Symbols of Lent

Lesson Overview

Subject: Religious Education (RE)
Year Group: Year 2
Unit: Lent: A Journey of Faith (Lesson 2 of 8)
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Curriculum Links:

• Religious Education (England) – Meets the National Curriculum aim of enabling children to understand and explore religious traditions, practices, and symbolism.
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) – Encourages reflective thinking and appreciation of religious diversity.
• Art and Design – Incorporates creative expression through drawing and craft.

This lesson enables students to explore key symbols associated with Lent—ashes, the cross, and purple cloth—understanding their significance in Christian tradition. This is done in an engaging, interactive way that fosters discussion, creativity, and reflection.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Identify key symbols of Lent: ashes, the cross, and purple cloth.
2. Explain the meaning behind each symbol in simple terms.
3. Work collaboratively to create visual representations of these symbols.
4. Reflect on why these symbols are used and what they represent in a Christian journey of faith.

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Resources Needed

• A large visual display (PowerPoint slides or printed images) of Lent symbols
• Small pieces of purple fabric
• Cross templates or pre-cut crosses
• Charcoal or grey chalk to represent ashes
• Large sheets of paper (for group work)
• Glue sticks, coloured pencils, markers, and scissors
• A small bowl of ashes (optional, for demonstration)

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Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

1. Starter Activity: Lent Symbol Hunt (10 mins)

Objective: Engage students in identifying religious symbols they may have seen before.

• Display a series of Christian symbols on the board (cross, ashes, purple cloth, fish, candle).
• Ask: “Do you recognise any of these symbols? Where have you seen them before?”
• Let students discuss with a partner, then collect answers as a class.
• Explain that today, they will explore three important Lent symbols.

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2. Introducing the Symbols of Lent (15 mins)

Objective: Learn about the meaning of ashes, the cross, and purple cloth.

1. Ashes – Show an image of someone receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday.

   • "Christians receive ashes on their foreheads to remind them to be sorry for their mistakes and to make a fresh start."
   • Ask: "When have you ever made a fresh start?"

2. The Cross – Show a simple wooden cross and discuss its importance.

   • "The cross reminds Christians of Jesus and his sacrifice. It shows love and kindness."
   • Ask: "Can you think of a time when someone showed you kindness?"

3. Purple Cloth – Pass around small pieces of purple fabric.

   • "Purple is used in churches during Lent because it is a special colour of waiting and preparation."
   • Ask: "Have you ever waited for something exciting, like a birthday? How did it feel?"

Encourage children to touch and interact with these objects to solidify understanding.

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3. Group Activity: Creating Symbol Posters (20 mins)

Objective: Work collaboratively to create a visual representation of Lent symbols.

• Divide students into small groups (4–5 per group).
• Assign each group one Lent symbol (Ashes, Cross, or Purple Cloth).
• Provide large sheets of paper and art supplies.
• Each group creates a poster featuring:
  • A drawing or collage of their symbol
  • One sentence explaining its meaning
  • Three words that describe its importance
• Encourage peer discussion and support as they complete their posters.

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4. Showcase and Discussion (10 mins)

Objective: Share learning and reflect on meanings.

• Each group presents their poster to the class.
• After each presentation, teacher prompts with questions:
  • "What do you think about this symbol?"
  • "How might this symbol help people remember something important?"
• Link answers back to Lent and the idea of preparation, kindness, and reflection.

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5. Reflection and Plenary (5 mins)

Objective: Summarise key learning and encourage personal connections.

• Ask students to close their eyes for a moment:
  • "Think about everything we've learned today. If you could choose one Lent symbol to keep in a special box, which one would it be? Why?"
• Invite a few students to share their answers.
• End with: “Lent is a journey, just like learning. Next time, we will explore how people prepare for Easter.”

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation: Participation in discussions and group work.
• Verbal Responses: Students' explanations of symbols.
• Creative Work: Completed group posters demonstrating understanding.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Support: Provide sentence starters for discussion, allow students to describe symbols verbally if writing is a challenge.
• Challenge: Ask higher-attaining students to think about how these symbols compare to those in other faiths (e.g., symbols of reflection in Islam, Judaism).

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Extension Activity (Optional)

Home Challenge:
Encourage students to look for crosses or the colour purple in their local church or community and bring in a photo or drawing of what they find.

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Teacher's Reflection (Post-Lesson Notes)

• What went well?
• Were students engaged and able to explain the symbols?
• What could be improved for the next lesson?

This lesson ensures a blend of interactive discussion, creativity, and deep thinking within the UK RE curriculum framework. By making symbols tangible and relatable, children develop both knowledge and spiritual awareness.