Teaching Christian Festivals

Click on the links in the list below for a PDF File of the relevant festival medium term plan. Warning! This may take a few moments to load!

The Summary Pages include basic information about the festival under five headings: Bible references; the Christian Story; the Customs; the Beliefs; the Christian Experience. Please consult the summary pages for important background materials on the festival you are teaching.

There is a list of PDF Resources Pages below that of the Festivals.

These materials were originally delivered at termly RE Liaison Groups throughout the Diocese of Ely (Cambridgeshire, West Norfolk, and Southern Peterborough). If you wish to receive a regular mailing about these meetings and other resources available then contact shirley.hall@ely.anglican.org

Download Documents

Harvest

• Harvest Summary
• Foundation - What are Harvest Festivals?
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3/4
• Year 5/6

All Saints and All Souls

• All Saints & All Souls Summary
• Year 2 - A local saint (using St Peter as an example)
• Year 4 - Local Saints (including Etheldreda)
• Year 5 - True Hallowe'en?

Advent

• Advent Summary
• Year 2 - Off to Bethlehem
• Year 3/4 - The Church prepares for Christmas, Mary prepares for her baby

Christmas

• Christmas Summary
• Foundation - Christmas story sack
• Year 1 - Christingle
• Year 2 - Gifts and giving
• Year 3 - Journeys
• Year 4 - Christmas around the world
• Year 5 - the Bible story
• Year 6 - Christmas in Art

Epiphany

• Epiphany Summary
• Foundation - Wise Men
• Year 1 - The star
• Year 2 - Presents
• Year 3 - Gifts
• Year 4 - Kingship
• Year 5 - Popular legends
• Year 6 - Three Wonders - the Epiphany Season

Candlemas

• Candlemas Summary
• Key Stage 1 - Light
• Key Stage 2 - A Special Baby

Lent

• Lent Summary
• Year 1 - Pancakes & other traditions
• Year 2 - Mothering Sunday
• Lower Key Stage 2 - Shrove Tuesday & Lenten promises
• Upper Key Stage 2 - Temptation & Fasting

Easter

• Palm Sunday Summary
• Maundy Thursday Summary
• Good Friday Summary
• Easter Day Summary
• Foundation - Palm Sunday
• Year 1 - New Life
• Year 2 - The Cross
• Year 3 - Light and Dark
• Year 4 - Maundy Thursday and Holy Communion
• Year 5 - Easter Symbolism
• Year 6 - The Biblical Account & Stations of the Cross

Ascension Day

• Ascension Summary
• Key Stage 1 - Ascension Candles
• Lower Key Stage 2 - Rogation
• Upper Key Stage 2 - Christian Symbolism & Kingship

Pentecost

• Pentecost Summary
• Key Stage 1 - The Birthday of the Church
• Lower Key Stage 2 - Wind & Fire
• Upper Key Stage 2 - The Gifts of the Spirit

Resources Pages

The resources listed below support specific festival schemes. Click on the link for a PDF file.

• Harvest Y3/4 - Robert Stephen Hawker
• All Saints Y2 - Notes on St Peter
• All Saints Y4 - Story of Etheldreda
• Christmas Y1 - Meaning of the Christingle
• Epiphany Y5 - Story of the Fourth Wise Man
• Candlemas KS1 - Simeon & Anna
• Lent KS1 - Lent activities
• Easter KS1 - Easter activities
• Easter Y3 - Making an Easter Garden
• Easter Y5 - Easter Symbols
• Ascension & Pentecost KS1 - Ascension & Pentecost candles