Primary RE Lesson Offer
Faith in Schools brings Christians into Newham’s secondary schools to deliver high-quality RE lessons on Christianity and takes pupils into the community to see how Christians put their faith into action.
Pupils are able to meet a variety of Christians from different backgrounds and church denominations and find out what it means to be a Christian in Newham today.
Christmas
How do Christians celebrate Christmas? Or, What happened when Jesus was born?
Christian visitor shares their Christmas practices through puzzles and role play; or leads an interactive Nativity story session with the children.
Easter
How do Christians celebrate Easter? What happened when Jesus died?
Children can discover more about how a Christian visitor celebrates Easter through craft activities such as egg decoration; or join in a Spirited Play session that retells the Easter story. Photo: East Day scene with Playmobil.
Cross
Why is the Cross so important to Christian people?
We bring in a selection of crosses for children to handle and explore. We introduce the children to some Christians who share what the cross means to them.
Bible
How can small people do big things?
Children are introduced to “David and Goliath” using a Spirited play story session. With Christian visitors, they consider ideas of bravery, courage and trust with the chance to explore some picture Bibles further.
Church Visit/ Special Places
Why are churches important to Christians?
We can organise an age-appropriate visit to a local church or a Christian visitor can come in and share what happens in a church through a range of play-based activities and artefacts.
Identity and Relationships
How do we make friends?
Christian visitor shares why they call Jesus their best friend. Children find out more about Jesus through the story of “Zaccheus” and compare their own experience of friendship. Optional: making playdough models of our friends.
Unit: What does it mean to belong to Christianity?
How do some children belong in Christianity?
We demonstrate a Christening or Dedication service by a church leader to the children in their class or at a local church. Photo: Father Ken shows children a Baptism candle.
Unit: How do Christians celebrate Christmas?
What can a church tell us about the Christmas story?
We may invite your school to attend the Christmas Journey at a local church. The children walk through the Christmas story meeting the characters and visiting scenes from the Nativity in a creative and interactive way.
Unit: How do you live well with family and friends?
How does the Bible help Christian families to forgive?
Using the Spirited Play technique, we tell the story of the “Lost Son”, helping children to think about the concept of forgiveness.
What can we learn about Jesus’ death? Or Why is Easter important to Christian people?
We organise a visit to a church to see the story of Jesus’ death told through ‘Stations of the Cross’ artwork displayed around the church building. We also offer a class-based alternative where the Easter story is told in an interactive way with pupils. Photo below: Rev Henry explains an image of the Crucifixion
Why are different books special for different people?
For whom is the Bible a special book and why?
We bring in a wide variety of Bibles for the children to look through and explore along with the visitors. We look at one story together in more detail, usually the “Lost Sheep”.
Why did Jesus tell stories?
Which stories did Jesus tell?
We tell an interactive parable story from the Bible, eg: “Lost Coin”, “Good Samaritan” or “Lost Sheep”. Children explore what Jesus was trying to teach and its meaning for Christians today. We provide resources for a follow up lesson in which different classes retell their story to the rest of the year group.
Where does the world come from?
How do Christians try and look after the world?
We tell or review the Christian Creation story (based on classes’ prior knowledge) and share different ways in which some Christian visitors try and care for the earth and the people on it.
Unit: How do special foods and fasting help people?
Why do some Christians fast during Lent?
We lead an interactive story/drama session based on Jesus’ fasting in the desert and discover the reasons why some Christian visitors fast. The focus on the season of Lent is optional.
Unit: Special Symbols
Why is the cross important to Christians?
FIS has a lesson using a collection of crosses from around the world which the children can investigate. Pupils can find out more about the meaning of the symbol of the cross for the Christian visitors.
Unit: What is the significance of light in religion?
How do Christians use light at Christmas?
We use a “Christingle” to explain the symbolism of light in Christianity. There is also an option for a non-seasonal lesson based around how Jesus is seen as “The Light of the World” by Christians.
Unit: How did Jesus and Buddha make people stop and think?
What is the challenge in the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector?
We lead a lesson based around Jesus’ parable of the tax collector and think about its meaning. We challenge children to relate the story to real life situations today.
Unit: Why is Easter important to Christians?
