Easter Lesson

EASTER

Kate McGahan, American writer and grief counsellor

"The very first Easter taught us this: that life never ends and love never dies"

Vocabulary

• Easter bunny (noun) a folkloric symbol of Easter in the form of a rabbit in certain cultures which

lays or brings Easter eggs.

• Lent (noun) a 40 day period of fasting and penitence beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending the

night before Easter Sunday.

• Shrove Tuesday (noun) the day before Lent and host to many carnivals and festivals around the

Christian world.

• The Last Supper (noun) the last meal Jesus had with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion

(observed on Maundy Thursday.

• Good Friday (noun) the day Jesus was crucified.

• Judas (noun) a person who betrays another.

Discussion

1. Is Easter celebrated in your country? If so, what happens?

2. What is the origin of Easter? Do you think this original meaning has become lost?

3. How does your family celebrate Easter? Do you have any special tr aditions?

4. What special food is associated with Easter in your country?

5. Do children get chocolate eggs or decorate eggs in your country? Do they have Easter egg hunts?

If not, do you think these would be a good idea? Are they appropriate for this holiday?

6. D o people get time off work at Easter in your country? If so, what do they do during this time?

7. Is Easter Monday a holiday in your country? If so, what do people usually do on that day?

8. Which countries do you think it would be interesting to spend Easter in?

Drag and Drop

1. Tottenham fans consider Sol Campbell to be a ​

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after he moved to their North London rivals

Arsenal.

2. After ​

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, Jesus was betrayed by his disciple

3. I’m giving up chocolate and ice cream for ​

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.

4. On​

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, New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras, Rio celebrates Carnival, and in England,

the people make pancakes.

5. A lot of people get confused as to why it would be called ​

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, but in this sense, ‘good’means ‘holy’.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Judas

The Last Supper

Shrove Tuesday

Lent

Good Friday

Comprehension questions

1. Does the Easter bunny visit children in your country?

2. What do/would you give up for Lent?

3. Are there a ny celebrations on Shrove Tuesday in your country?

4. What happened at the Last Supper?

5. What happens in your country on Good Friday?

6. Can you think of any examples of Judases?

Conversation Questions

1. Why are eggs and rabbits associated with Easter? Is it wrong to associate rabbits and eggs with

Easter? Why or why not?

2. Why does the date of Easter change every year? Would you prefer it if it were on the same date

every year?

3. Why was Jesus crucified? What did he die for?

4. The Bible does not mention the date on which Jesus was resurrected, so how was it decided

when to celebrate Easter?

5. Which is the best holiday: Easter or Chr istmas? Why?

6. According to the Christian Church, Easter is more important than Christmas. Why do you think

that is and do you agree?

7. Has Easter become too commercialised?

8. What is the true meaning of Easter?

Discussion

These days, as Easter is celebrated more for chocolate than its original religious meaning, many people say that schools should teach children about the true origins of the festival. Do you agree or disagree with this?