Year 4 Easter
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Year 4 Some possible Outcomes: Easter
Level 2
If necessary recap by know and retell the account of the resurrection given by the Gospel
writers ( AT1i L2) (Note at this stage I would keep it to just one resurrection maybe Luke)
To know and retell the story of the Ascension ATi L2
To know and retell the story of the Road to Emmaus (AT1i L2)
Be able to use Religious vocabulary to describe the Stories and the symbols within them.(
At111 L2)
Ask questions about how the disciples were feeling after the death of Jesus on the road to
Emmaus and at the Ascension. (AT2 I L2)
To ask their own questions about the events after the resurrection and realise some of these
are difficult to answer (AT2ii L2)
Level 3
To be able to describe some ways in which the Journey to Emmaus might affect us today.
At1iii L3
Make links between the accounts of the resurrection and Christian beliefs (AT11 L3)
Give reasons for the actions of the disciples after the resurrection (AT1 iii L3)
Compare their own and others ideas about what they think about Jesus rising from the dead
and what happened on the road to Emmaus (AT211 L3)
After studying the account of the resurrection especially the Emmaus story explain how you
think story might affect the actions of believers (AT1iii L3)
Level 4 work
Show an understanding of how the implications of the resurrection accounts might shape
the lives of believers (AT1 iii L4)
Engage with the question does it matter that Jesus rose from the dead? (AT2 ii L3/4)
(Note in order to get to level 4 they would need to consider other scriptural references like
1 Corinthians 15:14 as well as church teaching at this stage you might also want them to
ask other people about whether the resurrection matters to them)
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The Resurrection of Jesus This is a Recap!
 Read/watch/act out the account of the resurrection (Luke Ch24v1-12)
 Ask questions to enable pupils to respond to the story.
Why were the women frightened? Why didn’t anyone believe them?
How do you think Peter was feeling? (Remember the last thing he
did was deny Jesus) How were the others feeling? Much harder: Do
you think Jesus knew he was going to rise from the dead? Can you
be a Christian without believing in the resurrection?
(You may want to look a Luke ch24 v 36-45 here Jesus eats with his
disciples and invites them to touch him- he is not a ghost.) He also
offers peace.
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Look at the images on the Powerpoint and sheet
Which images do they like? Which do they think best describe the
resurrection? Note the last painting is by a modern artist Qi. Here a
triumphant angel announces that Christ has risen, conquering the
demons of darkness who now flee from him. The women have not
yet woken properly, and seem unaware of what has happened. They
still mourn, but the angel is telling them that the time for grief is
over. Qi's angel carries a luminous lily, sign of purity and peace.
Because of the resurrection Christians believe that Christ is with
them. How would you draw a picture to show that Christ walks with
us today.
Look at the account of the Journey to Emmaus (this is on Powerpoint). You
might want to ask:
L3 We are going to make links between the story and our beliefs, Give
reasons for the actions of believers, make links to show how the beliefs of
the disciples affected their behaviour and how those beliefs affect Christians
today (AT2) and Compare their own and others ideas about questions which
are difficult to answer about the journey to Emmaus
For level 4
We are going to ask pupils to show understanding of how belief shapes life
(you need to add in here either footprints easiest or the poem) and how our
own and others decisions are informed by beliefs
Stimulus Questions
 Why were the disciples sad? L3
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 Why didn’t they recognise him at first? (possible answers they had seen
him die so they were not expecting to see him, he wore a hooded cloak to
disguise his features etc) Note this in some ways isn’t really important but
it is the kind of question they might ask. The story is making the point
that we too often fail to recognise Jesus. (If they should arrive at this by
themselves this would be L4 understanding)
 What does the stranger do first? (He listens to them, then he explains
what the scriptures mean in their lives) L2
 What was it that enabled them to see him for who he was?
 Do we recognise the presence of Jesus in our lives, at mass? How do we
recognise Jesus’ presence? (this is important when we try to do the things
Jesus did, try to live in his way then we help others recognise Jesus) L3
 You could ask other adults to come in and ask them questions about how
they recognise Jesus
 Once you have explored the Gospel account read the poem “footprints”.
