What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Christianity
Name of Unit: What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Faith: Christianity
Key Stage in which this unit should be taught: Key Stage 2
Recommended Year Group (if specified): Upper Key Stage 2
Previous Learning:
Faith and the Mustard Seed; Creation; The importance of Jesus to Christians; Christian Baptism and Marriage; Why Are They Having a Jewish Party?
Foundation, KS1and some of KS2 units: Salvation;
Possibly: Should Every Christian Go On a Pilgrimage? (Depending on where the school has placed this unit in their RE Curriculum Map)
AT1 Learning About Religion
AT2 Learning From Religion
Focus: Beliefs, teachings and sources.
Focus: Meaning, purpose and truth.
What This Unit Teaches:
 What constitutes a miracle;
 Some of the miracles that Jesus performed;
 Magic versus miracles – what is the difference?
 Who performs miracles?
 Consideration of personal response to the miracles of Jesus;
 Specific places where people believe miracles happen;
The importance of faith for miracles;
 Links with Salvation – Jesus’ miracle of the resurrection;
 What the miracles of Jesus’ ministry teach Christians about being the people of God;
 Comparing and identifying similarities and differences between faiths.
Key RE Vocabulary:
Cross-Curricular Links:
Christianity, Christian, miracles, Jesus, God, Bible, Gospels, believe, natural, Literacy, Oracy, Drama, Science, Computing, History, Geography, Art and
Judaism, Hanukkah / Chanukah, pilgrimage, healing, faith, mustard seed, Design, Music, Personal, Social and Health Education, Philosophy,
hope, resurrection, Church, incumbent, healing ministry, chaplain,
chaplaincy, ‘People of God,’ candle, Bibliodrama.
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development:
Deep thinking and reflection;
Collaborative learning;
Cultural opportunities for exploring miracles across faiths.
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Sensitivities:
Pupils with families, friends and pets who are seriously ill and / or who have
died,
Those experiencing bereavement;
Be mindful of pupils’ cultural backgrounds, and beliefs;
Reference to magic.
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Christianity
Possible Further Thinking and Extension Activities:
Things You Should Know:
Miracles of Nature – Creation; art activities;
The core miracles of Jesus and related Biblical text;
bereavement;
Baptism linked to Creation;
Educational Visits to parish church / local hospital chapel;
What the Catholic Church believes constitutes a miracle.
Collective worship – hymns / songs on the theme of Jesus’ miracles.
Future Learning:
Possibly: Should Every Christian Go On a Pilgrimage? (Depending on where the school places has placed this unit on their RE Curriculum Map)
The Journey of Life and Death;
Some of KS2 units: Salvation.
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 1
AT1
Pupils should:
understand what a
Christian believes a
miracle to be and know
the miracle of the
Feeding of the 5,000,
showing what a
Christian learns from
this miracle;
(AT1)
ask questions about
how the miracle of the
feeding of the 5,000
affected the life of those
present and suggest a
range of answers which
might be given by
themselves as well as
those present.
(AT2)
AT2


Christianity
Suggested Teaching Activities
What Is a Miracle?
Introduction:
Using talk partners / trios ask pupils to give their initial definition of a miracle;
share and discuss answers – follow up with a dictionary definition of the word
‘miracle.’
Main Part of the Lesson:
Next ask the pupils to work with their partner / trio “How many miracles of
Jesus can you name? (2 minute activity.)
(Record answers for both activities in their own books.)
Ensure that the pupils are aware that the miracles of Jesus are found in the
Gospels, in the Bible.
Tell the story of the miracle of the Feeding of the 5,000 / Show a video clip /
explore the story by another media.

Activity:
After listening to the story, in small groups have a discussion on the miracle
answering these questions:  What do the pupils think about this miracle?
 How do they think this miracle happened?
 Do the pupils think that it happened exactly as it is told in the Bible?
 If not, what might have been different and what do they think would have
been the same?
 What is the lesson from this miracle?
 What was Jesus showing and teaching by performing this miracle?
 What does this miracle teach about God?
On an image from the miracle with a white border around it, pupils to record
thoughts on the border in response to the questions and discussion.
Share thoughts with whole class.
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Points To Note
The miracles of Jesus:
Core miracles pupils need to know by
the end of this unit: The Feeding of the Five Thousand;
Jesus turning water into wine at the
Wedding at Canaan in Galilee;
Jesus Walking On Water;
The Calming of the Storm;
The Raising of Lazarus From the Dead by
Jesus;
The Healing of the Paralysed Man;
The Healing of the Woman Who
Touched Jesus’ Cloak,
Healing Jairus’ Daughter.
Other miracles could be studied as well,
including:
The Healing of the Blind Beggar,
The Curing of the 10 Lepers.
Also needs to be linked to as well:
Jesus’ greatest miracle of all –
The resurrection.
The pupil definitions will serve as good pieces
of formative assessment to show pupils’
thinking and learning at this stage of the
unit.
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Christianity
Encourage pupils to think as broadly as they can about miracles.
What are your opinions on miracles? Do you believe they are real? Do they
still occur today? Do they always happen when and as someone wants them to?
Why do they think this?
Discuss what Christians believe about miracles and why and how Christians
believe they happen.


