World Religion Day is celebrated internationally on the third Sunday of January. This year, you can use now>press>play’s immersive Experiences in school to enhance your RE lessons and activities in time for World Religion Day.
Read on to find out how you can engage your class in screen-free, story-based learning which develops an understanding of faiths from across the world.
1. The Ten Plagues
With now>press>play’s The Ten Plagues Experience, children can take part in the Hebrew Biblical story of Moses and the Ten Plagues, after experiencing what it was like to live in Ancient Egypt.
In this Experience, pupils can:
- Discover the origin and importance of the Jewish Passover festival.
- Learn about Moses’ role in leading the Israelites to freedom out of Egypt.
- Witness the Ten Plagues of Egypt: blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of the first born.
2. The Easter Story
Our Easter Story Experience transports children to Biblical Jerusalem, as they witness the story of Jesus’ betrayal, sacrifice and resurrection.
Along the way, children will:
- Encounter the main people in the Easter Story and recognise the values that they each display.
- Be present for the events of the Easter story: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection.
- Understand the historical context of Jerusalem under Roman rule.
3. The Five Pillars of Islam
In our The Five Pillars Experience, KS2 children visit Earth as an alien detective, learning all about Islam from a new Muslim friend, Maany, and travelling together to Mecca for Hajj.
In this Experience, your class can explore:
- The Five Pillars of the Islamic religion: profession of faith, prayer, charity, fasting, Hajj.
- The importance of Islamic beliefs and traditions (Allah, Ramadan, the Qur’an and more) to Muslims around the world.
- The sacred Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in modern-day Saudi Arabia.
4. Diwali & The Ramayana
Celebrated across the world by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, Diwali is one of the most widely-observed religious festivals.
now>press>play’s KS2 Diwali Experience immerses students in the traditional story of the Ramayana. Through sound, story and movement, they can:
- Take part in the Ramayana story, meeting the central figures of Rama, Sita, Ravana and Hanuman.
- Learn how people celebrate Diwali today (with rangoli, candles, sweets and more).
- Understand Hindu beliefs, values and traditions.
5. Christmas & The Nativity
With our Christmas Story Experience, EYFS learners can explore the tale of Jesus’ birth and it’s importance to Christians across the world.
In this Experience, children will:
- Be introduced to stories from the Bible and the beliefs associated with Christianity.
- Learn why Jesus’ birth was – and is – important to people across the world.
- Witness the main events of the Nativity including the annunciation, journey to Bethlehem and Jesus’ visitors.
We hope you enjoy using our Experiences to enhance your World Religion Day activities this year. You can try now>press>play in your school by booking a free trial here.
