Optional Easter lesson: Why might some people take part in Easter traditions?
A Year 6 optional lesson considering the impact of different Easter traditions and practices.
Learning objective
- To discuss the impact of different Easter traditions by exploring Holy Week.
Success criteria
- I can explain how Easter traditions and practices can connect Christians to God.
- I can describe some shared practices during Easter and their significance.
- I can reflect on the importance of Easter to Christian communities globally.
Before the lesson
Check all images, videos, links and presentation slides are suitable for your class.
- Presentation: Range of answers.
- Presentation: Palm Sunday.
- Presentation: Holy Week.
- Presentation: Wrapping up words.
Subject knowledge
Easter
Most people who follow the Christian worldview believe:
Jesus died on the cross on a day called Good Friday and came back to life (resurrection) three days later as part of God’s plan to save humanity from sin (salvation). The Easter story is a crucial part of this belief.
The resurrection of Jesus is remembered at Easter and celebrates victory over sin and death, offering hope of eternal life to believers.
The Last Supper
- In English translations of the Bible, it explains how Jesus shared bread with his disciples at the Passover meal.
- According to Jewish law, leavened food (food made with a raising agent such as yeast) would not have been eaten at Passover so it is likely that this was an unleavened bread similar to flatbread or crackers.
- In the Pupil video: Holy week just the word bread is used reflecting the language used in English translations of the Bible.
Easter dates
Easter is celebrated worldwide in either March or April every year, with Western Easter (the official date for the UK) being the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. This varies by 4-5 weeks for Eastern or Orthodox Easter.
Misconceptions
The children may believe that:
‘Easter is about chocolate eggs and bunnies’ - it is important to explain that while Easter is celebrated in different ways across cultures, its religious significance for many Christians focuses on the death and resurrection of Jesus. The symbols of eggs and new life are often used to represent the Christian message of hope.
‘Easter is only celebrated by Christians’ - it is helpful to explain that while Easter is an important religious festival for many Christians, some people with different worldviews also participate in cultural or family traditions during this season, such as egg hunts or spring-themed celebrations.
‘Jesus stayed on Earth after coming back to life’ - explain that many Christians believe Jesus returned to Heaven to be with God.
‘If you are Christian, you will be resurrected and come back to life’ - explain that many Christians believe Jesus is special because he is God’s son and most believe that after death, rather than the physical body, a person’s soul will be reunited with God, therefore having eternal life.
Lesson organisation
- Distribute copies of the Resource: Traditions around the classroom. A few copies of each page may be helpful so multiple groups access the information at the same time.
Fold each page in half so the children have the opportunity to look at the images and title on side A before deepening their learning, by turning the page to side B.
External visitors
Members of the local community could be invited to discuss how they celebrate Easter.
- For further guidance, see the link: Teacher guidance: External visitors.
If you know a child has specific issues, consider discussing the lesson with them in advance and adapting it as needed. They might benefit from adult support.
If problems emerge during the lesson, consult your Senior Leadership Team.
It is the teacher's responsibility to check all resources and lesson content to ensure it is suitable for their class setting.
SensitivitiesDeath
This lesson explores Jesus' crucifixion, death and resurrection.
When teaching these themes, present them sensitively and age-appropriately, avoiding graphic details about death and punishment.
Focus instead on the broader message of hope and new life.
It is important to create a safe space for the children to discuss and consider their ideas about death. This will help them develop their own worldview while also preparing them for future experiences.
Death can be a sensitive topic that may personally affect some children. It is important to approach this topic with compassion and consideration for the experiences and emotions of everyone.
Remind the children that these are Christian beliefs held by some people and that different cultures and religions have their own interpretations of death and the afterlife.
Explain the importance of respecting all views, even those that differ from their own or they do not agree with.
Resurrection
The concept of resurrection might be unfamiliar to the children. They may have misconceptions about what it means or entails.
It is crucial to maintain sensitivity and ensure that discussions remain age-appropriate.
Some children might find the topics of crucifixion, death and resurrection to be a source of worry. Teachers should approach these themes with caution and be prepared to offer reassurance and clear, gentle explanations.
