Local Church – Community – Celebrating - EYFS
NURSERY FOCUS WEEK 1: What the parish family celebrates.
Use a Spider diagram to find out what the children already know about celebrating in church e.g.
Baptism, Christmas, Wedding. AT1 (ii)
Ask the children how people find out about what is happening in church. Introduce the children to the
term ‘Parish Family.’ Talk to the children about how the parish family find out about celebrations that
will take place in the parish from the church notice board or the parish newsletter. Point out that some
celebrations are not held in church. Can they tell which ones are which from the pictures from Church’s
Story 1 pages 12-13, 46-47 and Church’s Story 2 pages 22-25. AT1 (iii)
Have picture of the parish church, the priest and congregation. Use pages 12-13 Church’s Story 1 if
necessary. Discuss what is happening or what they can see. Draw attention to the people, the priest,
crucifix, benches, hymn books, stained glass windows, baptismal font, altar, lectern, notice board,
newsletters etc. AT1 (ii)
Arrange a visit to the parish church. If possible, invite a member of the parish community to join you for
a tour of the church. This will ensure that the relevant elements are available for the ‘I Spy’ activity. The
purpose of this visit is to draw attention to the parts of the church that are used during celebrations.
Take with you your set of ‘I Spy’ pictures and encourage the children to go round in small adult-led
groups, matching their pictures with the real artefacts. Video your visit for further reference. Take digital
photographs.*NB these will be required in the next topic. AT1 (ii)
Whilst in church, the teacher can select from the hymn book a hymn that the children know and can sing
together. Talk about how the parish family use these books in their celebrations. AT1 (i)/(ii)
Introduce the family prayer: Our Father….. AT1 (ii)
Use pictures of church artefacts with the children to familiarise them. These could be used in a game of
‘snap’. AT1 (ii)
Talk about which elements are the same as those in other celebrations, ie decorations, special clothes,
special food etc. Identify those which are different. AT1 (iii)
Make invitations to a celebration. (To be held next week.) AT1 (ii)/ (iii)
Draw, paint or make models of the church parish family celebrating together. AT1 (iii)
Role play getting ready and holding the Old People’s Party. Church’s Story 2 page 25 or the Parish BBQ in
Church’s Story 1 pages 22-23. AT1 (iii)
NURSERY FOCUS WEEK 2: How parish family celebrates – The Story of the Presentation.
Make biscuits or crispie cakes for the celebration. AT1 (iii)
Prepare the entertainment for the celebration. (Poems, songs etc.) AT1 (iii)
Get the children to decorate a ‘box of love’ to give as gifts. AT1 (ii)
Use figures or puppets to re-enact the story of Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the Temple. AT1 (i)
Design a cover for the church hymn book. (Provide a selection of suitable images.) AT1 (ii)
Draw a self-portrait to put on a frieze on the parish notice board, or church wall – ‘We belong to the
Parish….’ AT1 (iii)
RECEPTION FOCUS WEEK 1: What the parish family celebrates.
The Presentation Story
Put captions to the digital photographs taken in church to say how each artefact forms part of a celebration.
(TA to scribe.) AT1 (ii)/ (iii)
Role-play the story of the time Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple. AT1 (i)
Make invitations for the liturgical celebration and send them out. If possible, put in Parish newsletter.
AT1 (iii)
Practise suitable hymns and prayers. AT1 (ii)
Role-play the story of Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the Temple. AT1 (i)
Outside, play Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the Temple AT1 (i)/(iii)
Re-enact the visit to church. AT1 (iii)
Design a cover for the church hymn book. (Provide a selection of suitable images.) AT1 (ii)
Draw a self-portrait to put on a frieze on the parish notice board, or church wall – ‘We belong to the
Parish….’ AT1 (iii)
RECEPTION FOCUS WEEK 2: How parish family celebrates.
