LO: Think, talk and ask questions about whether the story of Easter has anything to say to them about sadness, hope or heaven, exploring different ideas.

Read together the start of Heaven by Nicholas Allen, and discuss both Lil and Dill’s ideas. Ask pupils what they think heaven might be like — can they describe it with words or draw images?
• Listen to Waterbugs and Dragonflies by Doris Stickney. Discuss where the dragonfly went and how this makes him feel. Ask pupils whether this is a happy or sad tale.
What links can they see with the story of Jesus and his resurrection? What is different about the story of Jesus?
• Talk with pupils about the fact that beliefs in life after death vary. Christians believe that if you trust God, there is another life after this life, in heaven with God. Christians think Jesus showed that there is life after death by coming alive again after he was killed on the cross at the first Easter. Christians believe Jesus was able to come back to tell his disciples, because he was God in the flesh (incarnation). No one knows exactly what heaven is like, but Christians — at a funeral — say
there will be no tears there, and people who know God will find peace and rest.

• Ask pupils why people find it helpful to believe that there is a heaven. Make a link with the idea for
Christians that Jesus brings good news.
• Give pupils time to reflect on the way the story changes from sadness to happiness, or from darkness to light. Give them a chance to paint some dark marks on a page, perhaps listening to some quiet music, then to paint some bright colours, with joyous music accompanying. Ask them to talk about what it might feel like when something good happens after something sad.