Years 1–6: Why and how is Christmas celebrated?
Exploring the deeper meaning of Christmas in a progressive unit for Years 1–6.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Year 1: identify that some of the ways people celebrate Christmas are connected to Christian belief.
- Year 2: describe how Christians might use light to remember Jesus at Christmas with Christingles.
- Year 3: consider how Jesus’ birth is believed to fulfil a prophecy for many Christians.
- Year 4: interpret Christian beliefs about the significance of Christmas.
- Year 5: describe the significance of Christmas in relation to Jesus’ titles.
- Year 6: discuss the reasons people may choose to take part in Christmas traditions.
Suggested prior learning
What are special times?
Note: in years 2–6, the prior learning is the Christmas lesson from the previous year group.
Watch the Teacher video: Why and how is Christmas celebrated? for more information about the structure of these lessons.
Teacher video: Why and how is Christmas celebrated?
Mixed-age
The lessons in each Key stage can be used as part of a mixed-age cycle. However, the Recap and recall activities in Years 2, 4 and 6 may need to be adapted as they specifically refer to learning from the previous year group.
Lessons
Year 1: Why is Christmas important to so many Christians?
Year 2: What can light mean at Christmas?
Year 3: Why do many Christians think that Christmas is good news?
Year 4: How is Christmas part of a bigger story?
Year 5: Why do some people use different names for Jesus?
Year 6: Who celebrates Christmas?
Key skills
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Key knowledge
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Key vocabulary
belief
believe
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Unit resources
Assessment – Religion and worldviews: Why and how is Christmas celebrated?
Assessment resources for this unit. Use
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Knowledge organiser
Aimed at pupils, a single page
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Vocabulary – Religion and worldviews: Why and how is Christmas celebrated?
Display versions of the year group
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Subject resources
Standard | Long-term plan
A suggested order for teaching our
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Mixed-age | Long-term plan
This document organises our Religion and
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Equipment list
A list of essential and optional
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Unit vocabulary
Vocabulary progression document that outlines the
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Mappingㅤ | Policy support
This document shows schools how our
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National curriculum mapping
A mapping document showing each
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Mixed-age
A mapping document showing each
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Cross-curricular opportunities
Art and design: Drawing, painting and sculpture.
English: Reading comprehension; Spoken language.
Music: Music drawn from different traditions.
RSE: Respectful relationships.
British values: Mutual respect; Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
