Name of Unit: Why Did Jesus Teach The Lord s Prayer As The Way To Pray? Faith: Key Stage in which this unit should be taught: Recommended Year Group (if specified:) Key Stage 1 1 or 2 Previous Learning: Foundation Stage: - Creation Units. Possibly: KS1 Creation. (Depending on where the school places this unit on their RE Curriculum Map.) Some references made to prayer, and the meaning of the cross / forgiveness. This unit could be placed after the Salvation (Easter) unit to further understand forgiveness and salvation in the Christian faith. Hopefully the pupils will be familiar with The Lord s Prayer through Collective Worship. AT1 Learning About Religion: Focus: Beliefs, teaching and sources What This Unit Teaches: The importance of prayer to Christians, and in particular, The Lord s Prayer; How this prayer is the way that Jesus taught his followers to pray to God; The meaning of each phrase in The Lord s Prayer: - God the Father as a loving and caring figure, Trust in God for providing daily needs, Forgiving and forgiveness, Temptation and God as a guide, Praise for God; How The Lord s Prayer is used by Christians worldwide. Key RE Vocabulary: Prayer, Heaven hallowed kingdom trust forgive sins / trespasses cross temptation The Lord s Prayer Amen praise power glory forgiveness AT2 Learning From Religion: Focus: Values and commitments Cross-Curricular Links: Literacy Speaking and listening, meaning of words and phrases, prayers and poetry; Numeracy - Venn diagrams; Computing: - Research and as a tool to explore the cross-curricular links of The Lord s Prayer; Geography - The Anglican Communion, as a worldwide faith, Languages around the world - Father and The Lord s Prayer; History - Different use of words over the years; Art and Design - Representation of different lines of The Lord s Prayer;
worship eternity reflect reflection Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development: Exploring prayer particularly in, but also across faiths; Understanding right and wrong; Speaking and listening opportunities, relationships, friendship, qualities of family and friends, care, forgiveness; Appreciating art from around the world; Music - Different musical settings for The Lord s Prayer; Drama / Dance - Representation of The Lord s Prayer; Personal, Social and Health Education Guides, personal reflection, relationships, friendship, qualities of family and friends, care, forgiveness, wants and needs. Sensitivities: Children without a father figure or a positive experience of a Father; Children from other faith backgrounds; Please be sensitive towards pupils who may not have some basic needs, e.g. those and their family who may be homeless and / or in poverty. Possible Further Thinking and Extension Activities: Challenge How else can you present this prayer? (other than saying it,) e.g. though sign language, different home languages of the school community, that are spoken within the local area, etc; The Lord s Prayer: www.barnabusinchurches.org.uk/the-lords-prayer Deepening use of The Lord s Prayer in Collective Worship; Links can be made with how the school s distinctively Christian values are endeavouring to live out The Lord s Prayer on a daily basis; Key prayers in the other faith traditions. Reflective story ( Godly Play ) style activity. Future Learning: Possibly: KS1 Creation. (Depending on where the school places this unit on their RE Curriculum Map.) RE Teaching Units on Salvation; How Do Christians Believe Following Jesus New Commandment and His 2 Greatest Commandments Make a Difference? The Bible; Liturgy; How Has The Christian Message Survived For Over 2,000 Years? Other important / traditional prayers.
Lesson 1 How Do We Talk To Our Friends? Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed by Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven. Pupils should: understand God as Father in the Lord s Prayer; talk about what is important to them and to other people. Introduction: Discuss the key question: How do we talk to our friends? (We tell them how we are, we share our feelings and we listen as well as talk. Sometimes we are loud and excited; sometimes we are quieter, calmer and reflective, etc.) Main Part of the Lesson: In lots of faiths, people talk to God or their gods through prayer; prayer is talking to God. Explain that people can be saying thank you, sorry, please or anything else that they want to say to God. When we talk to people we usually use their name. Ask the pupils if they know what the most famous prayer for Christians is? Explain that it is The Lord s Prayer. This is the most famous prayer for Christians all over the world and it comes from the Bible. It s a prayer Jesus taught his disciples when they asked Him how to pray and it begins with a name for God: Father. Activity: Who cares for you? In groups, discuss and mind map the people in our lives who look after us and care for us. What qualities do they have? What do they do for us to show us that they love / care for us? e.g. parents, carers, grandparents, other family members, doctors, nurses, teachers, etc. Caring, friendly, affectionate, patient, role model, etc. Love us, forgive us, care for us, look out for us, protect us, help us feel better, are available for us, make time for us, listen to us, guide us, teach us, etc.) Share with the rest of the class. Please note that this is not Collective Worship although prayer is being explored, the children are not asked to pray in this lesson or unit; rather they are learning about this important prayer at the centre of the Christian faith. Please use the version of The Lord s Prayer that is familiar to your school and parish. Resources: A large display of The Lord s Prayer showing the part that is being studied today; Bible Reference: Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4; Resources to make Prayer Station poster: Images of God as father from different traditions / cultures, The word Father in multiple languages; justpray.uk -> Church of England prayer video: Prayer Is For Everyone. Sensitivities: Be aware of and sensitive towards children who have a difficult relationship with or no father focus on 'carer.
