The Easter break may signify Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and an Easter hunt, but why is it so important for Christians?
Table of Contents:
1. Teacher’s background information.
The festival of Easter tells the story of how Jesus was unlawfully treated, beaten, whipped and crucified and yet Christians rejoice at the outcome 3 days later.
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2. Lesson plans and resources for the Christian festival of Easter
[a] The Christian Festival of Easter. The lesson plan is a downloadable PDF document to present to the children. (Opens in a new tab.)
[b] The Christian Festival of Easter lesson plan is a PowerPoint slideshow, viewable or downloadable for teachers to show the children. (Opens in a new tab on www.slideshare.net) (Same material as the PDF above).
[c] The Christian Festival of Easter lesson plan video with different speakers presenting the lesson. Be prepared to pause the video when a question is being asked: (Same material as the PDF above).
[d] Free videos and songs:
See three children’s Easter songs below.
See a video of Jesus’ Last Supper just before he was killed.
3. Three free children’s songs about Good Friday and Easter.
These songs can be used in R.E. lessons, assemblies, collective worship, church children’s talks, Sunday schools, etc.
[a] E is for The Easter and Holy Week Song with Actions by John Hardwick.
John’s aim with this song was to use each letter in the word E.A.S.T.E.R to explain a part of the Easter story in both a lively and reflective way with a catchy chorus.
[b] ‘God’s Story – Easter’ by Crossroads Kids’ Club.
Easter is a major part of God’s big rescue plan. It shows us how much Jesus loves us and is one of the most exciting parts of God’s story.
[c] Good Friday and Easter Sunday Actions Poem for Children by John Hardwick.
Note: Each Easter day has a different audience participation. Friday and Saturday are performed in a sombre spirit, but Sunday is done in an exciting, triumphant way!
4. A cartoon video for Easter:
[a] Jesus’ Last Supper before his death – Kid’s Bible Story (4.55 minutes long)
5. How to fulfil the locally agreed syllabus on the ‘Christian Festival of Easter’ lesson plan
Hopefully, you will be able to match your local agreed syllabus with what is here.
This lesson plan is based on the UK RE Attainment Targets.
Here is the Mapping Grid for the Attainment Target Categories:
- Sacred Texts – stories, scriptures, parables, teachings
- Beliefs – ideas about God, truth, meaning, purpose
- Practices – worship, prayer, festivals, rituals, lifestyle
- Identity – belonging, community, worldview, personal reflection
- Values – moral ideas, attitudes, virtues
- Living – how beliefs affect actions and everyday life
🎯 Why This Grid Works for UK Schools
✔ Matches Agreed Syllabus expectations
✔ Supports progression from KS1 to KS2
✔ Aligns with Ofsted language (knowledge, understanding, impact)
✔ Works for lesson planning, assessment, and inspection evidence
✔ Non-political, non-denominational, UK-appropriate
For many local syllabi, in KS1, Christianity plus at least one other major religion is studied.
Effective RE should combine:
- knowledge (stories, beliefs, practices)
- understanding (why people believe/do what they do)
- reflection (personal response, values, empathy).
Typical Key Questions for KS1
Here are common “core/enquiry” questions or themes that appear in most KS1 agreed syllabi:
- “Who am I?” (Identity).
- “What does it mean to belong?” (Belonging).
- “What makes some people so important?” (Important people).
- “Where did we come from / how did the world begin?” (Simple beliefs).
- “What makes some stories so important to different people?” (Sacred books).
- “Why are festivals, symbols or special stories important?” (Stories & moral values).
- “Why are some places so important?” (Important places).
These then required merging within the Assessment Aims, but as can be seen, there had to be some overlapping of the themes/core questions:
- ASSESSMENT AIM: 1. SACRED TEXTS (Stories, Scriptures, parables & teachings) – [SACRED TEXTS & WHO AM I?]
- ASSESSMENT AIMS: 2. BELIEFS (Ideas about God, truth, meaning & purpose) – CREATION & IMPORTANT PEOPLE]
- ASSESSMENT AIM: 3. PRACTICES (worship, prayer, festivals, rituals & lifestyle) – [FESTIVALS & PLACES]
- ASSESSMENT AIM: 4. IDENTITY (belonging, community, worldview & personal reflection) – [BELONGING & IDENTITY]
- ASSESSMENT AIMS: 5. VALUES (moral ideas, attitudes, virtues, right & wrong) – [FESTIVALS & BELONGING]
- ASSESSMENT AIMS: 6. LIVING (how beliefs affect actions and everyday life) – [IMPORTANT PEOPLE & FESTIVALS]
Each assessment had its own set of questions to answer. These are included in each lesson plan, which is suitable for that particular subject.