Stories of Change

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Curriculum Area

Subject: Religious Education (RE)
Key Stage: Key Stage 1
Year Group: Year 1
Statutory Framework: Follows the Non-statutory Guidance for Religious Education in English Schools (Department for Education) and supports the Local Agreed Syllabus (e.g. Birmingham Agreed Syllabus, SACREs etc.)
Area of Focus: Being Human (Christianity) - Exploring how and why people try to make the world a better place, and meeting Jesus as someone who gave people chances to change.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this 40-minute lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Retell parts of a Christian story where Jesus gave someone a chance to change.
• Talk about how people can be given second chances.
• Begin to identify how Christians believe Jesus helps people to change.
• Think and talk about their own experiences of saying sorry or making good choices.

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Success Criteria

• I listened carefully to a story about Jesus.
• I can say how someone in the story changed.
• I can say why it is good to give people a second chance.
• I joined in an activity to help me think more about change.

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Resources Needed

• Story cut-outs or puppet props (Jesus, Zacchaeus, crowd, tree)
• Large story mat with simple visual roadmap of story flow
• Emotion faces or “feeling pebbles”
• Large sheets of paper and crayons
• Soft background music (instrumental, calming)
• Visual timer for activities
• “Kindness Leaves” for plenary reflection

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Lesson Structure (40 minutes total)

1. Welcome and Circle Time (5 minutes)

• Greet the children warmly.
• Sit in a circle. Light a class "thinking candle" to signify a reflective RE time.
• Ask:
  • “Have you ever been given a second chance to do something better?”
  • “How did it feel?”
  • Reassure that everyone makes mistakes and it's okay if we learn from them.

(Use soft tone, create a calm and accepting environment.)

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2. Story Exploration – "Zacchaeus the Tax Collector" (15 minutes)

Storytelling (7 mins)

• Use props/puppets and a story map while narrating the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10).
• Children remain seated, eyes focused. Use pauses for drama:
  • When Zacchaeus climbs the tree
  • When Jesus looks up at him
  • When he invites Jesus into his house
  • When Zacchaeus promises to give half his money away

Interactive Discussion (8 mins)

Ask:

• “Why didn’t people like Zacchaeus at the start?”
• “What did Jesus do that surprised them?”
• “How did Zacchaeus feel when Jesus was kind to him?”
• “What promise did Zacchaeus make?”

Invite children to place "emotion pebbles" on the part of the story when Zacchaeus may feel:

• Sad
• Surprised
• Happy
• Brave

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3. Creative Thinking – “Change Hearts” Activity (10 minutes)

Children will work in pairs.

• Give each pair a large paper heart and crayons.
• Prompt: “Zacchaeus changed his heart after meeting Jesus. What could a kind and changed heart say or do?”
• Let children draw or write (with adult help) words/thoughts/actions a 'changed heart' might feel.

e.g.

• “I’m sorry”
• “Would you like to play?”
• “I will try again”

Encourage children to share one thing they added with the class if willing.

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4. Drama Freeze Frames (5 minutes)

• In small groups of 4-5, pupils act out part of the story:

  • Zacchaeus climbing the tree
  • Crowd being grumpy
  • Jesus noticing Zacchaeus
  • Zacchaeus saying sorry

• On the teacher’s signal ("Freeze!"), children pause like statues.

• Teacher or peers describe what they think the character is feeling or thinking.

This encourages empathy and interpretation of emotions, tied to spiritual moral development.

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5. Reflective Plenary – “Kindness Leaves” (5 minutes)

• Pupils sit in a circle again.
• Give each child a small paper leaf.
• Prompt: “Jesus helped Zacchaeus change. What kindly thing could you try today?”

Examples:

• “Help my friend with their zip”

• “Say sorry to my brother”

• “Smile at someone who is sad”

• Children add their idea to the leaf. Leaves are added to the class “Kindness Tree” display board.

Finish with calm music and a soft-spoken blessing or thought:

“Just like Zacchaeus, we can change and grow every day.”

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Opportunities for Cross-Curricular Links

• PSHE: Understanding emotions, making good choices, saying sorry
• Literacy: Retelling stories, understanding characters
• Drama: Roleplay and freeze frames
• Art: Creating hearts and kindness leaves

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Differentiation

For Support:

• Use simplified language version of the story
• Match facial expressions to parts of the story
• Adult support during drawing/writing time

For Challenge:

• Write full sentences reflecting on how Zacchaeus’ actions changed
• Suggest other people in stories or real life who had second chances
• Lead a group freeze-frame

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Enrichment Ideas (Optional)

• Create a class book: “Our Changed Hearts” with each child’s page
• Invite a local Christian visitor to talk briefly about Jesus and forgiveness in a future session
• Set up an RE reflection area in the classroom with Zacchaeus story props for retelling through the week

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Assessment for Learning (AfL)

Observe how pupils:

• Retell key parts of the Zacchaeus story
• Identify the moment of change and kindness
• Reflect personally on making mistakes and making it right

Teacher can record informal notes during freeze-frames and heart activity.

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Teacher WOW Moment

To impress and engage – transform a chair, stool, and some fabric into "Zacchaeus' Tree" before the lesson. At the story’s climax, climb the tree (or pretend to) as Zacchaeus and have Jesus (use puppet or posable figure) look up to you. This small in-class theatre adds drama and magic that young learners remember and talk about.

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Final Note

This lesson encourages empathy, reflection, and identification with the possibility of change. It is grounded in familiar values, beautifully age-appropriate, and aligned with curriculum themes. It offers the class the silent, reassuring message: You can always change for the better.

Let the storytelling plant new seeds of kindness. 🌱