Jesus and the lepers
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Jesus treated outcasts.
Key learning points
- Leprosy is an infectious disease. In Jesus' time, lepers had to live outside of society and were seen as unclean.
- In Luke’s gospel, Jesus touched lepers and healed them.
- People at the time would have been shocked that Jesus spoke with or touched people with leprosy.
- Many Christians draw attention to the fact that Jesus was always drawn to those on the very edge of society.
Keywords
Leper - someone with leprosy
Society - people living in the same place who share laws and traditions
Gospel - a book in the Bible about the life and teachings of Jesus
Kingdom of God - a society where God rules
Common misconception
Jesus always followed Jewish laws.
Jesus challenged some of the laws in Jewish society.
Teacher tip
Some sensitivity will be needed in this lesson. Focus on the way lepers were outcasts through no fault of their own and how this might have felt, rather than focusing on leprosy as a disease.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Who was Zacchaeus?
Q2.Jesus shows that matters.
Q3.Where are prisoners kept?
Q4.Prison help support people in prison.
Q5.What might help with forgiveness?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each word to its correct meaning.
Q2.Jesus and healed lepers.
Q3.How did people feel when Jesus touched lepers?
Q4.Helping people was more important to Jesus than ...
Q5.Why did Jesus challenge the laws?
To help you plan your 4 religious education lesson on: Jesus and the lepers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 religious education lesson on: Jesus and the lepers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 religious education lessons from the Jesus: How does his treatment of outcasts speak to Christians today? unit, dive into the full primary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.