Christianity – Prayer. What is prayer? Why do Christians pray? What do I think about prayer?
Year 1 or Year1/2 on a two year rolling programme
Children will learn about why and how Christians pray and about some Biblical figures who used prayer. Children can talk about why they
might pray.
Background Story/ Information
Christians believe prayer is an important part of daily life. Jesus said, ‘When you pray, you talk to God.’ There are different types of prayer. Prayer can be
done individually, collectively, and in different settings. (church, home, school, countryside). Jesus taught his disciples how to pray in the words of the
Lord’s Prayer. Jesus told a story about having the right attitude when we pray -the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
Cross Curricular Links
Literacy, Art and DT, PSHE, Citizenship, Speaking and Listening,
Numeracy, Science, ICT , SMSC
Key Vocabulary
Prayer, pray, hymns, Bible, God, Jesus, The Lord’s Prayer
Skills
Investigation – I can find and suggest solutions.
Interpretation – I can develop and expand my own ideas.
Communication – I can empathise with others.
Attitudes
Respect – being sensitive to the feelings and ideas of others.
Open mindedness – being willing to learn and gain new understanding.
Key Questions
What is prayer?
What is a prayer and what might it look like?
Why do Christians pray?
Learning Objectives
Possible Teaching/Learning Activities
Learning Outcomes
Resources
Children will reflect on how
we communicate
(with people we see, can’t
see, are known/unknown)
Lesson 1
Thought shower/in groups draw or write ways to
communicate e.g.
 phone
 facial expressions
 writing, letters, postcards, birthday cards etc
 mobile phones, texts
 e-mail
 talking, [ arguing, persuading ,shouting,
sympathising, joking…etc]
 listening
 singing
 signing, ask a deaf person to school
I can
recognise different ways of
communicating
Paper, pencils, pictures of
phones, computers, cards,
mobile phone, Braille.
Children will learn that
Christians believe prayer is
a way of talking and
listening to God
Suggestions grouped into
 face to face communication
 communicating with those we cannot see
 communicating with people we don’t know
Children will listen to a
range of simple prayers
Look at suggestions in each group and compare the
suggestions. What do the children notice? 
(The aim is to get the children to understand that they can
communicate with people they see, cannot see and are
known/unknown.)
Introduce children to the Christian belief that through prayer
they can talk and listen to God,
I can talk about what I find
interesting in the way that
people communicate with
each other.
I can talk about what I find
interesting or helpful about
the prayers I have listened
to or know.
www.northumbriacommunity
.org
see section ‘pray the office’
Lesson 2
Show the children some examples of prayer books for
children. ( choose some that are less traditional) Read
some of the prayers and ask the children which ones they
have enjoyed listening to and when they think these
prayers might be used e.g.’ before a meal, at bedtime,
when someone is ill etc.
Talk with the children about who the prayers are addressed
to and about how they begin and end.
Discuss with the children when they have seen others pray
or when they have prayed themselves.
Invite the children to write a prayer or special thought that
could be used at a particular time of day or on a particular
occasion. Find an interesting way to display these e.g. on a
tree or around a clock signifying different times of the day.
Draw the children’s attention to the fact that some
Christians use a pattern of prayer throughout the day [an
example of this is the pattern of prayer used by the
Northumbria Community and Morning and Evening prayer
for Anglicans] or have a regular time when they pray to
God.
Book of Children’s’ prayers
www.cofe.anglican.org
see section on ‘Daily
prayer’
I can recognise that prayer
is important to some people.
I can talk about which
prayers might be suitable for
different occasions
Children will learn about
what people do when they
pray
Light a candle and sit quietly watching the flame.
Prayers/reflections that have been written could be read as
an end to the lesson.
I can talk about the different
ways in which people pray.
Children will hear the story
of the Pharisee and the
publican and will reflect on
the attitudes of the two
characters.
Lesson 3
Look at examples [pictures/DVD clips] of people praying in
different faith communities. What do the children notice
about what people do when they pray.
Jesus told a story about 2 men who went to the Temple to
pray.
I can recall the story of the
Pharisee and the Tax.
Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18 v9-14)
Mr Proud and Mr Sorry (The Big Bible Story Book 1SBN
978 1 844 27 22 80. A more child friendly version)
A Pharisee [religious leader] who boasts when he prays
about how wonderful he is. He expects that God will be
very proud of him. The second man is a Tax Collector
[much hated by many] When the tax collector prays, he
recognises how great God is. He acknowledges the wrong
things that he has done for which he is sorry.
Act out the story. Think about the body language for the
characters. The Pharisee standing tall, chest out, head
high. The Tax Collector bowed down, head low and eyes
down.
Photograph drama. 
OR
Make a collage/drawing of the characters from the story.
The children could add their own version of the Pharisee
and Tax Collector’s prayer in a speech bubble. 
Which man, would Christians say, talked to God in the right
way? The Pharisee or the tax Collector? Why? 
Discuss with the children why they think Christians bow
their heads or kneel down when they pray
Collector and I can respond
to the feelings and attitudes
of the two characters.
Pharisee and the Tax
Collector (Luke 18 v9-14)
Mr Proud and Mr Sorry (The
Big Bible Story Book 1SBN
978 1 844 27 22 80. A more
child friendly version)
Bible or The Big Bible Story
Book, camera
Learn about the Lord’s
Prayer and why it is special
for Christians
Lesson 4
Jesus spent a lot of time talking and listening to God. His
friends wanted to be able to do the same and asked Jesus
what they should say to God when they prayed.