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Prepare questions to ask the priest or deacon who have been invited to come and talk about their role in
parish celebrations. AT1 (iii)
Draw a picture of the parish priest or deacon and add a caption about what they do to help the parish
celebrate. (TA to scribe.) AT1 (iii)
Write a ‘Thank you’ letter for inclusion in the parish newsletter which tells the priest or deacon their
favourite memories of the occasion. AT1 (iii)
Send ‘Thank You’ letters or cards to the parish priest or deacon. AT1 (ii)/ (iii)
Eucharist – Relating – Gathering – EYFS
NURSERY FOCUS WEEK 1: The Parish family gathering for Mass.
Talk about what is happening on pages 6-7 of Church’s Story 2, how the parish family gather for Mass.
AT1 (ii)
Role-play the welcome and those involved. AT1 (ii)
Organise a visit to church to look at the door, the holy water stoup, the aisle and the benches where the
people gather. Video the visit. AT1 (ii)
Discuss the visit to the church and then on the IWB have the picture from Church’s Story 2 with missing
objects. Invite the children to drag and drop the objects into place. (The font, those who welcome, the
hymn books, the notices.) AT1 (ii)
In the home corner, provide vestments, candles, books, hymn books etc. to enable the re-enactment of
the welcome and of the procession. AT1 (ii)
Paint a ‘gathering in church’ scene. AT1 (ii)
NURSERY FOCUS WEEK 2: The Parish family gathering to listen to God’s word.
Look at pages 24-25 Church’s Story 2. Discuss how people gather together to hear God’s Word and know
they are loved by God. AT1 (i)
Read Mark 10: 13, 14-16 (simple version) AT1 (i)
Talk about how we gather together to hear God’s Word and know we are loved by God. (Use the
teacher’s note on page 53 Church’s Story 1.) AT1 (iii)
Use God’s Story 1 pages 30-31. Discuss how the children gathered round Jesus. How do they know he is
pleased to see them? (He is smiling, he places his hand on a child, someone on Jesus’ knee, someone
leaning on him.) AT1 (i)
Display picture of Jesus and invite every child to contribute a picture of themselves to emphasise
‘welcome’ and ‘love’. AT1 (iii)
http://www.widgit.com/ use symbol-supported text of the church to match with names. SEN
As above, plus re-enactment of the Scripture passage. AT1 (i)
Paint or draw a picture of themselves to add to the picture of Jesus above. AT1 (i)/ (iii)
RECEPTION FOCUS WEEK 1: The Parish family gathers together for Mass
ADULT DIRECTED ACTIVITIES
Design a ‘welcome to St.....’ poster. Include those whom you will see and what you will experience.
AT1 (iii)
Re-enact the gathering procession. Have suitable props available. AT1 (I)/ (iii)
Use the simple prayer response e.g. The Lord be with you…. And with your spirit. AT1 (ii)
Visit church as for nursery, but include the lectern and the lectionary. AT1 ((ii)/ (iii)
RECEPTION FOCUS WEEK 2: The joy of gathering to listen to God’s Word
ADULT DIRECTED ACTIVITIES
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Use Church’s Story 2 CD to sequence Liturgy of the Word, offertory procession etc. AT1 (iii)
Invite children to talk about video and photos. AT1 (iii)
Teach the children an appropriate hymn or gathering song e.g. ‘This is the day’ and get children to
accompany it with their percussion instruments. AT1 (ii)
Re-enact children receiving a blessing during Holy Communion. AT1 (iii)
As per week 1. AT1 (ii)
Use small figures/stick puppets to talk about the scripture passage. AT1 (i)
Put a copy of God’s Story on a mock lectern where the children are enabled to ‘proclaim the Word’ as
others gather to listen. AT1 (i)
Lent/Easter – Giving – Growing – EYFS
NURSERY FOCUS WEEK 1: Learn about Lent; a time for growing in love.