Then guide pupils to conclude that Christians believe that God is their This is a Christian prayer, but can still be ultimate carer he embodies all these qualities. related to prayer in other faiths, using Although not everyone has a caring Father, Father is just one of the the name God. names for God that Christians use to remember how caring God is. The most important Christian prayer starts by using this name and then praising it: Our Father In Heaven, Hallowed by Your name. Explain to the pupils what praise and hallowed means. Show different images of how people imagine God to look to reinforce that all around the world, Christians call God Father. Although the images of God might look very different in various cultures and traditions, the same is that all Christians believe He is caring and loving. Class Prayer Station: Introduce the idea to the pupils that during this unit about The Lord s Prayer the class is going to create items that are going to be used for something in the last lesson that will help everyone to reflect on The Lord s Prayer more deeply. Children stick onto a poster the images of God the Father and the word Father in different languages. Plenary: Ask the pupils if they know what the next part of The Lord s Prayer is? Your Kingdom come, Your will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven. Discuss what everyone thinks this means. Using signs to aid memory, teach children the part of The Lord s Prayer studied in today s lesson:
Our Father (Who art) / in Heaven, Hallowed by your / (thy) name. Your / (thy) kingdom come, Your / (thy) will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven.
Lesson 2 What Do You Need To Live? Give us today our daily bread. Pupils should: remember, at least part of, The Lord s Prayer and understand trust in the prayer; talk about what is important to me and to others, (what I need) with respect for their feelings. Introduction: Recap with the pupils the part of The Lord s Prayer that the class learnt last time. Main Part of the Lesson: In groups, children sort in a Venn Diagram a selection of items into those things that they feel they need to live and those they want for living, (e.g. water, bread, chocolate, air, trees, cross, heart, candle, ipad, keys, school badge, games, shoes, etc.) Share findings similarities and differences between groups. Make sure the emphasis is on needs and wants. How do you get these items that you need and those that you want? Who do you trust? Who do you trust to give / provide for you? Read the next section of The Lord s Prayer to the pupils: Give us today our daily bread. Learn new signs for it. Please note that this is not Collective Worship although prayer is being explored, the children are not asked to pray in this lesson or unit; rather they are learning about this important prayer at the centre of the Christian faith. Please use the version of The Lord s Prayer that is familiar to your school and parish. Resources: A large display of The Lord s Prayer showing the part that is being studied today added to the part that was studied last time; Items to sort into wants and needs; YouTube video: God Sends Manna by Kids Bible; What do the pupils think that this line means? Is it just asking for actual bread? What does it really mean by our daily bread? Explain that Christians trust God to provide all the things they truly need. They may ask Him for what they want too. Show pupils a clip of Moses in the desert, and God sending manna from Heaven something He and the Israelites needed. Resources to make Prayer Station poster. Sensitivities: Please be sensitive towards pupils who may not have some basic needs, e.g. those and their family who may be homeless and / or in poverty.
God provided what they needed at that time link this to the prayer. Christians believe God will provide, (not just bread!) Activity: Class Prayer Station: On paper, children draw and write different items that a Christian might ask for and trust God to provide: e.g. bread, water, shelter, love, forgiveness, etc. These pictures should then be attached to today s class poster for the Class Prayer Station. Plenary: Using signs to aid memory, share the prayer learnt so far to this point.
