Wiltshire RE Starter Stimulus Starter ideas for the following key question from the 2011 Agreed Syllabus: KS2.2 What matters to Christians about Easter?

Wiltshire RE Starter Stimulus

Starter ideas for the following key question from the 2011 Agreed Syllabus:

KS2.2 What matters to Christians about Easter?

This resource aims to provide some stimulus images and ideas to help pupils begin to address the above question. It is not intended to be used straight through – teachers can decide which parts will be helpful in their teaching of Easter.It links to the following learning outcomes from p50 of the syllabus:Pupils can:• use religious vocabulary, symbols, and art to express their understanding of the meaning of Easter for believers• reflect on what is worth celebrating and remembering in their own life and community

Many of the slides have notes to give suggestions for use. Look at the slide show in Normal mode and look for the notes at the bottom of the page.

Which of these three pictures show what

the story of Easter is about?

What matters most at Easter?

Easter is the most important time for

Christians but everybody seems to think it is Christmas.

Joshua 7

It is sad and happy because we remember that Jesus

died and he was the Son of God. But he didn’t die like we do. He came alive again but went to live with his father in

Heaven.Rohan 10

Sometimes you get carried away with all the Easter

eggs and time off school but actually it is really important.

Now Jesus has died it means that God will forgive us if we are sorry for things we do wrong. Easter helps

me to remember that.Grace 11

At our church we have quiet services on Maundy

Thursday and Good Friday. On Easter Sunday it is a big celebration with

lots of good songs and chocolate.

Nat 8

Here are the words of some young people talking about Easter:

Good Friday

Read the Story of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Luke 23:13-25, 32-48

What words would you use to describe how the followers of Jesus felt after he was killed? Why?

Easter Sunday

Read the story of the women discovering the empty tomb.Luke 24: 1-12

What words would you use to describe how the disciples feel when they hear these reports? Why? How would Mary, mother of Jesus, feel?

Some suggestions for using this resource

1. Meaning makingThis starter shares some ideas from children about what Easter means to them (slide 5). Ask the children to write one or two questions about what Easter means and put the questions to some Christians and some people who are not Christians. Ask the children to compare the responses, including the ones on slide 5. They can then work in groups to come up with the ending to these sentence starters:• Easter is important to Christians because…• For non-Christians, Easter means…More able pupils might be asked to work together to write 150 words expressing the significance of Easter to Christians and 150 words showing the meaning of Easter for non-Christians.

2. Creating an art installationAsk the children to design a cross to put in one of the following venues

• On display during a thoughtful service on Good Friday

• On an altar cloth to be used on Easter Sunday

• The school hall• A bus poster advertising Easter celebrations• In an art gallery

Once they have created their piece of art ask them to write the artists’ explanation of the piece to be displayed beside the cross.

3. Easter symbolsMany Easter cards in shops focus on eggs or rabbits. They have a slight link with Easter (new life, for example) but they don’t really convey the importance or impact of the festival. Ask pupils to think of some ways in which you could put across the Christian message of Easter in a more lively, dynamic, creative and theologically accurate way!

The Meaningful Chocolate Company have made a start at this, but they are still using eggs and crosses. http://www.realeasteregg.co.uk/ What creative ideas can your pupils come up with?