Christianity – Special Books – the Bible. Why is the Bible a Holy Book for Christians?
Year 2 or Year 1/2 on a two year rolling programme
Background Story/ Information
Children will learn about the Bible as a Holy Book for Christians. To know the Bible is split into Old and New Testament and that the Bible is full of
stories about God and his love for people. To know that there are different versions of the Bible.
Cross Curricular Links
Literacy
Science
Key Vocabulary
Bible Old and New Testament
Christian
Skills
Investigation – I can ask appropriate questions
Analysis & Evaluation – I can look for reasons
Interpretation- I can see implications
Attitudes
Empathy – respect for others
Miracle
Key Questions
Why is the Bible a holy book to Christians?
How do stories in the Bible help Christians to understand what God is like?
What different books are special to us?
Assessment opportunities are indicated by a  throughout the document
Learning Objectives
Children can talk about why
a book is special to them.
Possible Teaching/Learning Activities
Children could:
Title- Lesson 1- What book is special to me?
Children can talk about the
way in which books have
different purposes and
values.
Introduce your own special book and explain why. Children
bring in special book from home. Circle time activity to
discuss why it is special. ‘this book is special to me
because….’
Children can describe a way
a book has influenced them.
Children promote their book giving reasons why others
would like to share it. 
1
Learning Outcomes
I can say why a book is
special to me and why they
are special to others AT2
level ½.
I can describe the way a
book has influenced me.
(AT 2 Level 3).
Resources
Special books
Digital camera
Children can name and
recognise the Bible as the
special book of the Christian
community.
Children can recognise how
the Bible is important to the
life of a Christian and how it
influences them.
Lesson 2- What is the special book for Christians?
Either show a range of Bibles of different types e.g.
Children’s Bible, Family Bible and/or arrange a visit from
local vicar/minister/ church member who could then
introduce the Bible as a special book for Christians.
Minister/Christian could show how the Bible is used on a
daily basis and helps Christians understand what God is
like.
Children ask prepared lists of questions about the Bible.
What do they want to find out?
Christian/minister to read/retell favourite parts from the
Bible and say why it is important to them.
I can name the special book
for Christians. (AT 1 level 1).
I can understand how the
Bible is important to
Christians. (AT 1 Level 2).
Different types of Bibles
(foreign languages/old/
children’s/family etc.)
Visitor from a local church.
I can describe the way the
Bible has influenced and
helped Christians. (AT 1
Level 3).
I can ask questions. (AT 2
level 2).
Write a letter of thanks to the person, expressing something
they have learnt about the Bible. 
At this point you need to make a choice – either use the
Joseph story below or if you intend to teach the Jewish
unit’ What Jews believe about God’ (also using the
story of Joseph) use the alternative stories about King
David (see below).
Children learn about the
story of Joseph as a story
which helps Christians and
Jews understand that God is
with them in every event of
their life.
Children reflect on shared
human experiences of
jealousy etc.
Lesson 3 Joseph’s brothers were jealous.
Explain that the children are going to hear a story from the
part of the Bible called the Old Testament.
Read the first part of the story of Joseph up to his departure
to Egypt. Discussion on his dreams and actions. Should
he have done it? How would you feel?
Circle Time on Jealousy-‘I am jealous when….’ Children
mime and photograph facial expressions associated with
this feeling.
2
I can retell the story of
Joseph. (AT 1 level 1/2).
Lion First Bible by Pat
Alexander Pages 74-81
ISBN 0 7459 3210 X
Genesis Chapter 37
Dorling Kingsley Bible
I can respond sensitively to
the story of Joseph
recognising shared human
experiences of jealousy,
fear, hope, forgiveness and
Joseph’s trust in God
BBC Animated Bible Series
Paint/draw pictures of Joseph in his multi coloured coat and
write sentences to suggest how the brothers felt when they
saw him in it. Write in colours to show the different feelings.
Drama. Act out the story of Joseph so far. Encourage the
children to think about the things the brothers might say to
each other. (You may like to use a conscience alley
activity).
End with the visit to dad. How was he feeling? What might
happen next? Predictions.
Lesson 4 Joseph forgives his brothers.
 Review the previous lesson.
 Read on to the end of the story of Joseph. Discuss
dreams and brothers visit to Egypt. How do you
think they/Joseph felt when they saw each other?
 Freeze frame reactions to Joseph from the brothers
and/or create drawn “faces” to express their
reaction.
 How did Joseph feel after he forgave them?
 How had Joseph changed?
 Ask the children what they enjoyed about the story.
How did God help Joseph even when life was
difficult for him? How did he become a better
person? What do you think Christians learn from this
story in the Bible? [perhaps they understand that
God looked after Joseph in all his different
experiences of life]
 Create a second “half” to the picture of Joseph, this
time showing him dressed as an Egyptian. Write
appropriate words around the two representations of
Joseph to show the changes in his personality
before/ after he went to Egypt.
 Circle time or discussion talk partners. Explore
feelings associated with being forgiven and offering
forgiveness.
3
Lion First Bible by Pat
Alexander Pages 74-81
ISBN 0 7459 3210 X
Genesis Chapter 38-39
Dorling Kingsley Bible
I can give my views about
the changes in Joseph over
time.
I can raise questions about
the story that puzzle me.
BBC Animated Bible Series
Hear some stories about
King David and reflect on
what these stories teach
Jews and Christians about
God and themselves
Alternatively use the following stories about King
David.