Lesson 3 Why Do We Forgive? Why Do We Need Forgiveness? Forgive us our sins / trespasses As we forgive those who sin / trespass against us. Pupils should: Remember, at least part of, The Lord s Prayer and understand forgiveness in the prayer; talk about what is important to me and to other people with respect for their feelings. Introduction: Recap with the pupils the parts of The Lord s Prayer that the class has learnt so far. Main Part of the Lesson: Teacher / Teaching Assistant role play being unkind, surprise children with a pretend argument! Freeze. With a picture of the cross on the board, discuss the link between the argument and the cross: Guide children to conclude, that teacher / TA need to forgive each other to mend their friendship, just as Christians believe God forgives us if we are sorry for what we have done to mend our friendship with him. Activity: Children role play their own scenarios exploring forgiveness and why someone might need forgiveness from the person that they have hurt and a Christian would also feel that they need forgiveness from God. Class Prayer Station: To reinforce this point, ask pupils to draw or make a cross with a horizontal and vertical arrow to represent forgiveness between each other (horizontal) and between God and a Christian (vertical.) Crosses could be made out of lolly sticks, straws and / or pipe cleaners, etc. Children add their cross to today s poster for the Class Prayer Station, listening to the next part of The Lord s Prayer, Please note that this is not Collective Worship although prayer is being explored, the children are not asked to pray in this lesson or unit; rather they are learning about this important prayer at the centre of the Christian faith. Please use the version of The Lord s Prayer that is familiar to your school and parish. Resources: A large display of The Lord s Prayer showing the part that is being studied today added to the parts that have been studied previously; Cross with horizontal and vertical arrows: Resources to make prayer station poster: Paper, lolly sticks, straws, and / or pipe cleaners, etc. to make crosses.
Forgive us our sins As we forgive those who sin against us. and reflecting on its meaning. Plenary: Learn signs for today s part of The Lord s Prayer: Forgive us our sins / trespasses As we forgive those who sin / trespass against us. Using signs to aid memory, share the prayer learnt so far to this point.
Lesson 4 How Do Christians Believe The Lord s Prayer Helps Them with What Would Jesus Do?? Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. Introduction: Recap with the pupils the parts of The Lord s Prayer that the class has learnt so far. Please note that this is not Collective Worship although prayer is being explored, the children are not asked to pray in this lesson or unit; rather they are learning about this important prayer at the centre of the Christian faith. Pupils should: Remember, at least, part of The Lord s Prayer and say some things that Christians believe about temptation; talk about what is important to me and to other people, with respect for their feelings. Main Part of the Lesson: Present 2 children with a big plate of mouth-watering and delicious sweets, but challenge them to keep their eyes on a picture of God for 2 minutes! Ask other children: How do you think they feel? What do you think they want to do? Why? Do you think this challenge is easy or difficult for them? Key question: What are the things that we find tempting? Share examples: e.g. chocolate, money, staying up late, cheating, lying when told off, etc. Ask the 2 children from the Sweet Challenge how they felt, what was hard; what did they really want to do? WWJD: What Would Jesus Do? Some Christians ask this question to help them make decisions. Why do some people ask this question? Why and how might this help Christians? Some people wear a wristband with these initials on to always think of this question as they journey through life. Please use the version of The Lord s Prayer that is familiar to your school and parish. Resources: Plate of sweets; Resources to make Prayer Station poster: Poster with a road drawn, Materials to make eyes; Reflective music. Conscience alley: Create a road / alley of pupils, 2 lines of pupils, 1 line of pupils facing the other line of pupils.
One pupil walks along the road / through the alley whilst the others shout tempting statements. The challenge is to walk straight ahead without being distracted by the temptations. Read and explain the next part of The Lord s Prayer: Lead us not into temptation But deliver us from evil. What do the pupils think this part of The Lord s Prayer means? This part of the prayer is asking God to help Christians to stay away from bad things, not do the wrong thing but rather do the right thing, to keep their eyes fixed ahead, fixed on God and the path he wants them to take. What do the pupils think that this means? Learn signs and this part of The Lord s Prayer together. Activity: Class Prayer Station: Children make a pair of fixed eyes. They then stick this on a road in the middle of today s poster for the Class Prayer Station and reflect on this part of the prayer. Opportunity for children to say what they want to keep their eyes fixed on. Plenary: Share prayer learnt so far to this point. Moment of reflection for them to think about the meaning of the prayer for themselves with quiet music. How do Christians believe The Lord s Prayer helps them with What Would Jesus Do?
