Ten Must Know Bible Stories: The Prodigal Son

The Scottish Bible Society’s MUST KNOW BIBLE STORIES resources are free downloadable resources to help primary teachers explore Bible stories with their class as part of the RME curriculum. They include lesson plans, outdoor learning and play based learning ideas packed with active learning suggestions to help children engage with the learning and encourage them to discuss and explore how faith and belief affect the world they live in. They’re designed to make RME teaching easy, relevant and engaging and include links across the whole curriculum.

This is a complete set of teaching resources to help older primary school children learn and explore the story of the Prodigal Son.

As children investigate the story and the Christian beliefs contained in it, they also discover the relevance to their own lives. Do they need to say sorry to someone? Do they need to forgive? Can you forgive even if the other person hasn’t said sorry? Do they have friendships they need to fix?

The resources focus on active learning with opportunities for discussion and group work as well as opportunities for personal reflection.

The resource has been designed to embed RME across the curriculum, and is fully linked to CfE. There are clear links to Health and Wellbeing and many opportunities for literacy work, expressive arts as well as other curricular areas.

These resources come from the “Ten Must Know Bible Stories” website.  They have been collaboratively produced by Sue Thomson (Schools worker, St Columba’s Church of Scotland, Aberdeen) and local teachers. All materials have been used in school, and have been exceptionally well received by staff and pupils alike.

The website has downloadable session outlines (with learning intentions) that can be mixed and matched to suit your children and setting. Complete resources needed for the sessions are included and also an array of photos demonstrating the sessions in action.

The  “Ten Must Know Bible Stories Project” is supported by Aberdeen City Council and funded by the Church of Scotland Go For It Fund. The project aims to encourage and inspire teachers and chaplains to explore Bible Stories, using them to embed RME across the curriculum.