Read the story about the choice of the shepherd
boy David as the future King of Israel 1 Samuel 15 v
1 – 16 v13
Dramatise the story, use hot-seating for any of the
characters.
From this story learn that the Bible tells us that:
 God does not always choose the seemingly
powerful and important people to work for him
 that God values the character of a person more than
their outward appearance.

The children could draw an outline of themselves
and write words to describe the best aspects of their
character to place inside the figure.

David was a shepherd boy who made up songs and
sang these when he played his harp. He sang
songs about his friendship with God.

Read with the children one of the best known of
these songs – Psalm 23 - explaining to them that
this song is used in Christian and Jewish worship
today. David wrote this Psalm because he faced
dangers from wild animals and he must often have
felt afraid.

From this Psalm Jews and Christians learn that God
is like a shepherd watching over and guarding his
sheep from danger. God is like a shepherd who
leads his sheep to where there is green grass and
cool water. God is like a shepherd who leads his
sheep along safe paths. David wrote about the love
and kindness of God.
4
I can retell some stories
about David responding
sensitively to the actions
and feelings of characters.
I can give my views on what
these stories teach about
God.
1 Samuel 15 v1 – 16 v13
A version of this story can
be found in the Barnabas
Schools Bible page 108

If possible listen to some sung versions of the
Psalm.

Talk about what makes you afraid and what brings
you comfort.
Hear the story of David and Goliath [1 Samuel 17 v1 -50]
 Discuss David’s bravery which stemmed from his
trust in God.
 Discuss how he showed courage in the face of
danger.
 Christians today believe that God wants them to
stand up for people who are being bullied or hurt by
others and they trust God to help them find ways to
do this.
 Retell the story e.g. using drama, comic strip,
concertina book.
Children learn about the
story of the healing of blind
Bartimaeus and reflect upon
its significance for Christians
Lesson 5 Blind Bartimaeus trusts Jesus.
 Blind Bartimaeus. Tell the story to the children.
Discuss how it must feel to be blind and the need to
trust others totally.
 In pairs. One child blind folded. Other child steers
him through/around the classroom or ready made
obstacles. He/she must trust him to keep him/her
safe. Swap and discuss feelings. Stress how/why it
is important to be trustworthy.
 Discuss how blind people can be supported today.
Arrange a visit from Wiltshire Blind Association or
from a member of the local community who
understands what it is like to be visually impaired.
Use Braille machine. Ask a representative to
demonstrate how it is used. Show and use an
example of Braille writing.
 Make sandpaper letters for your name to show the
sense of touch is very important for the blind.
 Write a diary or a day in the life of blind Bartimaeus.
Who could he trust, who helped him?
5
I can retell the story of Blind
Bartmaeus. (AT 1 level 1/2).
Mark chapter 10 or Luke
chapter 18
I can give my views about
the feelings of Bartimaeus
Blind folds
Visitor from Wiltshire Blind
Association
Braille
Sandpaper
www.wiltshireblind.org
I can recognise that this is
an important story for
Christians because it helps
them understand that Jesus
healed people and showed



Learn about the story of the
feeding of the 5000.
Reflect on ways in which
they can share with others.
Discuss how Bartimaeus trusted Jesus to help him.
How did his life change after he met Jesus, not only
could he see but-----Talk about how Christians value this story because
it helps them to understand that Jesus came to
show God’s love in action. Jesus did this by healing
those who were sick or troubled.
Talk about how Christians might try to show God’s
love in action today to those in need.
Lesson 6 How Jesus looked after the 5,000.
 Take a lunchbox and attempt to share between the
class. Discuss how little there would be for each
child. Use this to lead into the story of Feeding of
the 5,000 and how a small boy gave up his own
lunch to help others.
 Read the story. What is special about the story?
Jesus wanted to help the people when they were
hungry. He showed how special he was through the
miracle but the miracle was made possible by the
offering of the boy’s lunch.
 Role play. You are a person in the crowd telling
someone at home what had happened. Look at the
picture of the feeding of the 5000 by Eularia Clark see Methodist art collection. What do children
like/dislike about the painting? Imagine yourself as
a person in the painting. What might you be saying
or thinking?
 Circle Time- talk about ways in which we share what
we have with others.
 If this teaching coincides with Harvest Festival
celebrations invite the local vicar/minister to talk
about Harvest and its importance to the Christian
faith community. Relate to sharing our resources
OR
 Relate to global curriculum. Discuss the work of
e.g. Oxfam, Christian Aid etc. and discuss how
these organisations share scarce resources.
6
God’s love in action. [AT1
level 1]
I can suggest how
Christians might show God’s
love today
I can retell the story of the
Feeding of the 5,000. (AT 1
level 1/2).
I can give views about how
I might share with others
and make a difference.
Matthew 14
Mark 6
Luke 9
John 6
Lion First Bible by Pat
Alexander Pages 74-81
ISBN 0 7459 3210 X
Visitor from a local church
www.oxfam.org.uk
www.tearfund.org
www.christianaid.org.uk
I can give views about why
Christians believe that they
should share with others..


Assessment Opportunities





Discuss why the story is important to Christians
e.g. because it shows that Jesus cared about the
physical needs of people, and that he used the
small amount of food that the boy was willing to
share for the good of many.
Talk to the children about the small things that they
can do that can make a big difference.
Children write a letter to the visiting minister
explaining what they have learnt about the Bible as
a holy book from him/her.
Retell a story e.g. through a drama activity, discuss
and explain why this story might be important to
Christians
Children can describe the purpose and value of a
book that is important to them.
Describe how they can make a difference in small
ways.
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