What is taught must be in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus; (If your school is outside of Cambridgeshire: the S.C.A.A Model 2 syllabus has been included to help in matching this lesson plan with your local Agreed Syllabus).
Cambs Agreed Syllabus:
RP (Rites of Passage)
Enable pupils to:
become familiar with the symbolism used in such rites of passage and the beliefs they express .. funerals, e.g. the Christian belief that death is not the end.
Pupils should consider this:
What would you like people to remember about your life?
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S.C.A.A. Model syllabuses:
KEY TEACHINGS / FOCUS:
CHRISTIAN WAYS OF LIFE.
AT1Listen to stories which convey messages about accountability & responsibility, God & humanity, & qualities of fairness, love & justice.
AT2 Deepen their exploration of feelings & relationships, eg friendship, loyalty, hurt, fear, acceptance.
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RESOURCES:
A cardboard box on a table with a dish containing a little bit of fat/lard in it & a big cloth over it, so no-one knows what is inside the box. 3 pieces of paper describing what is reckoned to be under the cloth: 1) A delicious very satisfying Mars bar. 2) A lovely refreshing After Eight mint. 3) A very sweet enjoyable Cadbury's cream egg. Some tissues to wipe the volunteers fingers!
STARTER:
Death is something that we can find difficult to talk about.
But let's imagine when we were a little younger, & a distant auntie or uncle dies. We suddenly see a completely different thing happening to the normal family routine:
We see a lot of people dressing up in black clothes & everyone meets at a building which we haven't seen before. There are hushed voices. The wooden coffin can be seen at the front & perhaps we try to picture the body of the aunt or uncle inside it. Later on, most people meet at someone's house & many just don't know what to say. As the time progresses the volume of the conversations increases, as people find other things to talk about. Then over the next few weeks everything is back to the way it was, except that auntie ...... or uncle........ just aren't around any more.
Q. Who has experienced something like that?
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Death can become a banned subject to talk about!
Our society allows lots of Hollywood deaths on our TV's, but when someone close to us dies, society in general, tries to not to look at the striking image of death.
The coffin is either removed from our sight by going behind some curtains, or at the burial, the hole in the ground is lined with posh material & is not filled in while the mourners are there.
All of this softens the striking image of death.
But in many countries in the world, the coffin is left open so that the family can see their dead, loved one. Also at the burial, there is a real hole in the ground with real earth that is used to refill that hole.
But this softened picture of death can be changed when a favourite pet dies.
The wonderful life of that pet who gave so much pleasure, is suddenly very still on the chair.
After a hole is dug in the garden, this lifeless body is laid gently in the bottom, & the earth is put back.
It is a very memorable moment.
Once that body was filled with life, strength, fun & character. Now it is lifeless.
Perhaps you feel grateful for all the pleasure that this animal has given you. And perhaps in some way, you feel honoured to have experienced & seen their death.
Q. Who has had a pet that has died?
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Q. Do you feel that you have learnt anything from the experience?
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MAIN TEACHING:
Who can tell us about death?
This is not the sort of thing you can say: "Hang on a moment I will just go & die & then I'll come back & tell you about it!"
Q. So what other options have we got, to find out about it?
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[a] Back from the dead experiences:
A few people claim to have experienced death, & have then been saved by doctors. Some say that it was like being in a black tunnel & there was a bright light, or that they were greeted by various people.
Some scientists are convinced that whilst dying, the brain could naturally see these sort of pictures, because it is being starved of oxygen. Then if someone recovers they can remember what they saw, but it probably isn't real, it is just their imagination.
[b] Asking the dead through 'mediums' etc:
The Bible warns that it is wrong to try to speak to the dead & says that anyone who is a medium or a spiritist or who consults the dead is revolting to God. Deuteronomy 18:11-12 (NIV)
And again in the Bible it says "should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?" Isaiah 8:19 (NIV)
[c] Ask God about it:
This sounds too obvious.
But here's an illustration to show how sensible this suggestion really is:
(Teachers note: Put your cardboard box on a table with the dish of fat/lard already in it & have the big cloth over it, so no-one knows what is inside the box)
I want 4 volunteers. (Teachers note: 3 to read off the pieces of paper to try & persaude the 4th person what is under the cloth.)