Plenary:
Reflect on learning and pupils to review their original definition of a miracle and
come up with a revised definition, informed by this lesson, to write on a
thought bubble – use for a class display.
Resources:
Dictionaries / Thesaurus;
The Bible;
Video clip;
Image from the miracle of the Feeding of
the 5,000 with a white border around it;
RE books;
Thought bubbles to record definitions for
plenary;
Display board to display pupil’s thought
bubbles.
Sensitivities:
Please be sensitive towards pupils with
families, friends and pets who are
seriously ill and / or who have died,
please also be aware of pupils who may
have experienced bereavement;
Remember to use the term: “Christians
believe. . .”
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 2
AT1
Pupils should:
be aware of the
difference between magic
and miracles,
understanding how a
Christian perceives the
miracles of Jesus;
(AT1)

Christianity
AT2
Suggested Teaching Activities
Magic versus Miracles – What is the Difference?

Introduction:
Discuss magic, what magicians have the pupils seen perform? What did the
pupils and the magicians’ audience think?
Why was the magician performing?
(Purely entertainment.)

Ask questions about
magic versus miracles
and suggest a rage of
answers from themselves
and (other) Christians.
(AT2).
Main Part of the Lesson:
Tell the pupils that for the next part of this unit about the miracles of
Jesus, they are going to think about magic versus miracles – what is the
difference?
Share the story of the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at the
wedding at Canaan in Galilee –
Jesus Turns Water Into Wine - John 2:1-11.
If you want to use a video clip for this, you can find it at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaWI4-n0z_0
Tell the pupils that you are going to perform a miracle! Do they think you
can? Why / Why not?
Demonstrate ‘turning water into wine!’ (Adult – Have two empty jugs,
ensure that the base of each is covered so that children cannot see the
base of either. Fill one with food colouring / blackcurrant cordial; tell
pupils to watch carefully as you pour water into each jug, what has
happened?
Now it’s their turn to replicate – create their own ‘miracle.’ (Ensure you
have given them two empty cups and a jug of water.)
Can they ‘turn the water into wine?’
Did they succeed?
How / Why not?
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Points To Note
Pupils will compare and contrast magic
and miracles by exploring several magic
tricks and stories of Jesus’ miracles and
then discuss the similarities and
differences.
Resources:
The Bible.
Water and jugs (+ Cordial or fruit
colouring for adult only;)
Video clips:
Dynamo the magician:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeJv
eOOAgzA
The miracle of Jesus walking on water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2t3
-S6eSUU
The difference between magic and
miracles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwG
vfdtI2c0
Sensitivities:
Please be sensitive towards pupils with
families, friends and pets who are
seriously ill and / or who have died,
please also be aware of pupils who may
have experienced bereavement;
Reference to alcohol;
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
AT1
AT2
Christianity
Suggested Teaching Activities
How did you succeed whilst they did not succeed?
Or did you not really succeed? What did you do?
Take pictures for evidence and add to display.
Points To Note
Remember to use the term: “Christians
believe. . . “
Magic.
Thinking about Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine:
 What do the pupils think about this miracle of Jesus?
 What is the lesson from this miracle?
 What was Jesus showing and teaching by performing this miracle?
 What does this miracle teach about God?
Watch a video clip from Dynamo the magician:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeJveOOAgzA
Record pupil’s opinions / reactions to what they have seen.
Discuss.
Next watch a video clip of the miracle of Jesus walking on water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2t3-S6eSUU
Again record pupil’s opinions / reactions to what they have seen.
Discuss.
Did both Dynamo and Jesus succeed?
If so, how / If not, why not?
How do they explain how Dynamo appeared to be ‘walking on water?’
Even if we do not fully know the trick that Dynamo did to appear to be
walking on water and give that illusion, was he really able to do this? Why
not?
Why, then, would Jesus, as a human, have been able to succeed at this and
perform this miracle? What was the difference between Dynamo and Him?
(Jesus was human, but also divine, the Son of God.)
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
AT1
AT2
Christianity
Suggested Teaching Activities
Thinking about Jesus’ miracle of walking on water:  What do the pupils think about this miracle of Jesus?
 How do they think this miracle happened?
 What is the lesson from this miracle?
 What was Jesus showing and teaching by performing this miracle?
 What does this miracle teach about God?
Points To Note
Christians believe that God is the creator of natural miracles e.g. the awe
and wonder of nature; the miracle / gift of life.
Recap on pupil’s previous learning on baptism and the celebration of the
miracle of life and that Christians believe that they should thank God for
the birth of a new child which they perceive as a miracle.
Can a life be created through the use of magic or not?


