We have put together some suggestions of how to present the Easter story to your learners.
Using…So Lord Speak 2
If you have used So Lord, Speak …If your students are ready and waiting to hear how God will finish His plan of salvation…If you are ready for God’s big story to continue to touch the hearts and transform the lives of your students …then you will love the last six stories in So Lord, Speak 2..
- These stories focus on Easter. The powerful images included in each chapter are available as downloads (if you purchase the book). Or you can buy and download PowerPoint presentations to use for an Easter lesson or outreach event.
- You could send them to learners before the lesson in preparation. Ask them to think about what is happening in the pictures and be ready to share their ideas.
- They could also be used after class for a separate ‘Easter’ event. Pre-teach the necessary vocabulary before you show the slides/pictures. You can also print the pictures out in A4 or cut them out of the book (this works especially well for smaller groups). Ask learners what vocabulary comes to mind? What is happening in the scenes? Do they know what happens later?
- After this preparation, the teacher can tell the Easter story using the transcript provided in So Lord,Speak 2, use scripture passages from Easy English Bible or tell the story in their own words. There are ESOL activities for each chapter to complement the story and engage the learners’ interest before and after hearing the stories. Do some or all of the stories in the lead-up to Easter. These are for all levels of English learner.
Using…Nine Steps to Easter
- Nine steps to Easter contains two-three hours of material for Elementary and Pre-intermediate learners with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations for each ‘step’ towards Easter.
Using…Lifewords ‘The Easter Journey’
- Lifewords have created a beautiful small booklet called The Easter Journey which tells the story of Holy Week in the Bible’s own words, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. There is an evocative image and some text on each day for every day of the week. This is also downloadable and there are short video clips available too. This resource would be appropriate for intermediate and higher learners.
- Ask your learners if they know about Holy Week and what happened each day. Some learners may know parts of the story but not in detail. The teacher begins by explaining Palm Sunday and highlighting any words that might be new to the learners.
- Each learner is given their own copy of the booklet (free to order online). Divide the class into pairs. Designate one day of Holy Week per pair/small group. Explain that each pair must read the page of their given day, discuss it with them and check any new vocabulary. Later each pair explains the story of their day to the rest of the class, teaching them any new words.
Using…Lifewords ‘He is risen’
- He is risen is a double-sided Easter card. On one side it says ‘He is risen’ and on the other ‘It is finished’. It explains what happened on Good Friday and on Easter Sunday respectively. It contains less text and could be used with any level of learner.
- Ask learners what Good Friday is. Do they know? Go through any new vocabulary on the card. Look at statement ‘It is finished’. Ask what is finished.
- Do the same for Easter Sunday and ‘He is risen’. Who? Why? Discuss.
Using…Sunday’s comin’ video
- This 3 minute 39 second video by Pastor Shadrech Meshack Lockridge (1913-2000) shows boldly and simply everything that is going on from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. He explains what many characters in the story are doing at the time. Nobody knows what is to come on the Sunday.
- Your learners can identify and look at all the verbs used in present continuous form here. Explain any new vocabulary.
- Ask learners: What is happening? Who is involved? What are they doing? How are these people feeling? What will happen on Sunday?
- Relate the joy of Easter Sunday to learners’ circumstances that could be difficult. Better things will come.
More ideas for outreach…
- Day classes: Learners could bring a packed lunch and you could all ‘picnic’ together, after which you share one of the stories each week. Allow for time to learn new vocabulary and also for any questions. If you have access to a kitchen then perhaps you might consider offering a simple soup and bread lunch before/after class leading on to the Easter stories afterwards.
- Evening classes: You could invite leaners to arrive 30 minutes earlier, or even use your coffee break time between lessons, to present part of the story each week in the lead up to Easter.
- Separate event: You might like to encourage students to come along for 6 weeks to practise more English and to learn about the real story behind all the chocolate eggs that are eaten in the UK over Easter! Choose a suitable day and time. Be sure to be open and honest and tell them that it is not a lesson but that they will learn vocabulary and practise lots of speaking. Getting learners to tell the stories they hear back to the teacher, or a partner is a tried and trusted way to solidify learning.
Ideas Collated by:
Marina Swainston-Harrison
ESL Lead Specialist
March 2022