New
New
Year 10
AQA

Celebrating Christmas and Easter

I can explain how Christians celebrate the festivals of Christmas and Easter and why they are significant.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Celebrating Christmas and Easter

I can explain how Christians celebrate the festivals of Christmas and Easter and why they are significant.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A festival is a period of celebration, usually for religious reasons; Christmas and Easter are Christian festivals.
  2. Most Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day and prepare for this during the period of Advent.
  3. Christmas celebrations often include going to church, taking part in Nativity plays, singing carols, and giving gifts.
  4. Easter is when most Christians celebrate Jesus rising again after his death; Lent is the preparation for this.
  5. Many Christians celebrate Easter by going to church and reflecting on beliefs about Jesus' resurrection.

Keywords

  • Christmas - a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus

  • Easter - a Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus

  • Festival - a day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons

  • Resurrection - the belief that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, conquering death

Common misconception

All Christians celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.

Some Christians, such as many Eastern Orthodox Christians, celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January.


To help you plan your year 10 religious education lesson on: Celebrating Christmas and Easter, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to remind students of the story of Jesus' birth (the Nativity) and Christian beliefs about Jesus as the incarnation of God prior to beginning this lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each key word to its description.

Correct Answer:Celtic,ancient peoples of Europe and their culture

ancient peoples of Europe and their culture

Correct Answer:monastery,a building lived in by a community of monks who follow religious vows

a building lived in by a community of monks who follow religious vows

Correct Answer:pilgrimage,a religious journey to a holy site or sacred place

a religious journey to a holy site or sacred place

Q2.
The Celtic is a traditional Christian symbol found on Iona with a ring around its arms.

Correct Answer: cross, Cross

Q3.
St Columba was a who founded a monastery on Iona in 563 AD.

Correct Answer: monk, Monk

Q4.
Where is Iona located?

east coast of England
Correct answer: west coast of Scotland
south of Ireland

Q5.
What is a “thin place”?

Correct answer: a sacred place where heaven feels close
a narrow road
a place with little food

Q6.
Only Christians visit Iona.

Correct answer: No, people of all religions and none also visit Iona.
Yes, it is only a Christian place of pilgrimage.
Yes, because Iona is closed to non-Christians.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Many Christians prepare for Christmas during the season of ...

Correct Answer: Advent, advent

Q2.
Lent is a day season when Christians prepare for Easter.

Correct Answer: 40, forty

Q3.
Christians say “He is ” to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

Correct Answer: risen, Risen

Q4.
What does the festival of Christmas celebrate?

Jesus’ resurrection
The Holy Spirit
Correct answer: Jesus’ birth

Q5.
What do many Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday?

Correct answer: Jesus rising from the dead
the birth of Jesus
Jesus’ teachings

Q6.
All Christians celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.

True - all Christian denominations
Correct answer: False - some celebrate in January
False - Christmas is not widely celebrated