The Beauty of Creation

Lesson Details

Subject: Religious Education
Year Group: Year 5
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 21 students
Curriculum Area: Religious Education – Understanding Christianity
Level: Key Stage 2 (UK Curriculum)

Focus: Exploring how art, particularly stained glass windows, can be used to express the meaning and significance of Genesis 1 (The Creation Story).

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Learning Objectives

• Knowledge: Recall key events from Genesis 1 and understand its importance in Christian belief.
• Understanding: Explain how art, particularly stained glass, has been used to depict and communicate religious messages.
• Skills: Analyse stained glass artwork and create their own symbolic designs inspired by Genesis 1.

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Lesson Structure

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – Seeing Creation in Stained Glass

1. Engage students by showing images of stained glass windows depicting creation themes (e.g., light, water, plants, animals, humanity).
2. Think-Pair-Share: Ask students to discuss:
   • What do they see in the images?
   • How does the art help communicate ideas about creation?
   • Why do they think churches use stained glass for storytelling?
3. Link to prior knowledge: Briefly recap the story of Genesis 1, highlighting the phrase “And God said, ‘Let there be…’”

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Main Activity (25 minutes) – Creating Symbols of Creation

Part 1: Understanding Symbolism (10 minutes)

• Introduce the idea that stained glass windows are not just pictures – they use symbols to represent deeper meanings.
• Display different elements from the Genesis 1 story (light, water, land, plants, animals, humans). Discuss how each could be represented in a stained glass design.
• Ask students: If you were designing a window for a church, which part of the creation story would you focus on?

Part 2: Designing a Stained Glass Window (15 minutes)

• Provide students with black card and tissue paper.
• Each child designs a small ‘stained glass’ panel that represents an element of Genesis 1 (e.g., a sun for light, waves for water).
• Encourage creativity: allow abstract ideas (e.g., a swirling pattern for the movement of God’s spirit).
• As they work, circulate and ask:
  • What part of Genesis 1 does your window represent?
  • How does colour and shape help tell the story?

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Plenary (10 minutes) – Reflecting on Creation Art

1. Gallery Walk: Display the students’ designs and let them walk around, looking at each other’s work.
2. Discussion:
   • What do you notice about the different ways people have interpreted Genesis 1?
   • How does seeing creation in art make the story feel different from simply reading it?
   • Why do churches still use stained glass to tell biblical stories today?
3. Exit Ticket: Each student writes one key idea they’ve learned about stained glass and Genesis 1 on a post-it note and sticks it on a "Reflection Board".

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Assessment for Learning (AfL) Strategies

• Questioning during the starter and main activity to assess understanding.
• Observation of designs for creativity and comprehension of symbolism.
• Gallery Walk & Discussion to encourage reflection and peer learning.
• Exit Ticket reflections to summarise knowledge gained.

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Resources Needed

• Images of stained glass windows depicting Genesis 1.
• Black card and tissue paper in various colours.
• Glue, scissors, pencils.
• Post-it notes for exit ticket reflections.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Support for Lower Ability: Provide pre-cut template shapes for stained glass designs; pair with a peer for discussion.
• Challenge for Higher Ability: Encourage abstract symbolism (e.g., representing ‘light’ with warm colours and curves rather than a simple sun).
• Visual Learners: Engage with strong imagery and materials.
• Verbal Learners: Extra discussion opportunities on artistic choices.

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Extension Ideas

• ICT Link: Research famous church stained glass windows (e.g., York Minster, Canterbury Cathedral) and their religious symbolism.
• Creative Link: Write a short explanation of their window as if they were a church artist in medieval times.
• Cross-Curricular Link: Science – discussion about light and how stained glass works physically.

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Teacher Reflection Post-Lesson

• Did students grasp the significance of Genesis 1 in Christian belief?
• Did the stained glass activity help them connect with the religious meaning visually?
• What adjustments could make this lesson even stronger next time?

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Final Thought: Making Faith Tangible

This lesson takes an ancient biblical story and transforms it into a hands-on artistic experience. Students should leave not only understanding Genesis 1 more deeply but also seeing how religious stories have been vividly communicated through stained glass for centuries.