The Teacher◦ Jesus travelled around Israel and taught people

about God for around three years.

◦ When Jesus came into a town, hundreds or even thousands of people would come to listen to what he had to say.

◦ However, there were some people, including a group of Jewish teachers known as the Pharisees, who hated Jesus.

◦ They hated Jesus so much, they plotted to kill him!

The Easter Story Lesson 1What do Christians believe happened at Easter?

Palm Sunday

◦ Jesus went with his disciples to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

◦ As Jesus entered Jerusalem, he rode on a donkey. People took off their coats and put them on the ground.

◦ They also broke palm branches off the trees and began to wave them.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7r2jaciG0g (watch the short story)

https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=F7r2jaciG0g

In churches on Palm Sunday Christians are given small palm crosses made from palm leaves. Left over palm crosses are kept for a special church service on the first day of Lent, the following year, when they are burnt (Ash Wednesday). This ash is put on people's foreheads.

Activity

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week for Christians.

Design and label a symbol (in addition to the cross) that could be used by Christians to mark the beginning of Holy Week.

Write a detailed explanation about the significance of your design.

The Last Supper◦ Jesus sent some of his disciples to get a room

ready for the Passover meal.

◦ When they arrived, Jesus took a bowl of water and washed their feet.

◦ They shared bread and wine at the meal.

◦ Jesus tried to explain to his friends what was going to happen to him, but they did not really understand.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vScHI_fxJGM (watch the short story)

The Easter Story Lesson 2What do Christians believe happened at Easter?

https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=vScHI_fxJGM

The Garden of Gethsemane◦ Jesus and his followers left the meal and

went to a garden to pray.

◦ However, the disciples fell asleep and Jesus was left to pray alone.

◦ Suddenly, Judas, one of Jesus’ followers, arrived with some soldiers.

◦ Judas gave Jesus a kiss on the cheek so the soldiers would know who Jesus was.

◦ All Jesus’ friends ran away and left him alone.

How would the disciples have felt?

◦Write a diary entry from Judas’ perspective (first person) recounting the events leading up to the Jesus’ arrest.

◦ Before 1689 it was customary in England for the king or queen to wash the feet of the poor in Westminster Abbey every Maundy Thursday. They also gave them gifts of food and clothing. In Queen Victoria's time men received clothing, shoes and stockings and women 35 shillings.

◦ Today rather than wash feet or give clothing our Queen gives out specially made Maundy money in white and red leather purses. The white purse contains silver Maundy coins matching the Queen's age in pence, 94p, while the red purse contains ordinary money. In 2020 this is given to 94 male and 94 female pensioners, because she is 94 years old this year. The service takes place at a different cathedral or abbey each year and people are chosen to receive the money because of good work they have done in their community.

Other facts about Easter