Celebrations and Special Times is an invaluable resource that highlights key annual celebrations and festivals for Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus through amazing images, film clips and interactive activities and games. All the resources come with questions, activities and a range of interactive tools to allow pupils to investigate and explore what they see. Content is designed to fit locally agreed syllabi and curriculum requirements.

Unit 1: Introduction

• How do we share celebrations and special times with each other?
• How do celebrations and special times make us feel?
• Happy New Year!
• Remembrance Day
• What do people do when they celebrate special times?

Unit 2: Hinduism

• Diwali
• How do Hindus celebrate Diwali?
• Diwali quiz
• Writing focus: Diwali celebrations
• Janmashtami
• The festival of Janmashtami
• Janmashtami quiz

Unit 3: Judaism

• Rosh Hashanah
• Rosh Hashanah: the Jewish New Year
• Yom Kippur
• Yom Kippur
• Hanukkah
• The story of Hanukkah
• Why do Jews light candles at Hanukkah?
• Purim
• A story for Purim
• Celebrating Purim
• Passover
• What story do Jews remember at Passover?
• Writing focus: newspaper report on the plagues of Egypt
• What makes Passover special?
• The Passover meal
• Sukkot
• The festival of Sukkot

Unit 4: Christianity

• Christmas
• The story of Christmas
• Christmas is a time for giving
• A Christingle service
• Easter
• Lent and the temptations of Egypt
• Palm Sunday
• The Last Supper
• Good Friday
• The Story of Easter
• Celebrating Easter
• Holy Week quiz
• Writing focus: Good Friday and Holy Saturday
• Caring for others at Harvest Festival

Unit 5: Islam

• Ramadan
• Why do Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan?
• Why is Ramadan a special time?
• How does Ramadan change the pattern of the day for Muslims?
• Writing focus: Fasting during Ramadan
• How do Muslims break their fast?
• Worship during Ramadan
• Id ul Fitr
• Id Mubarak!
• How do Muslims remember the poor at the festival?
• Celebrating with family and friends
• Ramadan and Id quiz

Unit 6: Sikhism

• Guru Nanak's birthday
• Who was Guru Nanak?
• The Mool mantra
• The story of guru Nanak and the rich man
• How do Sikhs put Guru Nanak's teachings into practice?
• Baisakhi
• Celebrating Baisakhi together
• How do people celebrate Baisakhi?
• What story is remembered at Baisakhi?
• Writing focus: The Baisakhi festival