Reception

Reception [Unit R/e] 10 hours

This unit is about: a local religious place

What places are special to the children?
Which places are special in the school?
Which places are special to people in the community?
Which local place is special to a religious family?
Which people are important in their own lives?

Special Places

Talk about special places - to the children, in the school and in the community.

We have copies of the video ‘Sarah and Paul go to Church’ and a teacher’s book.

Approach a local church to see if they would be willing to lend some artefacts to the class.

Visit www.request.org.uk. The ‘Infants’ section has simple text and illustrations covering many topics including ‘Church Buildings’ and ‘Going to Church’. There are downloadable worksheets and activities for the children to do on line, such as explore two different types of church and find out ‘What is worship?’

Children go to church to hear stories about Jesus. Share some from ‘The Lion Storyteller Bible’.

People also go to church to think and pray. Think about special places you may have at school such as the home corner or perhaps a memorial garden. Ask the children to design their own special thinking place. What would they put in it? What should not be there?

The new BBC video ‘Watch - Christianity’ has clips from various churches. We have a copy available for short term loan.

Special People

Ask the children ‘Who is important to you? Why?’

Draw some pictures of special people - a policeman, a lollipop lady, the Queen.

Divide a page into four and draw the people who care for us. Look at the book ‘You are Very Special’ by Su Box from Lion Publishing, which introduces the concept that we all have value as individuals. There is a mirror in the back of the book.

The syllabus for this term concentrates on church leaders, which is also covered in Year 2. Jesus is the most important person for Christians. Read some stories about his life from ‘The Lion Storyteller Bible’ or ‘The Gentle Carpenter’. We suggest these two from the Storyteller Bible; ‘The Man Who Came Back’ page 96 (explain what is meant by a leper) and ‘The Great Parade’ on page 102. why is Jesus special in these stories?

Page 98 of the Storyteller Bible tells the story of Jesus and the children. Read it together and look at the painting of the Chinese Jesus and the children from Jesus Through Art, which has suggested lesson ideas which could be adapted for younger children.

We have made our own big book about church leaders. Contact us at the e-mail address on the home page to arrange a loan.

If booking a visit from a church leader, please bear in mind that not all of them are used to talking to young children. Please contact us for help if required.

See also the material about church leaders on the Year 2 page of this web site.

Reception [Unit R/a] 7 hours

This unit is about: a variety of religious celebrations

Why do people have celebrations?
How do Jews celebrate Purim?
Which places are special to people in the community?
How do Hindus celebrate Diwali?
How do Buddhists celebrate the Buddha’s birthday?

Bring in a selection of cards - wedding, new baby. new home.
Why do we celebrate? How do we celebrate?
What sort of party would you choose to celebrate your birthday?
What sort of food would you have at your party?

Read the parable of the Big Party from the Lion Storyteller Bible, page 88. The BBC ‘Watch’ video has an animated version, which is available from us.

Divide a sheet of paper into four and choose three different celebrations to draw. Christians celebrate Harvest at this time of year and remember the good things God has given. In the fourth box draw some of the things that we are thankful for.

As a class create a shopping trolley or basket collage, filling it with colourful food and other items. Add a caption such as ‘Thank you God for all you give us’.

The BBC ‘Watch’ video has an episode about Harvest, showing a local family taking their gifts to Bushey Baptist Church and then delivering them to Watford New Hope Trust.

See our Harvest assembly page for more information.

The assembly website www.assemblies.org.uk has an assembly based around the story of Esther and the Jewish celebration of Purim (search the archives of this site to find).

Children go to church to hear stories about Jesus. Share some from ‘The Lion Storyteller Bible’.

The new BBC video ‘Watch - Christianity’ has clips from various churches. We have a copy available for short term loan.

Special People

Ask the children ‘Who is important to you? Why?’

Draw some pictures of special people - a policeman, a lollipop lady, the Queen.

We have made our own big book about church leaders. Contact us at the e-mail address on the home page to arrange a loan.

If booking a visit from a church leader, please bear in mind that not all of them are used to talking to young children. Please contact us for help if required.

See also the material about church leaders on the Year 2 page of this web site.

Reception [Unit R/b] 3 hours

This unit is about: Christmas as a birthday celebration

How do Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday?

How do we celebrate our birthdays? Show an assortment of cards, balloons, presents, decorations, perhaps some special food.

Compare this with what Christians do to celebrate Christmas. Explain why Christmas is a birthday celebration. How would you feel if your friends had a party on your birthday but you weren’t invited? You may like to read or adapt the story of Josh’s birthday by Gordon Bailey.

Tell the story of Jesus’ birth from ‘The Storyteller Bible’, ‘The Tallest Candle’ (Big Book) or Susie Poole’s ‘A Christmas Journey’, which was given to all local primary schools for Christmas 2003 (we have copies available for loan).

Sequencing: use four simple pictures of the Angel and Mary, the Nativity, the shepherds and the kings and ask the children to put these in the correct order. We have a set of pictures available, which have been created especially for the Trust.


	Click the symbol on the left to download the sheet or e-mail us at the address on the home page to receive a copy. The sheet may be photocopied.

Explore the Christmas story using images from the National Gallery, such as ‘The Annunciation’ by Lippi, ‘Nativity at Night’ by Geertgen, ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’ by Guido Reni and ‘The Adoration of the Kings’ by Foppa.

‘The Fox’s Tale’ by Inkpen and Butterworth tells the Christmas story through the eyes of an animal.

Ask the children to imagine that they are one of the animals in the stable. What can they see, hear, smell, feel, taste?


	Read Caroline Gould’s story ‘A Christmas Delivery’ (sent to all local primary schools Christmas 2003) and talk about getting ready for a new baby. What did Mary have for her new baby? A copy of the story may be downloaded here.


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