Activity:
What is the difference between magic and miracles?
Using today’s examples from the lesson and referring to Jesus’ miracles,
particularly turning water into wine and walking on water, but also any
others miracles of Jesus that the pupils may know, write a piece of prose
to answer this question. The Bible can be referred to. Pupils need to make
sure that they explain their answer.


Plenary:
Watch the following video clip and reflect on the difference between
magic and miracles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwGvfdtI2c0
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 3
Christianity
AT1
AT2
Pupils should:


make links between the
beliefs teachings and
sources of different
religions and show how
they are connected to
believers’ lives.
(AT1)
Introduction:
Recap previous learning so far in this unit.
Tell children that today we are going to discuss whether or not anyone can
perform a miracle.


Suggested Activity:
From The Bible, share the story of the miracle of Jesus calming the storm. It
can be taught through a variety of media or the teacher / teaching assistant can
be a storyteller telling the story.
consider how miracles
such as the Calming of
the Storm can impact
upon the meaning and
purpose of life,
suggesting a range of
answers from
themselves as well as
members of different
faiths.
(AT2)
Suggested Teaching Activities
Who Performs Miracles?
Then in talk partners / groups, discuss:  What do the pupils think about this miracle?
 How do they think this miracle happened?
 What is the lesson from this miracle?
 What was Jesus showing and teaching by performing this miracle?
 What does this miracle teach about God?
Christians believe it reminds us about the ‘storms’ in life and how we can trust God to
be the guide through our ‘storms’ and to bring calmness to our life.
Points To Note
Resources:
The Bible.
Appropriate media, if not reading it
directly from The Bible for teaching The
Miracle of Jesus Calming The Storm;
Story of Hanukah / Chanukah,
Resources to research miracles in
different faiths.
Sensitivities:
Please be sensitive towards pupils with
families, friends and pets who are
seriously ill and / or who have died,
please also be aware of pupils who may
have experienced bereavement;
Remember to use the term: “Christians
believe. . .”
Next ask and discuss the questions:
Can anyone perform a miracle? (Talk partners / groups.)
Why could Jesus perform miracles, where others failed?
What do you think Christians believe about Jesus’ ability to perform miracles?
What about miracles that Christians believe happen today? e.g. the miracle of
having a baby, doctors helping someone to get better, etc.
How do Christians believe these miracles happen?
God at the centre of them, working through people, the miracle is God at work.
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Christianity
So who performs miracles, who is really and ultimately carrying out the actual
miracle?
(Record feedback.)
Encourage pupils to name other faiths where miracles are recorded? Do they
know what any of those miracles were?
Remember the Jewish story behind Hanukkah / Chanukah and the importance
of the miracle of the oil in relation to Judaism.
Why do Jews believe that miracle happened?
What do they believe God was teaching by performing that miracle?
In pairs research the miracles that have been performed in other faiths and
record. Differentiate task by the amount of stories you would like each pair to
research and record.


Plenary:
Pairs to share what they have found out, and ask the pupils if from the stories
they have heard and researched today, can anyone perform a miracle?
Who performs miracles, who is really and ultimately carrying out the actual
miracle?
Have the pupils learnt something new, or been surprised at what they have
found out?
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 4
AT1
AT2
Suggested Teaching Activities
Which Miracle of Jesus
Means The Most To You and Why?
Points To Note
Research ‘Bibliodrama’ if unfamiliar to
support main activity.