The wonder box
Remind children that they can use the wonder box if they have questions or concerns they would rather not share in front of the class.
The wonder box gives the children the opportunity to share questions they may not feel comfortable asking in class. More challenging questions can be researched and additional time can be given to consider them. Children who may find writing questions challenging could either use a recording device or ask an adult to scribe for them.
- See: Teacher video: The wonder boxfor information on how to create and use this resource.
Lesson plan
Display the Presentation: Range of answers and ask the children which word they feel is best represented in the psalm and why.
Take feedback, emphasising that there is no right or wrong answer and that each word could be applied depending on different people's interpretation of the psalm.
Show the Presentation: Palm Sunday and ask the children the following questions as they explore the images:
- What do you think is happening?
- Why do you think this event is important?
- How might participating in these events create a sense of belonging?
Explain that the images show different Palm Sunday celebrations around the world. Ask the children which part of the Easter story they think Palm Sunday represents (Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, before his death the following Friday).
- Why might it be important for some Christians to recreate this event? (To create a sense of belonging and closeness to God; to feel like they were there; to connect to Jesus through experiencing a similar event.)
Use slide 2 to point out that many Christians believe Jesus fulfilled ancient prophecies. Many people thought he was the Messiah and he was welcomed like a king, showing how people felt about him. His entrance marks the start of Holy Week – a Christian term for the week leading up to Easter.
Optional: play the Pupil video: Holy week if children are not familiar with or cannot remember the events.
Explain that there are many different practices and traditions observed at Easter, and Palm Sunday processions are just one of them. In different parts of the world, certain traditions are more popular than others, such as those followed by Orthodox Christians.
Point out that because the events of Easter last through Holy Week, many of these traditions are observed on different days, just as they happened at the time.
Show the Presentation: Holy Week and ask the children if they can identify what might have happened on each day. Use the arrows to display clues, and then click on each day to provide a brief overview of events. (Please note that Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, and Spy Wednesday may be less familiar to the children and are not explored in this lesson, but are included here for reference to the full week of Easter events.)
Children may have previously completed the year 6 Religion and worldviews unit: Why is it better to be there in person? (Lesson 2), which explores how some people take a special journey to Jerusalem, called a pilgrimage, to visit the significant places from Holy Week. Remind the children of this learning and point out that this pilgrimage allows people to take part in some traditions where they originally happened, helping them feel closer to God and, often, forming a sense of belonging by experiencing it with others. Explain that in Jerusalem, the Via Dolorosa is the path Jesus walked through the streets of Jerusalem while carrying the cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross.
Ensure pages from the Resource: Traditions are distributed around the classroom (see Lesson organisation). Group the children into threes or fours and hand out a copy of the Activity: Easter traditions to each group, leaving the remaining copies in a pile.
Encourage the children to visit each station, or as many as time allows, discussing and making notes on:
The symbolism of each practice.
How the practice supports a sense of community.
Ways the tradition can help a Christian feel connected to God.
Take feedback and then share the Pupil video: Easter traditions around the world.
Invite five children to the front of the classroom, each representing a different Easter tradition. The children can choose their role as they are picked.
Then, play the audio recording from the mayor of Meadowville, using slide 2 of the Presentation: Holy week.
Explain that each of the five children will explain why their Easter tradition should be chosen, emphasising its symbolism, its role in community support, and its connection to God.
After each child’s explanation, the ‘townspeople’ (the rest of the class) can ask questions.
Finally, hold a vote to decide which Easter tradition will be celebrated this year.
Display the Presentation: Wrapping up words.
Ask the children to discuss in pairs:
- Why and how is Easter celebrated? (Answers may include: to recreate events that happened in Holy week in order to feel closer to God and the Christian community; to remember Jesus' sacrifice.)
Full-screen slides, ready for your classroom, chosen by you.
- To discuss the impact of different Easter traditions by exploring Holy Week.
We value your feedback
We welcome your feedback to help make our resources even better
In this unit
