MAUNDY THURSDAY
RELIGION: Christianity
Scheme of work written by Rachel Boxer for Guildford Diocese
UNIT TITLE: What was the significance of
Jesus’ new commandment?
Lesson
1
Title of lesson
INTRODUCTORY LESSON
What is Maundy Thursday ?
2
What does the ‘new
commandment’ have to do with
Maundy Thursday ?
3
EVALUATION LESSON
Do actions speak louder than
words ?
GROUP: Upper KS2
LENGTH OF UNIT: 3
lessons
Main points of content
Look at the Biblical account of Maundy Thursday e.g. Jesus washes the
disciples’ feet, the Last Supper, the betrayal in the Garden of
Gethsemane etc. Using the internet, find out about the historical
traditions of Maundy Thursday & their significance
Look at the Biblical account of the events of the Last Supper & especially
consider Jesus’ words ‘I give you a new commandment: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’ How did Jesus
demonstrate this ‘new order’, especially in the events of Maundy
Thursday & Holy Week ?
Talk about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet – what was he meaning the
disciples to understand by this action ? Talk about how foot-washing was
a physical demonstration of a monarch’s desire to serve others in the
historical practices of Maundy Thursday. Consider ways in which we can
metaphorically ‘wash each others’ feet’ in daily life.
Notes:
 Lesson 1 of this unit is the same as lesson 1 for lower KS2 – as this is a ‘special’ unit of work, all children will need to know something of the historical


practices of Maundy Thursday before the actual event!
If possible, briefly follow-up this unit after the Easter holiday, by looking at news articles / TV clips of the actual Maundy Thursday events, talking
about what happened, especially if children from your school were in any way involved.
More ideas for activities /resources can be found in Guildford Diocese syllabus
Additional R.E. Unit – 2006
Written for Guildford Diocese by Rachel Boxer
Unit title: What was the significance of Jesus’ new commandment ?
Lesson title: ‘What is Maundy Thursday about ?’
Lesson 1 in a unit of 3 lessons
Learning Objectives
Possible Learning Experiences
Through the learning experiences,
pupils should learn:
 that Christians call
the week before
Easter Holy Week
 the overview of the
week from Palm
Sunday to Easter
Day
 about the key
Christian traditions
of Holy Week:
- Maundy
Thursday
- the footwashing
- the Last
Supper
 these events help
Christians to believe
that Jesus was the
Son of God
Additional R.E. Unit – 2006
Age range: Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5&6)
Learning Outcomes
Points to note
By the end of the lesson, most pupils are able
to:
Introduction:
 As a class, produce a timeline of the events of Holy
Week
 In groups, produce another more detailed timeline of
the Biblical account of ‘Maundy’ Thursday e.g. Jesus
washes the disciples’ feet, the Last Supper, the
betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane etc.
Main activities:
 Using the internet / CD-ROMs, find out about the
historical traditions of Maundy Thursday & their
significance
 You could give each group a specific event to find out
about, or allow each group to browse at their leisure.
 Each group must also find out how each event is
linked to Christian belief and present this as part of
their findings




make links between the events of
the Easter story and the symbols
and beliefs expressed in Christian
worship (L3)
show, using technical terminology,
how Christian beliefs linked with
Easter are expressed in the lives
of Christians (L4)
Plenary:
 Talk about the events listed on the detailed timeline
and discuss what Christians believe about each event
/ action
Written for Guildford Diocese by Rachel Boxer