Lesson 5 Why and How Do Christians Believe They Should Praise God? For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, Now and for ever. Amen. Pupils should: know The Lord s Prayer and understand praise and eternity in the Lord s Prayer; talk about what is important to me and to other people. Introduction: Recap with the pupils the parts of The Lord s Prayer that the class has learnt so far. Main Part of the Lesson: Look at the last phrase of the prayer: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours. Show pupils the signs for this part of the prayer. In pairs, pupils discuss what they think this part of The Lord s Prayer means. Do the pupils recognise anything in the ending? e.g. the prayer opens and closes with praise, etc. Class discussion: - Why do Christians believe they should praise God? For providing daily bread; for his rescue plan to mend relationships with his people, forgiving sin; helping keep eyes fixed and giving clear guidance on how to lead lives; etc. The kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours, it belongs to God. Please note that this is not Collective Worship although prayer is being explored, the children are not asked to pray in this lesson or unit; rather they are learning about this important prayer at the centre of the Christian faith. Please use the version of The Lord s Prayer that is familiar to your school and parish. Resources: Resources to make Prayer Station poster: Individual photographs / equipment to draw, Speech bubbles; Video clip of a Christian worship song / part of a Christian service: -BBC Songs of Praise: www.bbc.co.uk/songsofpraise Activity: Class Prayer Station: Each pupil cuts out a photo of themself and makes a speech bubble writing and saying something they are thankful for. They then add this to today s poster for the Class Prayer Station.
Class discussion: - How do Christians praise God? How does The Lord s Prayer give praise to God? Talk about different styles of worship: spoken, hymns, modern songs, psalms, playing an instrument, dance, living a life for Him, etc. Watch a Christian worship song / part of a Christian service to identify some of the ways Christians worship. How are the worshippers expressing praise to God? How are they showing God that The kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours? Does this happen in the school s Collective Worship? How is this shown in Collective Worship? Plenary: The last 2 lines of The Lord s Prayer read: Now and for ever. Amen. What do the pupils think that Now and for ever means? What is the prayer saying about now and for ever? Why does it say this in The Lord s Prayer? Explain what Amen means. Why is the word Amen at the end of the prayer? Show pupils the signs for these final lines of the prayer. Share the whole of The Lord s Prayer.
Lesson 6 What Does The Lord s Prayer Mean To Christians? Pupils should: Remember and understand The Lord s Prayer; Talk about what is important to me and to others with respect for their feelings. Introduction: Share The Lord s Prayer, with signs if pupils want to. Recap that this prayer is found in The Bible and was taught by Jesus as the way to pray. It is said across the world and used to talk to God. Main Part of the Lesson: Discuss how The Lord s Prayer is the way that Jesus taught His followers to pray and He said that people should pray it daily. Explain how it is used in worship all over the world every day, it is believed that there is always someone somewhere in the World praying The Lord s Prayer. Introduce and model using The Lord s Prayer booklet, (see Resources,) reflecting and recording, beneath each flap, what The Lord s Prayer means to you personally or what it might mean to a Christian. e.g. Our Father in Heaven My God who cares for me and looks after me. Activity: Put the pupils into groups and stagger the Prayer Station that each group begins at. In their groups, pupils move slowly, calmly and quietly in a reflective way around the Class Prayer Stations which act as visual cues to prompt thought and meaning for each phrase, reflecting and completing their booklet as they go. Reflective music can be playing quietly, e.g. musical versions of The Lord s Prayer or worship music that expresses the sentiments that are expressed in The Lord s Prayer. Please note that this is not Collective Worship although prayer is being explored, the children are not asked to pray in this session, rather they are learning about this important prayer at the centre of the Christian faith. Please use the version of The Lord s Prayer that is familiar to your school and parish. *Set up the Class Prayer Station posters made throughout the unit, at Prayer Stations around the classroom, school or at church for the pupils to walk around and visit. Obviously, please be aware of health and safety requirements if using lit candles / nightlights. Resources: Class Prayer Station posters to be displayed; The Lord s Prayer Booklet; Pencils / pens; Reflective music, e.g. musical versions of The Lord s Prayer or worship music that expresses the sentiments that are expressed in The Lord s Prayer.
(*This can be used as an assessment opportunity.) Candles / nightlights, if desired. Plenary: Share their thoughts and reflections, or a thought and reflection on 1 of the phrases, listening to each other respectfully. Again, reflective music can be played to enhance the spirituality, moment and ethos here. (*This can be used as an assessment opportunity.)