1

REVELATION

Called to beA People of Hope

Year oneParables

2

Outcomes of the Module

Working towards Age related outcomes

Pupils will recognise at least one parableAT1 Pupils will recognise that this parable has a meaning AT1

Working at Age Related outcomes

Pupils will be able to recognise some of the parablesAT1 Pupils will recognise that parables have meanings and some people try to live out the

meaning of the parable. AT1 Pupils will be able to recognise some of the words connected with Parables. Examples

would be: Parable, Samaritan, forgiveness Pupils will be able to talk about their own experiences of helping others, of doing

things wrong and of being forgiven.AT2

Working at greater depth

Pupils will be able to retell some of the parables AT1 Pupils will be able to describe some ways in which believers try to live out the

message of the parables.AT1 Pupils will be to use the Parable, Samaritan, Jewish, Levite, Forgiveness correctly

and explain very simply their meaning AT2 Pupils will be able to ask questions and respond to questions about the difficulties in

helping enemies and forgiving people. Pupils will be able to ask and respond to questions about God’s forgiveness

Possible Tasks to support these outcomes:

Engage

Tell a story with a meaning; there are loads of these on YouTube, Aesop’s fables for example. The story of ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’ is a good one. I have included this story in the booklet. Ask pupils what they think the meaning of the story is. Why do we tell a story instead of just saying don’t tell lies because no one will believe you when you tell the truth? And or create a game of pass the parcel inside the parcel should be pictures of parables plus the letters PARABLE so you would need about 14 layers with picture and a letter layer mixed in. Before you start explain that there is a

3

hidden meaning in the parcel. Once all layers have been unwrapped firstly ask if anyone can work out what the letters spell (unlikely but possible if you have children who are familiar with the word) if not arrange the letters to form the word and explain that we are going to be looking at parables then move to PowerPoint

Explore and Express

Either use the PowerPoint to tell the story or use an animated version like http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zcyr87h (Note for some reason it refers to a Levite as a lawyer that is not really correct)

Use the pictures (on sheet to give pupils and ask them to sort into the correct order or simply retell the story.

To explore the meaning of the story download the printable sheet from http://www.biblewise.com/preview/archives/2011/september/kids_korner/fun_games/helping_others.htm and or try http://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/who-is-my-neighbour-support-material/ and chose the activity called the neighbourhood wheel (children made need help and you would need to prepare templates in advance

The Poem by Jenny Tuxford explores the ideas in a modern setting. You could read it directly but that might be too complicated. If pupils act out the poem the meaning might become clearer. Then explore the ideas within it (on Separate sheet) The questions are not intended to be given to pupils but just to guide your thoughts

Pupils could design a poster called ‘Who is my Neighbour’ AT2 You could then ask pupils to talk about their responses to the following (or similar)

situations if they were trying to follow Jesus: AT2 1. One morning your sister/brother is unkind to you later on at school you see

them upset in the playground because someone has been unkind to them. What should you do?

2. Your next door neighbour is elderly she doesn’t like children very much and shouts when she thinks you are making too much noise. One day she has a fall and cannot leave the house. What should you do?

3. There is a pupil at school who is always making trouble for you. One day they get accused of stealing someone’s property but you know they didn’t do it. You saw who really did it. What should you do?

Now look at a parable about God’s forgiveness and love. The example on the PowerPoint is the lost Sheep but you could also use the parable of the lost coin. AT1

If you are a member of TES Connect check out https://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Forgiving-Others-6114582 which is about forgiveness and forms a nice AT2 activity. If you are not a member become one! It’s free.

4

The Boy who cried Wolf

There once was a shepherd boy who was bored as he sat on the hillside watching the village sheep. To amuse himself he took a great breath and sang out, "Wolf! Wolf! The Wolf is chasing the sheep!"

The villagers came running up the hill to help the boy drive the wolf away. But when they arrived at the top of the hill, they found no wolf. The boy laughed at the sight of their angry faces.

"Don't cry 'wolf', shepherd boy," said the villagers, "When there's no wolf!" They went grumbling back down the hill.

Later, the boy sang out again, "Wolf! Wolf! The wolf is chasing the sheep!" To his naughty delight, he watched the villagers run up the hill to help him drive the wolf away.

When the villagers saw no wolf they sternly said, "Save your frightened song for when there is really something wrong! Don't cry 'wolf' when there is NO wolf!"

But the boy just grinned and watched them go grumbling down the hill once more.

Later, he saw a REAL wolf prowling about his flock. Alarmed, he leaped to his feet and sang out as loudly as he could, "Wolf! Wolf!"

But the villagers thought he was trying to fool them again, and so they didn't come.

At sunset, everyone wondered why the shepherd boy hadn't returned to the village with their sheep. They went up the hill to find the boy. They found him weeping.

"There really was a wolf here! The flock has scattered! I cried out, "Wolf!" Why didn't you come?"

(Pause here to ask if they can think of a meaning to the story)

An old man tried to comfort the boy as they walked back to the village.

"We'll help you look for the lost sheep in the morning," he said, putting his arm around the youth, "Nobody believes a liar...even when he is telling the truth!"

5

A Levite walked by but did not help

6

The Samaritan took him to the inn and paid for him to be looked after

7

The Samaritan stopped to help

A man sets out to travel from Jericho to Jerusalem

The Good SamaritanBy Jenny Tuxford From SPCK’s Assemblies

One Saturday in wintera youth, whose name was Markwent to see his team playat Upton Park.

To see them win the FA cuphad always been his dream.Now they were playing Liverpoola really brilliant team.

West Ham took all their chancesand it gave Mark such a thrillthat when the final whistle wentthe score was fifteen-nil!

The cheers and shouts subsided,his team had won the cup.Mark was feeling happytill two men beat him up.

One man stole his wallet,one hit him on the head.They pushed him down and ran away,leaving him half dead.

The grounds had nearly cleared by now,just a few folk left about.Mark tried to summon helpbut he was far too weak to shout.

Just then a doctor left the pitchand saw him lying there.But his wife was cooking tea for sixand he liked his rump steak rare.

‘Someone else can help him.Besides, I haven’t got my bag.’He crossed the road quite quicklyand drove off in his Jag.

Next, a friend of Mark’s came out,a West Ham supporter too,but not a very nice type –he was often heard to boo.

He saw his friend was injuredand didn’t even care.He was going out that nightand he had to wash his hair.

The last man now came through the gate.He was not a welcome sight.Mark moaned when he detectedthe striped scarf – red and white!

If he thought he’d help himhe’d have to be a fool,for he was with the other side –a fan from Liverpool.

‘Oh, let me help,’ the stranger cried,tying a hanky round Mark’s head.‘Crawl into my Miniand we’ll go find you a bed.’

They finally found a hospital,out of the stranger’s way,but he took Mark grapes and visited himevery single day.

8

Reflections on the Poem

What football team did Mark support? What happened to him? Who were the people who didn’t help? What reasons did they give? Who helped Mark? Why was this surprising? How is this story similar to the story of the Good Samaritan? Can it be difficult sometimes to help people? Have you ever helped someone you didn’t like? Have you ever been helped by someone

who you thought wouldn’t help? If you are trying to be a follower of Jesus what do you think you should learn from the story?

9