Jesus gave His friends a special prayer that they could use.
Do the children know what it is?
Read the Lord’s Prayer. (Luke 11 v2-4)
Explain the meaning of each line as you read it. Possibly
use The Lord’s Prayer retold by Lois Rock [Lion publication]
Draw out the following ideas as you explore the prayer with
the children:
In the Lord’s Prayer  Jesus said we should pray to God our father
reminding Christians that God loves everyone as a
parent loves a child.
 God should be honoured and praised by Christians
when they pray.
 Christians pray for God’s goodness and love to rule
in the world
 Christians ask God for the provision of their daily
needs e.g. food, shelter etc.
 Christians ask forgiveness for failing to do, say or
think what is right recognising that they should also
forgive others when they are wronged.
 Christians ask for help to do, think and say the right
things and to be protected from harm.
 The prayer ends by acknowledging the power and
glory of God.
Invite the children to Sing a version of the Lord’s Prayer Come and Praise- or Listen to a sung version e.g. version
on the Celtic Daily Prayer CD available from the
Northumbria Community
Light a candle and sit quietly watching the flame. Quietly
listen to the words of the Lord’s Prayer together
OR - Ask your local priest, or a member of the local church,
to come and talk about the Lord’s Prayer and what it means
to them.
I can recall that the Lord’s
Prayer is a prayer that Jesus
taught His followers
(Christians)
The Lord’s Prayer
Unplugged by Lucy Moore
The Lord’s Prayer by Lois
Rock
Exploring the Lord’s Prayer
with Maximus Mouse
The Lord’s Prayer retold by
Lois Rock
Lion publication
0 7459 3901 5
The Lord’s Prayer, Come
and Praise CD, or a sung
version e.g. the version on
the Celtic Daily Prayer CD
from the Northumbria
Community.
www.cloistersonline.com
Lesson 5
Prepare the highlighted questions on pieces of card
Learn about how and where
a Christian might pray
Where do Christians pray?
 church
 school
 home
 outside
Can you pray anywhere?
When do Christians pray?
Do Christians always speak aloud?
Do Christians always pray together?
Does prayer always involve words?
In groups draw/thought shower/write ideas.
Share ideas and add suggestions.
Now look at some pictures of Christians praying or of
artefacts that help Christians pray. If you have a set of
artefacts associated with prayer pupils could undertake an
artefact investigation
Are there any other ideas you can add to your list. What do
these pictures/artefacts tell you about how Christians pray?
You could include pictures/artefacts from a range of
Christian traditions which demonstrate different approaches
to prayer e.g. using icons, using a rosary, using a votive
candle, using a prayer card, lifting hands, kneeling, and
sung prayer, sitting quietly.
See www.request.org.uk
PCET photopack
Design a simple leaflet about how/where Christians pray –
include some drawings of artefacts or places where
Christians might pray.
OR
Sometimes prayer candles have a picture on them e.g. a
Christian symbol. Children could draw a design for a prayer
candle
OR
I can recognise that a
Christian prayer may take
place in a range of different
settings.
I can talk about the ways in
which Christians might
choose to pray – alone, with
others, silently, out loud.
www.request.org.uk
For information about
Christian prayer – look
under ‘Do what?’ section.
This includes information on
the Lord’s Prayer; positions
for prayer; what Jesus
taught about prayer
Photopack e.g.
PCET Photopack
Christianity or Folens
Accessing Religious
Education series –
Photobook 2 and Big Book 2
Many Christians create a special place in their homes
where they like to be quiet and pray. This might include a
comfortable place to kneel or sit and some objects to help
them pray e.g. prayer cards/books, Bible, music CD,
candle.
Design a ‘prayer corner’ that you think a Christian might like
to use for quiet reflection and prayer – what objects would
you include?
Learn about why Christians
pray and different types of
Christian prayer
Lesson 6
Different kinds of prayers.
Prayers can be for anything. Christians believe it is having
a conversation with God. When Christians pray they often
find a quiet place to sit and think about what they want to
share with God.
I can recall some of the
different types of prayer that
Christians use
Find a selection of prayers that cover as many different
themes. Read some to the children or the children read
some to themselves or with a partner.
I can respond sensitively to
the importance of prayer for
many people.






praise (what a wonderful world you have made for
us)
thank you (thank you God for this new day)
asking (please God, can you help me to be brave?)
saying sorry (I am very sorry for hurting my friend)
awe and wonder (these flowers are so beautiful they
make me smile)
healing (God please help my Nan to feel better)
Model some everyday statements that convey these
sentiments.
Write a simple prayer.
OR
An acrostic poem using the word ‘prayer’.
OR
Design a banner with a simple prayer phrase.
OR
Go for a ‘Senses Walk’. What do you see, hear, feel or
smell? Draw or write what you did. What sort of prayer
might a Christian say in response to a Senses Walk?
Light a candle and sit quietly for a few minutes watching the
flame. Listen again to the words of the Lord’s Prayer and
think about the different sorts of prayer which are important
to Christians e.g. Praise, saying sorry, asking for help etc.
Assessment Opportunities
 I can recall elements of a Bible story which show people talking with God.
 I can recognize that Christians believe they can talk and listen to God through prayer.
 I can talk about some ways in which I communicate.
 I can give examples of how Christians pray and the sort of prayers they use.