Church year and festival of Harvest. RE resources

The children will be given a quick outline of the Christian festivals that make up the Church Year, and then a more in-depth look at the Harvest Festival.

1. Teacher’s background information.

Many churches, like the Anglican Church (Church of England), celebrate the Christian festivals throughout the year.
Some of the ‘Nonconformist’ / ‘Free churches’ could celebrate a few of them.
The Christian Church year consists of these festivals:

  • Advent
  • Christmas
  • Lent
  • Easter
  • Pentecost
  • Harvest

The lesson plan looks at the Harvest Festival in greater detail.

2. Lesson plans and resources for The Church year and festival of Harvest.

Harvest festival – RE lesson plan – Coming soon due to changes in the RE syllabus.

3. Three free children’s songs about Harvest and the wonderful world we live in.

These songs by John Hardwick can be used in R.E. lessons, assemblies, collective worship, church children’s talks, Sunday schools, etc.

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[1] ‘Harvest song – the wonderful world we live in.’

[2] ‘Harvest song – Growing, Growing taller every day.’

[3] ‘Harvest song – A miracle is happening to you and me.’

4. How to fulfil the locally agreed syllabus on the ‘Church Year and Festival of Harvest’

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 this festival of Harvest.
  • 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.
  • What is the value of participating in a religious festival or ritual?

Key vocabulary: Advent, Baptism, Bible, Christ, Christmas, Church, Creation, Disciple, Easter, Faith, God, Gospel, Harvest, Holy, Hymn, Jesus, Lent, New Testament, Old Testament, Parables, Pentecost, Prayer, Priest, Prophet, Ten Commandments, Vicar, Worship.