What are the events of the Last Supper and how is the symbolism used today? (Lesson 1)
Christian visitors come and talk about how they celebrate the last supper at their church OR we can arrange a church visit for children to see the various details surrounding Communion. There is an option for peer visitors to accompany us.*
Unit: Why is Easter so important to Christians?
Church Vist (Lesson 2)
We invite your school to come to a local church and have the ‘Easter Experience’, a half-day session of workshops focusing on what the Resurrection means to Christians from around the world.
Unit: Why is the Bible a special book?
How do Christians use the Bible in church and in the home and elsewhere?
We introduce some Christian visitors, explain how we use our Bibles and why they are special for us. Pupils have the chance to browse a children’s Bible, read one story together and interview the visitors. There is an option for peer visitors to accompany us.*
Unit: What makes me the person I am?
Who or what influenced the life of St Francis?
FIS can provide a visitor lesson where we look at the life of St Francis and his legacy, including music and poetry. There may be the chance to interview a Franciscan follower. This lesson helps children to think about the link between their values and actions.
Unit: What religions and world views are represented in our neighbourhood?
What evidence can we find of religions in the neighbourhood helping others?
Christian visitors come to share some different ways they put their faith into action in our local community. Pupils compare at least 3 individuals, judging if they are living out their beliefs well.
What happens when someone gets married?
What is a wedding celebration? What are wedding vows and what do they mean?
We invite your school to a “pretend” marriage at a local church, along with a reception that the children can participate in. One of our most memorable lessons, it allows pupils to think about commitments and compare and contrast a Christian marriage service to other religions.
Unit: How do Christians try to follow Jesus’ example?
How did Jesus set an example for others to follow?
We share key points of Jesus’ life and then encourage pupils to interview a selection of Christian visitors who are trying to follow Jesus’ example in different ways. There is an option for peer visitors to accompany us.*
Unit: How is Christmas celebrated around the world?
How do Christmas traditions vary around the world?
We provide a lesson which explores the different ways Christmas is celebrated around the world by bringing in Christians from different cultures and countries. Children can ask questions and make comparisons. There is an option for peer visitors to accompany us.*
Unit: What do religions and world views believe about God?
What do Christians believe about God?
We lead a lesson which examines and unpacks the concept of God as “Trinity” as a core belief within Christianity. We use Christian artwork and visitors to bring the learning to life.
Unit: What inner forces affect the way we think and behave?
Why did Adam and Eve disobey God?
We retell a pivotal story from the Bible creatively, along with the children. They go on to examine what forces led the characters to act the way they did.
Unit: What are the sources of the story about what happened on the first Easter Sunday?
What other stories explore Easter themes?
We support children to consider the key themes of the Easter story, reviewing with an unconventional Bible excerpt. We unpack what difference celebrating Easter makes in the lives of some Christian visitors. There is an option for peer visitors to accompany us.*
Unit: What similarities and differences do religions and world views share?
Why is the Church important for Christians?
We invite your school to a local church and explain aspects of Christian worship. Children then ask any questions they have about Christian practices or Christianity in general. Optional: we can bring visitors into your school if a visit is not possible.
Unit: How is art important in Christianity?
How can colour express religious feelings? (Lesson 1)
We lead a creative arts lesson, where pupils have the opportunity to learn what different colours represent for some Christians and then go on to create their own colourful art through banners or dance.
How is art/music/drama used in Christianity? (Lesson 2)
We introduce a selection of modern and traditional Christian art to pupils. Together with the visitors, we consider one contemporary piece in detail and then children have the chance to make a sketch/song or skit inspired by its theme.
Unit: What do people believe about life after death?
What do Christians believe about life after death?
We lead a lesson that examines some of Jesus’ teachings about life and death, including a story of resurrection. Christian visitors sensitively share their experiences of death and life after death which pupils then reflect on.
Unit: What qualities are important to religious leaders?
Who is an important religious leader in Newham?
A selection of Christian leaders will come into the classroom and answer pupils’ pre-prepared questions. Children will be able to compare at least 2 leaders’ practices and motivations.
Unit: How do different religions and world views create celebrations?
What is special about celebrations in Christianity?
Christian visitors share the personal significance of celebrations/key moments in their journey of faith such as: Baptism, Confirmation and Sacraments. Pupils then compare, contrast and pull the strands together.