Wise Men Story

Overview

A 50-minute SEND Religious Education session tailored for Year 7-8 students. The focus is to enable students to retell the story of the Wise Men, complete a structured fact sheet, and explain the meaning of the gifts. The lesson aligns with the National Curriculum for England for religious education, fostering knowledge and understanding of Christianity and developing communication skills.

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National Curriculum Links

Religious Education Programmes of Study – Key Stage 3 (Year 7-8)

• En3/1a: Understanding stories from sacred texts and their meanings
• En3/2a: Express ideas and responses to religious stories and artefacts
• En3/3a: Use religious vocabulary and explain reasons for practices and beliefs
• En3/4b: Present information clearly in oral or written form

While SEND students may work towards personalised learning objectives, these are the core competencies addressed through differentiated scaffolding and accessible learning materials.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, all students will be able to:

1. Retell the story of the Wise Men in their own words (with visual and verbal support).
2. Complete a fact sheet with simple facts about the Wise Men (names, gifts, journey).
3. Explain the symbolic meaning of the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh using sentence starters or verbal explanations.

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Resources

• Visual story cards illustrating the Wise Men journey and gifts
• Simplified written story handout (in large print, easy-read format)
• Fact sheet template with sentence starters and visuals
• Real or replica small artefacts representing gold (e.g., coins), frankincense (small container or image), myrrh (image or resin piece)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Audio version of the story (optional for auditory learners)

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Gather students in a semi-circle for whole-class interaction.
• Begin by asking simple, open questions: “Who can tell me what they know about Christmas or Wise Men?” (Allow any response.)
• Show the story cards one by one, telling the story of the Wise Men clearly and slowly, using simple sentences and emphasising key points: the journey, the stars, the gifts, and the reason for the gifts.
• Use artefacts to capture attention—show the gold coins, frankincense, and myrrh, letting students touch or smell (frankincense).

National Curriculum Link: En3/1a (Understanding sacred stories)

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2. Guided Activity – Retelling the Story (15 minutes)

• Students work in pairs or small groups (max 3), supported by teaching assistants.
• Provide each group with the simplified story handout and visual story cards.
• Ask them to put the story cards in the right order and try to retell the story to their partner using the cards as prompts.
• Support students who need verbal prompts or pointing to the cards.
• Circulate to scaffold language and clarify any misunderstandings.

National Curriculum Link: En3/2a (Express ideas in response to stories)

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3. Fact Sheet Completion (15 minutes)

• Hand out the fact sheet template with spaces for:
  • Names of the Wise Men
  • The gifts they brought
  • Short answer: “What does each gift mean?” (Sentence starters included, e.g. “Gold is important because…”)
• Use an example to model completion with the whole class, writing responses on the whiteboard, then allow students to fill in their sheets.
• Provide additional support where necessary, including scribing answers or allowing verbal responses to be recorded.

National Curriculum Link: En3/4b (Present information clearly in written form)

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4. Explanation of Gift Meanings (8 minutes)

• Use questioning to encourage thinking:
  • “Why do you think the Wise Men gave gold?”
  • “What might frankincense show about Jesus?”
  • “Why did they bring myrrh?”
• Summarise the symbolic meanings in simple language:
  • Gold = kingship and value
  • Frankincense = priestly role and prayer
  • Myrrh = suffering and death (prepare students gently as this is a complex concept)
• For SEND understanding, use visuals and emotional symbols (e.g., crown for gold, incense smoke image for frankincense).

National Curriculum Link: En3/3a (Explain reasons for practices and beliefs)

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5. Plenary (2 minutes)

• Quick round: each student says one new thing they have learned or found interesting.
• Praise participation and effort.

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Assessment

• Formative: Observation of students’ ability to sequence story cards and verbal retelling in groups.
• Written: Review of completed fact sheets for understanding of key facts and explanations of gift meanings.
• Verbal: Participation in plenary and responses during questioning.

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Differentiation and SEND Considerations

• Use multi-sensory inputs (visual, tactile, auditory) for all learning styles.
• Provide sentence starters and word banks for writing tasks.
• Allow oral responses as an alternative to writing.
• Use one-to-one or small-group support for learners requiring additional scaffolding.
• Present concepts in bite-sized chunks, avoiding overload.

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Extension Ideas

• Create a simple role-play of the Wise Men’s journey with costumes or props.
• Use an interactive whiteboard animation of the star guiding the Wise Men.
• Develop a creative art task where students design their own gifts and explain meanings.

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This lesson integrates storytelling, comprehension, and reflection, matched to SEND needs and National Curriculum aims, providing a meaningful and accessible RE experience.