OK these three people are going to tell you what is under this cloth - try to describe the object in more than what are written on these pieces of paper.
First one...... second one...... & third one........
(Teachers note: Now look to the volunteer who will put their hand into the box) You have heard what they've all said. Now, do you want to put your hand into the box & try to get what is in there - without removing the cloth, because you mustn't see inside! Or, perhaps you would like to ask me first before doing that, because I'm the one who organised this!
Q. What does everyone think he/she should do?
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Q. You have now got to make the decision, what are you going to do?
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(Teachers note: If the volunteer asks you what is under the cloth, then you will have to tell the truth that it is a lump of horrible, sticky, fatty stuff. But whatever they decide, they should still put their hand under the cloth to feel for the item!)
Q. What can we learn from that illustration?
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There were a number of people who had an opinion on what was under the cloth. But the best person to ask was the one who had been around when it was originally put together.
So going back to our subject of death, it is best to ask God who has been around since death originally happened. Those 3 with their ideas on what was under the cloth, are like the many voices that try to say what they think death is like.
Christians believe that God speaks through the Bible, & the Bible tells us that death is not the end.
Paul said that that there "will be a resurrection of both the righteous and ungodly. Because of this, I try with all my strength to always maintain a clear conscience before God and man." Acts 24:16 (The Living Bible)
On one occasion Jesus told a story, a parable, about what it was like after death. He used a picture sort of language to describe it. Here is a shortened version of what He said:
"There was a rich man who lived in luxury every day & then a beggar named Lazarus was laid outside his gate. Lazarus had no money & he survived on little scraps of food, & he was covered with sores. But the rich man, who only lived for himself, made no effort to help Lazarus.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to the place where Abraham & many others who had believed in God were.
The rich man also died and was buried, & he found himself in a place of pain.
He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called out: "Have pity on me and send Lazarus to cool me down from these flames."
But Abraham replied, "Remember that in your lifetime you ignored Lazarus whilst you lived in luxury. Now he is in comfort & you are suffering because of what you did. And besides all this, there is a great chasm between you & us that no-one can cross over."
He answered, "I beg you then, go to my relatives & warn them, so that they will not come here to this terrible place."
But Abraham said, "They've got the Scriptures haven't they? They should read them!"
'No, they won't take notice of them" he said, "but if someone goes back from the dead to speak to them, then they will turn to God!"
But Abraham said to him, "If they do not take notice of the Scriptures, then they will not be convinced even if someone is raised from the dead." Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)
Q. What do you think about the statement: "They've got the Scriptures haven't they? They should read them!"
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Q. Have you heard many things from the Bible?
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Q. What do you think about the statement: "If they do not take notice of the Scriptures, then they will not be convinced even if someone is raised from the dead." Do you agree?
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Remember that Jesus was raised from the dead, but the majority still did not believe in Him.
Christians believe that all the evidence is there within the Bible, & anyone can read or hear about it from others, so that means that there is no excuse of: "It's not my fault, I didn't know that!"
Death is a doorway to a different life:
But someone who lives a selfish life sees the door of death as a problem. It marks an end to them building themselves up into someone big, rich & important.
The Bible says that when someone like this dies, their hopes all die too, because they are only based upon this earthly life. (Proverbs 11:7)
Death for them becomes something to fear. It is an awful thing. It is something that can never be defeated.
But a Christian can say the words that are in the Bible:
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV)
They can say that because Jesus has defeated the power of sin & death. So death can no longer be victorious over them & it has no dreadful sting left in it.
And they can also agree with the words of the Apostle Paul where he said that for him, he was living his life for Jesus Christ, & when the time came for him to die, he would receive a reward which would be far better than what this life could ever offer. (Philippians 1:21-23)
Jesus said: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 (NIV)
Jesus also had this to say about eternal life:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God; trust also in me.
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I am going there to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me,
that you also may be where I am."
John 14:1-3 (NIV)
PLENARY:
Q. Are your family able to talk about the subject of death?
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Q. Has this lesson made you think more about the subject?
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Q. How would you like people to remember your life?
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Either take a short time to discuss these questions, or leave it with them.
(Teachers note: There is a worksheet to accompany this lesson plan).