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The Good Shepherd
Catholic Primary School
“I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me”. John 10:14"
Branch 4 Desert to Garden
By the end of this Branch, pupils will be able to make connections between key events in the life of Jesus and Christian practices, particularly during Lent. They will understand how Jesus’ time in the desert (Luke 4:1-13) relates to the 40 days of prayer and fasting in Lent and how his teaching about giving, illustrated in the story of the widow’s mite (Luke 21:1-6), encourages Christians to focus on charity during this season.
Pupils will also be able to sequence the events of the last week of Jesus' life, recognising the significance of the Passion and Resurrection. They will explore how angels are messengers of God, affirming Jesus’ divine nature, and reflect on the use of ashes as a symbol of repentance and new beginnings in Lent. Through critical and creative thinking, pupils will ask questions about the story of the last week of Jesus’ life, consider how other Christian communities celebrate Lent and Easter, and reflect on the meaning of fasting to help others, particularly through initiatives like CAFOD's Family Fast Day. This will invite them to consider what they might give up or do to support others, deepening their understanding of Lent as a time for renewal and selflessness.
Pupils will focus on the importance of participation in communal activities, understanding how working together as a community demonstrates love and kindness, especially during Lent. They will explore how participating in class projects, helping one another, and caring for their classmates are ways to show love, following Jesus’ example of service to others. Through active involvement in these activities, pupils will see that participation is not just about individual effort but about working together to create a supportive and caring environment. By reflecting on Jesus’ call to love one another, pupils will recognise how their contributions, big or small, help to build a community that reflects His love during Lent.
Role Play - Resurrection
Art - Crucifixion
Lent
Building on from their English text 'Mr Wolf's Pancakes' the children explored the symbolism behind the ingredients use to make pancakes and why these are used on Pancake Tuesday. They learnt that before Lent begins, pancakes hold a special meaning. They are a way to use up rich ingredients like eggs, butter, and sugar. Lent is a special time that lasts for forty days before Easter. During Lent, we think about how we can be better and do good things. It’s a time for us to pray, fast, and prepare for the celebration of Easter, which is when we remember the resurrection of Jesus. This means we might give up some of our favourite treats to focus on being kind and loving to others. This tradition helps us remember that Lent is a time for simpler meals and focusing on what really matters.
The ingredients in pancakes—eggs, butter, and sugar—represent the goodness and joy in our lives. Eggs symbolize new life, butter adds richness, and sugar brings sweetness. When we enjoy these ingredients, we are thankful for all the good things God gives us. During Lent, we can think about how we can offer our joy back to God by sharing it with others and being grateful for His blessings.
As we enjoy pancakes, we can also think about how we can share our joy and goodness with others during Lent. Just like we enjoy pancakes together, we can be kind, share, and help others. This is a wonderful way to show our love for God and for those around us. Lent is not just about giving things up; it’s also about doing good things and spreading happiness.