The names Lent, Ascension and Pentecost don’t tell us much about what happened on these days.
Here are three lesson plans for these events.
Table of Contents:
1. Teacher’s background information.
This resource page looks at three festivals:
[1] The Festival of Lent celebrates when Jesus went out into the desert without food for 40 days (this is called ‘fasting’ which means going without something) and then Satan came and tried to tempt him to go against God.
[2] 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.
[3] The Festival of Pentecost occurred after Jesus had ascended back to heaven from where he sent the Holy Spirit to his followers on Earth.
2. Lesson plans and resources for Lent, Ascension Day & Pentecost Festivals
[1] a) The Festival of Lent lesson plan (includes a very short introduction to the Trinity).
[1] b) Lent Worksheet
[2] a) Ascension Day Festival – RE lesson plan – New version coming soon due to changes in the RE syllabus.
[3] a) The Festival of Pentecost lesson plan
[3] b) Pentecost Worksheet
3. Three free children’s songs about Lent, 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.
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[1] ‘The Lent Song’ – a Simple Fun Kid’s Song to explain what Lent is all about!
[2] For Lent: ‘What Is Fasting?’ By the Crossroads Kids’ Club.
‘Fasting’ means going without, which is what Jesus did in the wilderness for 40 days.
[3] ‘Ascension Song’ – Acts 1 verse 11
[4] ‘Pentecost Song No More Waiting.’
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.