Introduction:
Inform pupils that today they will be using Bibliodrama in groups to act out one
of the miracles of Jesus, re-imagining it and telling the story.
They can choose the miracle of Jesus that you are going to share with them
now, 1 of Jesus’ miracles that He carried out that has been studied already
during this unit or a different 1 that they know.
Bible text:
The story of Lazarus – John 11:1-9
Pupils should:
make links between the
teaching of 1 of Jesus’
miracles and how they
are connected to a
Christian’s life;
(AT1)
Christianity
Main Part of the Lesson:
Read the story of The Miracle of The Raising of Lazarus From The Dead.
Alternatively this miracle could be told in storyteller form or learnt through
another form of media, e.g. watch the video clip acting out Lazarus being raised
from the dead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpMVm_cJBuo

ask questions about the
meaning and purpose of
1 of Jesus’ miracles and
suggest a range of
answers which might be
given by themselves as
well as (other)
Christians.
(AT2
After listening to the story, have a discussion on the miracle answering these
questions:
 What do the pupils think about this miracle?
 How do they think this miracle happened?
 What is the lesson from this miracle?
 What was Jesus showing and teaching by performing this miracle?
 What does this miracle teach about God?


Activity:
Bibliodrama:
(Assessment opportunity)
In small groups, pupils choose one of the miracles Jesus carried out, 1 that has
been studied already during this unit or a different 1 that they know. Adapt it
for our world today.
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Resources:
The Bible;
Film clip – Lazarus
See sensitivities.
Costumes for role play & props;
Video recorder to film activity for
evidence;
Assessment materials.
Sensitivities:
Please be sensitive towards pupils with
families, friends and pets who are
seriously ill and / or who have died,
please also be aware of pupils who may
have experienced bereavement;
Remember to use the term: “Christians
believe. . .”
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Christianity
Consider: Which miracle will your group choose? Where does your miracle
happen? What does this miracle of Jesus teach? How will you make sure that
the message from this miracle of Jesus is conveyed to your audience?
Which form of media will you choose to perform your adaptation of a miracle
Jesus performed?
Film each group carrying out their Bibliodrama and discuss.
Photograph a scene from each group’s Bibliodrama and print a copy of the
photograph for the pupils to record their personal response alongside it in
their RE books.


Plenary:
 Which is your favourite miracle from the ones that were performed today
and why?
 What message did you get from the performances?
 What message does this teach Christians about the nature of God, and the
“good news” of Jesus?
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 5
AT1
AT2
Suggested Teaching Activities
Do People Have To Visit Specific Places For Miracles
To Happen
or Is It a Question of Faith?
Pupils should:
make links between the
belief of faith in
miracles of Christians
and understand how
this is connected to
believers’ lives;
(AT1)
consider the place of
hope in people’s lives
and suggest how hope
affects them as well as
how members of
different religious
groups might feel it
affects them.
(AT2



Christianity
Introduction:
Ask the pupils where do they think miracles happen?
Main Part of the Lesson:
Talk about how some people think that miracles happen in certain places, do
the pupils know any of those places?
Why do people think that miracles happen in those particular places? What are
the stories behind those places?
Why do people visit such places?
Watch a video clip from Lourdes.
Discuss what the pupils saw and heard. What do they think? What did they feel
whilst watching and listening to the video clip?
(Write questions and record answers about the experience shown in books or media
of your choice.)
What is a physical miracle?
What is a spiritual miracle?
Do you have to have faith to believe in miracles?
What do the pupils believe is a basis for all miracles?
Take feedback and discuss.
Read the story of the miracle of Jesus healing the paralysed man.
After listening to the story, have a discussion on the miracle answering these
questions:  What do the pupils think about this miracle?
 How do they think this miracle happened?
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Points To Note
Video clip:
Miracles in Lourdes and How miracles
are recorded by the Catholic Church:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgV
njJLarwk
Reinforce that a miracle is seen as
something that cannot be scientifically
explained.
Bible text: Matthew 13:31
Resources:
Video clip:
Miracles in Lourdes and How Miracles
Are Recorded by the Catholic Church:
www.youtube.com/watch?y=AgVniJLarw
k
The Bible;
Large plant pot and compost
Mustard seeds for planting
Sensitivities:
Please be sensitive towards pupils with
families, friends and pets who are
seriously ill and / or who have died,
please also be aware of pupils who may
have experienced bereavement;
Remember to use the term: “Christians
believe. . . ”
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
AT1
AT2
Christianity
Suggested Teaching Activities
 What is the lesson from this miracle?
 What was Jesus showing and teaching by performing this miracle?
 What does this miracle teach about God?
Points To Note
What is the Roman Catholic church belief about miracles, as shown in the
video watched at the beginning of the session?
Reinforce that a miracle is seen as something that cannot be scientifically explained.
So do people have to visit specific places for miracles to happen or is it a
question of faith?
Christians believe that faith is the basis for miracles, as demonstrated in the
story of this miracle – Jesus healing the paralysed man.
Think about this in relation to all Jesus’ miracles that have been studied in this
unit so far.
What messages do Christians believe are taught through the stories of Jesus’
miracles?
Faith is the key.


