy with a friend in a kind or special way.”
• Give examples: “It could be helping someone, giving a smile, or saying something kind.”
• Children will have 30 minutes to do this in the classroom or outside, remaining mindful of others.

4. Challenge Period (10 minutes)

• Allow the children time to share peace or joy in pairs or small groups (supported by staff).
• Teachers/assistants observe and support as needed, encouraging children to verbalise what they are doing (“I am sharing peace by helping you.”).
• Collect children back to the carpet after 10 minutes for reflection.

5. Circle Share and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Children sit in a circle, the “Gift Box” passes around.
• When a child receives the box, they share:
  • How they gave or received peace or joy
  • Show either the peace or joy symbol from the box if it matches their experience.
• Each child holds a token as a speaking aid; children encouraged to listen respectfully.

6. Plenary and Praise (Optional) (1-2 minutes)

• Praise children for their kindness.
• Reinforce that peace and joy are special gifts everyone can give and receive every day.
• Close with a calm breathing activity, inviting children to breathe in “peace” and breathe out “joy.”

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Differentiation

• Provide visual supports and emotion cards for non-verbal or less confident learners.
• Use adult support to scaffold sentence starters (“I shared peace by…”).
• Extend higher ability children by asking them to suggest new symbols or act out feelings.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe children’s understanding through their participation in discussing feelings and symbols.
• Listen for language related to peace and joy during sharing challenge.
• Note social interaction and kindness during the activity.
• Use brief notes to inform next RE sessions on emotions or Christian values.

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Reflection for Teacher

• Did children connect emotionally with the Road to Emmaus story?
• Were most children able to link feelings to symbols effectively?
• How well did the sharing challenge encourage empathetic behaviour?
• What adjustments might support deeper understanding or participation next time?

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This lesson combines storytelling, visual literacy, social interaction, and personal reflection—matching the EYFS emphasis on holistic development while planting seeds of Christian faith in an age-appropriate, engaging way.