Summary:
An exploration of the life of Jesus, and his significance in the Christian religion.

Section 1 provides a scheme of work suitable for Year 7. It introduces the Jesus of the gospels, familiarising pupils with the story, and encouraging them to understand and evaluate the impact of Jesus on those he met in his lifetime.

Section 2 provides a scheme of work suitable for Year 8 investigating the Jesus of the Christian Church. Pupils investigate the key beliefs about Jesus and see how these beliefs have been represented by artists over the centuries. They create their own arts exhibition.

Section 3 provides a scheme of work suitable Year 9 investigates the significance of Jesus for the contemporary world and in particular how Jesus values guide Christians in their attitudes to serving others, to wealth and to war and peace.

Throughout each section activities are provided in line with the non-statutory framework for RE, encouraging students to 'learn about' and 'learn from' Jesus, and in line with the Key Stage 3 Strategy to develop their thinking skills and literacy skills as part of their all round learning.

• In depth study of the life of Jesus in line with the themes of the National Framework for RE
• Each topic is structured as a lesson or a series of lessons following the principles of the Key Stage 3 strategy - with starters, main activities and plenaries
• Considers the significance of Jesus beyond Christianity - how he is regarded by other religions and by non-religious people
• Includes dozens of images of Jesus from art and popular culture through the centuries
• Active learning in every lesson
• Built in opportunities for end of term/end of unit summative assessment

Table of Contents:
Introduction: What do you know? What do you think?
Section 1 The story of Jesus (for Year 7)
1.1 Real person, real place, real time (The historical context)
1.2 How do we know about Jesus? (Evidence about Jesus)
1.3 The big picture: the life of Jesus (Overview)
1.4 What is Christmas all about?
1.5 Baptism and temptation
1.6 The disciples
1.7 Jesus the teacher
1.8 Jesus the healer
1.9 An ending...and a beginning (the events of Holy Week)
Section 1 Summary tasks: Design a Jesus board game/Write a text message about Jesus
Section 2 Faith in Jesus (for Year 8)
2.1 Images of Jesus
2.2 Jesus through the eyes of world faiths
2.3 Key Christian beliefs
2.4 Being the body of Christ
2.5 How to focus on Jesus (Symbols and rituals)
2.6 'Jesus was here!' (Places of pilgrimage)
Section 2 Summary tasks: Make your own exhibition of Jesus in the Arts
Section 3 Following Jesus in today's world (for Year 9)
3.1 Jesus' values
3.2 Called to serve
3.3 Should Christians be poor?
3.4 The way of peace
Section 3 Summary Task: Who should get the 'Live Like Jesus' award
Book Summary Task: The Jesus jigsaw

About the Author(s):
Kevin O'Donnell was formerly a teacher of RE but is now ordained minister in the Church of England and works in the Diocese of Chichester. He has written numerous books in the Seeking Religion series and in the New Approach series for GCSE