Power of Pentecost

Overview

This 40-minute Religious Education lesson introduces Year 6 pupils to the Christian festival of Pentecost. Pupils will explore the significance of Pentecost within the context of the Christian liturgical year, examine its events through a story-rich approach, and reflect on its relevance to Christians today.

Curriculum Alignment

Subject: Religious Education (RE)
Year Group: Year 6
Key Stage: Key Stage 2 (Ages 10–11)
Statutory Framework:
This lesson aligns with the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in England, particularly:

• LKS2/UKS2: "Describe and understand links between stories and other aspects of the communities they are investigating."
• UKS2: "Explain how religious beliefs shape the lives of individuals and communities."
• UKS2: "Understand the meanings behind religious stories and symbols."

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Learning Intentions

Learning Objectives

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

1. Describe what happened at Pentecost using key vocabulary.
2. Explore the symbolism of fire, wind and language in the story.
3. Understand why Pentecost is often referred to as the 'birthday of the Church'.
4. Reflect on the idea of courage and inspiration in their own lives.

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Key Vocabulary

• Holy Spirit
• Pentecost
• Disciples
• Apostles
• Wind
• Flame
• Tongues
• Church
• Courage

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Resources Needed

• Visual storyboard cards of the Pentecost account (artistic representation and key quotes)
• Battery-powered tealight candles (enough for around 10 small groups)
• Colourful ribbons or strips of red, yellow, and orange paper
• Speaker (optional, for ambient sound effects: wind, gentle fire crackle)
• Large paper flame template for class reflection
• Sentence starter slips for plenary activity
• Whiteboard and whiteboard markers

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Lesson Breakdown (40 minutes)

⏰ Starter Activity (5 minutes) – “What do You Know?” Brain Spark

• Pupils enter to the sound of wind and subtle fire crackles (optional ambient background).
• On the board, project the words: Pentecost, Fire, Wind, Language.
• Ask: “Have you heard of Pentecost before? What do you already know?”
• Pupils discuss in talk partners for 2 minutes.
• Teacher notes responses briefly on the board.

“Today we will discover what happens when something invisible changes everything, just like the wind!”

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⏰ Main Activity 1 (10 minutes) – Telling the Story Creatively

Dramatic Storytelling with Visuals

• Using visual storyboard cards (guided art), the teacher tells the story of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–12), using expressive voice and pausing for pupil reactions.
• Invite pupils to imagine they are one of the disciples during the telling.
• Include sensory prompts:
  • “Imagine feeling a strange wind, but every window is shut.”
  • “Imagine a small glowing flame above your friend’s head.”

Engagement Strategy: For each key part of the story, engage pupils with physical movement:

• Wind arrives → pupils mimic swaying branches.
• Flames appear → pupils raise hands above heads in a flickering gesture.
• Languages spoken → a ripple of whispered “hello”s in different languages from around the world (pupils say languages they know).

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⏰ Main Activity 2 (15 minutes) – Symbol Smarts

Small Group Symbol Exploration

• Pupils break into 9 groups of 3–4 (approx. evenly divided)
• Each group receives:
  • 1 tealight candle (battery-operated)
  • 1 ribbon (wind)
  • Strip of card with a translated "hello" in another language.
• Pupils rotate through 'symbol stations' (3-5 minutes per station), investigating:
  • What does the flame represent?
  • How does wind change things?
  • What does language have to do with unity or confusion?

Each group writes one sentence about how their symbol connects to the story and how it might relate to life today (e.g., "The flame is like inspiration—it can spread and brighten dark times.")

Teacher circulates, prompting deeper thinking:

• "Why do you think the Holy Spirit came like wind?"
• "Why was it important they spoke in different languages?"

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⏰ Plenary (7 minutes) – Class Flame of Courage

Reflection Circle Activity
As a class, pupils gather around a large flame template placed in the centre of the classroom floor.

• Each student receives a “tongue of flame” slip (pre-cut strips of red/orange/yellow paper).
• On the slip, they complete one of the following sentence starters:
  • “The Holy Spirit helped the disciples to be brave. I feel brave when…”
  • “My voice can make a difference by…”
  • “I feel a spark of excitement when…”

They quietly place their flame on the large template, creating a collective 'fire of faith and courage.'

End with this prompt:

“Could we help others like the first Christians, using our voices, our ideas and our passions?”

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⏰ Exit Task (3 minutes) – Whisper of the Wind

As pupils leave, they whisper a translated “hello” from earlier to the next person in line—passing a message like at Pentecost.

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Assessment for Learning (AfL)

• Observation during storytelling and symbol station tasks.
• Verbal answers and questions during group discussions.
• Sentence responses on 'flames' to gauge understanding of inspiration, courage, and purpose.

Optional Follow-up: Pupils write a diary entry from the point of view of a disciple who experienced Pentecost.

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Extension / Differentiation

SEN Support:

• Visual aids and tactile symbols for sensory processing
• Grouped with supportive peers
• Sentence starters provided

More Able Pupils:

• Challenge to connect theme of Pentecost with modern community building.
• Invite deeper questioning: "Why do you think God used fire and wind?"

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Teacher Reflection Prompts

• Did pupils grasp the main themes of empowerment, community and language?
• Which symbolic station gave rise to the most discussion?
• Did children make the emotional and reflective connection with courage?

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Key Takeaway

Pentecost isn’t just a story from the past – it’s a call to action! Children learn that inspiration, unity and courage are timeless, universal ideas ripe for exploration in their own lives.

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“Let your voice be your flame – even a whisper can be powerful.”