Adult Directed Activity
Give children heart shapes to draw, write or scribe what they think love is. (Loving others means doing
things and expecting nothing in return.) AT1 (iii)
Create a Lenten tree for the children to add signs of growth in love. AT1 (ii)
Create a display of the way we can care for others and grow in love and understanding. AT1 (iii)
Group activities that demonstrate caring and sharing. AT1 (iii)
Adults in the classroom can reward children they have seen showing how they have grown in love
during Lent with leaves or blossom to put on their Lenten tree. AT1 (iii)
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NURSERY FOCUS WEEK 2: Good Friday and looking forward to Easter.
ADULT DIRECTED GROUP ACTIVITY

Make an Easter garden. AT1 (ii)
Decorate a banner with the words; ‘Alleluia, Jesus is alive.’ AT1 (ii)
Songs to listen to, sing and work with from Rejoice One: ‘Good Friday’, (66) ‘What Jesus Did’ (68) ‘Hot
Cross Buns’(69). AT1 (ii)
Prayers to listen to, say and work with: AT1 (ii)/(iii)
This is the wood of the cross on which Jesus died.
Let us remember him.
Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.
Jesus you are so good. Help us to grow in goodness.
Jesus you are so kind. Help us to grow in kindness.
Jesus you are so caring. Help us to grow in caring.
Jesus you are so loving. Help us to grow in loving.
Invite children to add their own words.
Use play dough and cutters to make hot cross buns. AT1 (ii)
Cut out cross and egg shapes with appropriate words on them for the children to decorate and play
snap. AT1 (ii)
Easter Egg hunt with the words on e.g love, kindness, share etc and put into sand or around the
classroom/school etc. AT1 (ii)
RECEPTION FOCUS WEEK 1: Learn about Lent: a time to grow more like Jesus.
ADULT DIRECTED GROUP ACTIVITY
Draw pictures of people, including themselves living as Jesus asks. Put text in centre - John 13: 34-35, ‘I
love you and want you to love one another.’ AT1 (iii)
Display these pictures on a large cut-out cross with the caption ‘I love you and I want you to love one
another’. AT1 (iii)
Decorate a Lenten promise card showing how I grow like Jesus. AT1 (iii)
Ongoing during Lent – zigzag book - My Lenten growing book. AT1(ii)/ (iii)
The teacher will discuss with the children over Lent ways in which they are growing.
*Role-play the home where Jesus grew up. Put inside clothes and props including a broom, flour, water to
make dough, carpentry set, washing set. AT1 (i)
* In this way the children will experience how Jesus grew in love with his family.
RECEPTION FOCUS WEEK 2: Good Friday and getting ready to celebrate Easter
ADULT DIRECTED GROUP ACTIVITY
The day on which Jesus died is called ‘Good Friday’. On Good Friday people go to church to remember
Jesus and to listen to the story of how he died. AT1 (iii)
Adult to narrate the story and the children re-enact the Gospel reading use props and music to create
an effect: e.g. Barbers’ Adagio AT1 (i)
Place a Cross draped in a purple cloth on the prayer focus. Talk about Good Friday using God’s Story 1
page 34 or Church’s Story 1 pages 42-43. Ask: What do you see? The Cross is special because it helps us
remember Jesus’ great love for everyone. AT1 (i)/ (ii)
Make hot cross buns AT1 (ii)
Make an Easter garden – change the purple cloth to a white cloth and explain that this is symbolic of
Jesus’ new life, his risen life. Include fresh flowers – eggs, chicks and bunnies will also symbolise new life.
AT1 (iii)
Scribe onto a cut-out eggs the ways in which the children have grown during Lent. Children to
decorate them and hang them on the Lenten tree. Add ribbons and re-name it the ‘Easter Tree’. AT1 (ii)
Decorate hard boiled eggs and put them into an Easter basket e.g. love, kindness, share. These can
then be used in an Easter Egg hunt. AT1 (ii)
Songs to listen to, sing and work with from Rejoice One: ‘Good Friday’, (66) ‘What Jesus Did’ (68) ‘Hot
Cross Buns’(69). AT1 (ii)