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?
Here are the words of some young people talking about 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
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 making
This 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 installation
Ask 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 symbols
Many 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?