Learning outcomes in
italics are additional to
those contained within the
syllabus
You can find articles about
Maundy Thursday on
www.bbc.co.uk/religion/reli
gions/christianity/holydays/
maundythursday.shtml
Also look at the ‘related
links’ section of this web
address for news reports
related to Maundy money
ceremonies
This lesson is basically the
same as lesson 1 for lower
KS2 – as this is a ‘special’
unit of work, all children
will need to know
something of the historical
practices of Maundy
Thursday before the actual
event! There is more of a
focus, however on the
Christian beliefs which
underlie each event
Unit title: What was the significance of Jesus’ new commandment ?
Age range: Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5&6)
Lesson title: ‘What does the ‘new commandment’ have to do with Maundy Thursday ?’
Lesson 2 in a unit of 3 lessons
Learning Objectives
Possible Learning Experiences
Through the learning experiences,
pupils should learn:
 why Christians
believe that Jesus is
the Son of God
 what Jesus said
about himself and
his relationship with
God
Additional R.E. Unit – 2006
Learning Outcomes
Points to note
By the end of the lesson, most pupils are
able to:
Introduction:
 Look at the Biblical account of the events of the Last
Supper
 Especially consider the context of this important meal
within the celebration of Jewish Passover – are there
any parallels that pupils notice?
Main activities:
 Brainstorm pupils’ ideas about Christian
‘commandments’ & especially consider Jesus’ words ‘I
give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I
have loved you, so you must love one another.’
 In groups, talk about how Jesus demonstrated this
‘new order’, especially in the events of Maundy
Thursday & Holy Week
 Produce a piece of artwork which depicts such an
event from Jesus’ life
 Display the pieces of art alongside a large copy of
Jesus’ new commandment
 Invite other classes to your ‘art gallery’
Plenary:
 Look at how other artists have depicted such events

 make links between Christians’
belief that Jesus is the Son of
God and events or statements
from the life of Christ (L3)

 identify and explain in simple
terms the meanings of the
statements Jesus used about
himself (L4)
 form their own opinions about the
reasons why people act in certain
ways (L4)

 make informed responses about
people’s values and
commitments in the light of their
learning (L5)

Written for Guildford Diocese by Rachel Boxer
Learning outcomes in
italics are additional to
those contained within the
syllabus
The introductory part of this
lesson will be more
significant if pupils have
some prior knowledge of
the celebration of Jewish
Passover & the events it
remembers. The depth it’s
possible to go into will
depend on whether your
class have already studied
Judaism
You could use many
different media such as
paint, collage, clay, oil
pastels etc.
Jesus Through Art is a
great resource for the
plenary
Unit title: What was the significance of Jesus’ new commandment ?
Lesson title: ‘Do actions speak louder than words ?’ (evaluation)
Lesson 3 in a unit of 3 lessons
Learning Objectives
Age range: Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5&6)
Possible Learning Experiences
Learning Outcomes
Through the learning experiences,
pupils should demonstrate that they
can:
 explain how the
beliefs of individual
Christians inspire
them to act in a way
that affects the lives
of many more
people
 form their own
opinions about the
reasons why people
act in certain ways
 make informed
responses about
people’s values and
commitments in the
light of their
learning
Additional R.E. Unit – 2006
Points to note
By the end of the lesson, most pupils are
able to:
Introduction:
 In groups, talk about Jesus washing the disciples’ feet
– what was he meaning the disciples to understand by
this action ?
 Feedback ideas to the class
Main activities:
 Talk about how foot-washing was a physical
demonstration of a monarch’s desire to serve others in
the historical practices of Maundy Thursday.
 Consider ways in which Christians demonstrate their
desire to serve others in their daily lives, as Jesus did.
Invite the vicar / local church contact in to talk to your
class about the many different acts of ‘service’ that go
on within & maybe even outside the church community,
and who is involved.
 Are there ways we can metaphorically ‘wash each
others’ feet’ in daily life?
 Each pupil to make a ‘secret pledge’ to complete one
selfless act during the week that could be written on a
slip of paper & posted into a sealed box. The action
could be something they do at home or school
 At the end of the week, break open the box and look at
some of the pledges. Stress that it is important that
pupils’ actions remain anonymous
Plenary:
 With a friend, reflect on the effects that what they did
had on both the recipient and themselves


 These learning outcomes
have QCA references to
make links between the events of
help with assessing
the Easter story and the symbols
children’s work
and beliefs expressed in
 It is possible that not all
Christian worship (L3)
children will show evidence
show, using technical
in their work of all the
terminology, how Christian
learning objectives /
beliefs linked with Easter are
outcomes listed and that
expressed in the lives of
some more able children
Christians (L4)
may show evidence of a
 relate the actions of Christians
throughout the world to their
religious beliefs (L4)
 explain how the beliefs of
individual Christians inspire them
to act in a way that affects the
lives of many more people (L5)
 explain how these beliefs can
make a difference to the lives of
individuals and communities (L5)
Written for Guildford Diocese by Rachel Boxer
higher level in their work.
Please refer to QCA level
descriptors to help you
decide