Basic themes, how do we recognise Jesus is with us. Do we believe that
even in the difficult times God is with us? You might want to explore
their own difficult times. Can they make a link themselves between
footprints and the Emmaus story. These are L4 questions.
 On youtube the poem itself is to found on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noCLFTXkuR0 there is an advert at
end so stop before this but you might also want to listen to or watch the
Leona Lewis song Footprints
 Extension :If you have good level 4 children you might look at the poem
about the school trip and follow the questions there.
Ascension:
Traditionally we celebrate it 40 days after Easter. Why 40? (links, Moses,
temptations, Noah, etc) The ascension doesn’t mark an end but a new
beginning. Jesus's friends were happy to have him with them, they knew
they couldn't keep him with them in the same way. They loved him, but
things had to change. Jesus hadn't come into the world just for Mary and
Peter and Thomas - he came to be with all people, in every place and at
every time. Jesus also tells his disciples to wait till they receive the Spirit.
Jesus’ own mission began with his baptism when the spirit descended on
him, so the disciples too need to wait for the Spirit. There is an emphasis on
mission. How are we going to spread the word about Jesus to others? Note
don’t let pupils get stuck on the idea that Jesus went up (like a rocket). The
account is trying to visualise Jesus going to heaven but heaven isn’t up in the
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sky. It is just an image used to convey an idea. This is a picture by artist
Elizabeth Wang. It is the Ascension but her idea is that Christ returns to the
Father and opens a path way for us to follow.
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Footprints
One night I had a dream. I dreamed
I was walking along the beach with the God
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
t to me, and the other to God
Then as I looked back at the footprints,
I noticed that there were many times when
there were only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it when there was only one set of footprints
it was at the time everything was going really really wrong in my life.
At that point I got angry at God
“Look” I said You promised me that you would never leave me
But it seems that when I was struggling and could have done with your help
You left me. I don’t call that keeping your promises.
Then God replied:
“Leave you, I would never leave you”
“One set of footprints” I said “that means I was on my own”
“I think” said God “you need to look closer.
Those aren’t your footprints they are mine.
When you were most in trouble it was then I carried you.
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An Emmaus Walk
I hate school
I hate school trips- the coach makes me sick
This one is to look at stupid rocks –who cares
John and I set off together, his mum and dad split up too
We talked about stuff
About getting told off, about not fitting in,
about the bullying.
In class the teacher said God loves us, we know that’s not
true
If he loved us Dad wouldn’t have left, mum wouldn’t cry
I wouldn’t get bullied and laughed at ‘cause I don’t have
stuff
I wouldn’t- well it would just be better, right
Then this older kid came, one of the leaders,
Walked along with us, wanted to tell us about rocks
But we told him how fed up we were and he just listened.
Then he said “ I think he does you know- I mean God, I think God loves you.”
just think will you, Jesus couldn’t make people do stuff they didn’t want,
I mean it’s sad yeah but he couldn’t make your mum and dad stay together”
“See” he went on “ bad stuff happened to Jesus too,
apart from getting killed; his friends left, his family thought he was crazy.
He never said everything will be perfect. He just said I’ll never leave you,
I’ll always be with you no matter what”
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Then the teacher shouted something and he moved away
We went back to the stupid rocks
But John and I got to thinking what if he’s right?
What if God is with us? It would all be different wouldn’t it?
Questions
 What words would you use to describe the way John and his friend are
feeling?
 What kinds of things are they angry about?
 Why does this make them think God doesn’t care about them?
 What kinds of things do you think stop people believing in God?
 The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were worried too. What were
they upset about?
 When the older boy joins John and friend how is this like story of
Emmaus?
 What does he tell them? Does he help them? How is he like Jesus
 In the last picture the third person is shown as just an outline. What do
you think the artist is trying to show here?
 How does this story compare to the Journey to Emmaus we read in the
Gospel?
 On the road to Emmaus the disciples don’t recognise Jesus at first.
Sometimes we fail to recognise Jesus in the people around us. Why do
you think that is?
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