The names Ascension and Pentecost don’t tell us much about what happened on those days.
Here are two lesson plans for these events.
Table of Contents:
1. Teacher’s background information.
This resource page looks at two festivals:
(1) The Ascension Day Festival celebrates when Jesus was raised from death, and then for 40 days, he appeared to more than 500 people before he ascended from a mountain top up into heaven.
(2) The Festival of Pentecost occurred after Jesus had ascended back to heaven, from where he sent the Holy Spirit to his followers on Earth.
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2. Lesson plans and resources for Ascension Day & Pentecost Festivals
(1) [a] Ascension Day Festival – RE lesson plan – New version coming soon due to changes in the RE syllabus.
[b] Free children’s songs about the Ascension:
The ‘Ascension Song’ is based on Acts 1 verse 11, see below.
The Ascension & Kids Creed – Up, Up, Up and Away on Ascension Day song! See below.
(2) [a] The Festival of Pentecost lesson plan is a PowerPoint slideshow viewable or downloadable for teachers to show the children. (Opens in a new tab on www.slideshare.net)
[b] The Festival of Pentecost lesson plan video based on a PowerPoint presentation. Created with 5-second slides, so pause the video to enable the children to study each slide: (Same material as the PowerPoint above).
[c] For teachers to teach from a printable document, The Festival of Pentecost lesson plan is a resource for teachers who cannot use electronic displays.
[e] Free Pentecost song:
‘Pentecost Song No More Waiting.’ See below.
3. Free children’s songs and videos about Ascension and Pentecost:
These songs by John Hardwick can be used in R.E. lessons, assemblies, collective worship, church children’s talks, Sunday schools, etc.
[a] ASCENSION: ‘Ascension Song’ based on Acts 1 verse 11 (2.45 minutes long)
[b] ASCENSION: The Ascension Song & Kids Creed – Up, Up, Up and Away on Ascension Day! (2.41 minutes long)
[c] PENTECOST: ‘Pentecost Song No More Waiting.’ (2.49 minutes long)
A Pentecost action song for children.
4. How to fulfil the locally agreed syllabus on ‘Lent, Ascension Day & Pentecost festivals’
Hopefully, you will be able to match your local agreed syllabus with what is here, which satisfies eight councils:
- Know the cycle of the Christian year, the meanings of the major festivals and how they are celebrated, including the use of symbolic colours and special hymns.
- Find out how Christians celebrate these festivals of Lent, Ascension Day & Pentecost.
- Talk about celebrations, worship, pilgrimages, and the rituals which mark important points in life.
- Explore and describe the meaning of a range of beliefs, symbols, and practices.
- Demonstrate understanding of how people express their identity and their spirituality through symbols and actions.
- Make connections between the beliefs that underpin different celebrations, forms of worship, pilgrimages and rituals.
Key vocabulary: Baptism, Bible, Christ, Church, Disciple, Faith, God, Gospel, Holy, Jesus, Lent, New Testament, Pentecost, Prayer, Prophet, Worship.