Activity:
Introduce the Bible verse about faith being like a mustard seed.
Discuss what the pupils think this means.
Each pupil plant a mustard seed in a pot. Link to the bible verse, and ask pupils
as they plant to think about a miracle that they believe has happened in their
own lives.
Was faith at the heart of this miracle for them?


Plenary:
Have a large plant pot for the class labelled “Our Tree of Faith.”
Everyone has another mustard seed and reflects on a miracle that they hope
will happen for them or someone else sometime in their lives as they plant
their seed in the pot.
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
AT1
AT2
Christianity
Suggested Teaching Activities
Remind the pupils that Christians believe miracles may not happen as they think or in
their time, but as God deems right.
However Christians do believe that God is always listening and gives the hope of
answering miracles in His way.
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Points To Note
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
Lesson 6
AT1
Pupils should:
make links between the
beliefs teachings and
sources of the miracles
of Jesus and understand
how they are
connected to believers’
lives;
(AT1)


show understanding
about what they and
(other) Christians
believe about how
teaching from the
miracles of Jesus affects
life and who they are.
(AT2)
AT2
Christianity
Suggested Teaching Activities
What Do The Miracles of Jesus’ Ministry Teach Christians
About Being The ‘People of God?’
Introduction:
Ask the pupils if they can think of what Christians believe to be Jesus’ greatest
miracle of all?
The resurrection.
Discuss this miracle with the pupils, recalling with them their learning on Easter
and Salvation.
Make links with the learning that pupils have made about miracles through this
unit and the miracle of the resurrection.
Main Part of the Lesson:
Read the story from The Bible of the Miracles of The Healing of the Woman
Who Touched Jesus’ Cloak, and Jesus Healing Jairus’ Daughter.
After listening to the story have a discussion on the miracle answering these
questions:
 What do the pupils think about these miracles?
 How do they think these miracles happened?
 What are the lessons from these miracles?
 What was Jesus showing and teaching by performing these miracles?
 What do these miracles teach about God?
Reflect on the lesson taught last time about faith being central to miracles and
how this has been reflected in the miracles of Jesus.
How is faith shown to be at the heart of the miracles of: 1) The healing of the woman who touched Jesus’ cloak?
2) Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter?
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Points To Note
For this lesson invite the incumbent /
another member of the clergy / a
member of the Healing Ministry Team
in the parish church / the local hospital
chaplain into the class.
This session asks pupils to produce a piece
of work which serves as an ideal
opportunity for summative assessment. To
give pupils adequate time for this task,
extra time may be needed than just in this
one session. However this can be justified
and would be worthwhile due to its crosscurricular nature and the value of learning
arising from it.
Resources:
Visitor: The incumbent / another
member of the clergy / a member of the
Healing Ministry Team in the parish
church / the local hospital chaplain;
Computer / iPads / other materials to
create information leaflet.
Sensitivities:
Please be sensitive towards pupils with
families, friends and pets who are
seriously ill and / or who have died,
please also be aware of pupils who may
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education
What Do the Miracles of Jesus Teach?
Learning Objectives
AT1
AT2
Christianity
Suggested Teaching Activities
Invite a visitor: the incumbent / another member of the clergy / a member of
the Healing Ministry Team in the parish church / the local hospital chaplain into
the class.
Ask them to share with the class about the healing ministry of the parish church
/ hospital chaplaincy and to answer the pupils’ questions.
Ask them to include their personal answer, from the viewpoint of a Christian,
to the question of this session: What Do The Miracles of Jesus’ Ministry Teach
Christians About Being The ‘People of God?’


Activity:
Refer to the overall question of the unit: What do the miracles of Jesus teach?
Ask pupils to make an information leaflet to answer this question that could be
used by the parish church or the local hospital chaplaincy for people visiting it.
They should include in the leaflet:  What is a miracle?
 Examples of Jesus’ miracles;
 How Christians understand them;
 What Christians learn from Jesus’ miraculous ministry;
 How the Christian Church lives out this understanding of miracles;
etc.
The leaflet is to demonstrate pupils’ knowledge and understanding in relation to
the original question.


Plenary:
Light a candle / nightlight as many churches offer the chance for people to do
when praying for someone in need.
Pupils to reflect on the unit and share their learning.
Do they still feel the same / different about miracles?
Has their learning had an impact on their understanding?
What have they learnt about Jesus’ miracles and the impact on their own lives /
beliefs?
Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education
Points To Note
have experienced bereavement;
Remember to use the term: “Christians
believe. . . ”
Southwark Diocesan Board of Education