Objectives and Key Questions

1. Respond, in the light of their own experiences and thoughts, to stories or pictures which may cause people to wonder / question.
Why do people celebrate?

2. Respond, in the light of their own experiences and thoughts, to stories or pictures which may cause people to wonder / question.
What is good news?

3. Recognise selected features of Christianity.
What was special about Jesus?

4. Recognise selected features of Judaism.
Respond, in the light of their own experiences and thoughts, to stories or pictures which may cause people to wonder / question.
What is bravery?

Teaching Activities

1. Ask pupils to 'brainstorm' what people celebrate, eg fireworks night, Christmas, New Year's Eve, birthdays, having a baby brother/sister being born, weddings.
Ask: 'What do people do at these times?'
Ask pupils to say which events are celebrated by all, some, a few, no one in the class and how they felt at a few of these events.
Explore with pupils the reasons why some events are celebrated by some, but not all people and why some people celebrate in different ways.
Use a certificate such as that in the Diocese of Bath & Wells' Christmas Pack and ask pupils to fill in their own 'good news' in words and/or pictures. (2a)

2. Build on idea of celebrating good news by introducing them to different ways of giving good news, eg cards, telephone, letter, chat and e-mails. Help the pupils to dramatise particular good news situations using these methods, and ask them to suggest situations and to talk about the feelings of people who are celebrating. (2a)
Tell story of Teddy Bear, Piglet, Kitten and Me, and ask pupils to say what the good news was in the story. Parts of this story can be acted out too. (2d)

3. Remind pupils of the Christmas just gone and that its purpose was to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who, Christians believe, came to bring a new and better life for people. That was a long time ago, but people still remember it today.
Show pupils the Christmas story from the Animated Bible Stories video, and ask them why Jesus is a special baby.
Use activity sheets from Animated Bible Stories book to help pupils engage with the story, eg 'How many shepherds, wise men, animals, etc, are in the picture?' 'If you were Mary or Joseph what would you write on your postcard home?' (2b)

4. Tell pupils that Jesus was Jewish and introduce Purim as a festival he would have celebrated as he grew up. Jewish people still celebrate it today.
Tell The Story of Esther: a Very Brave Queen and ask pupils to say how they would have felt at different parts of the story. (2b,d)
Ask pupils to draw, write about or act out a time when they frightened, and someone helped them to be brave. (2d).

Assessment Opportunities

1. -

2. -

3. -

4. Pupils respond, in the light of their own experiences and thoughts, to the puzzling parts of the story of Esther by expressing their ideas about fear and bravery. (E1)