One Day Creative content used in this plan
- Diwali (KS2) — join the Uno pilot to watchMain teachingfrom 17:39
This video clip sets the religious and cultural context for Diwali, enabling pupils to grasp the foundational narrative before engaging in the drama activity.
“She is the goddess of wealth, and Hindus will often try to buy something new and precious, maybe a gold necklace with jewels like Princess…”
Want to go deeper? We run Diwali as an in-school workshop.
The Story of Diwali: Rama and Sita
- Diwali
- A festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.
- Rama
- A prince and hero in the story, who battles evil.
- Sita
- Rama's wife, a princess known for her strength.
- Festival
- A special time of celebration with traditions.
Lesson outline
- 5min
Starter
- Ask pupils what they know about celebrations that use lights.
- Introduce Diwali as the Festival of Lights, celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, and explain why it matters.
- Share a key question: 'What makes Diwali special?'
- 15min
Main teaching
- Introduce the story of Rama and Sita, central to the Hindu celebration of Diwali.
- Show the Diwali video clip, pausing to check understanding of key characters and events.
- Discuss the main challenges Rama and Sita faced and how they overcame them.
Play Diwali (KS2) from 17:39 — join the Uno pilot to watchThe video is shown at the start of the main teaching phase to introduce the core story of Rama and Sita and connect it to Diwali celebrations.
Possible misconceptions“Pupils may think Diwali is just about fireworks and lights.”
Explain that lights symbolise the triumph of good, linked to the story of Rama and Sita.
- 20min
Activity
- Divide class into small groups to re-enact key moments from the Rama and Sita story.
- Assign each group a scene, focusing on expressing characters' feelings through actions.
- Provide time for groups to prepare and rehearse their short freeze-frame or tableau scenes.
Creative way inStory Re-enactmentDramaDrama allows pupils to embody characters and express emotions from the story of Rama and Sita, deepening their understanding of its narrative and its significance to Hindus at Diwali.
- 5min
Plenary
- Invite groups to share their re-enactments with the class.
- Ask audience members to 'thought-track' what a character might be feeling in a scene.
- Revisit key questions, asking pupils to summarise what they have learned about Diwali.
Adaptive teaching
Support
During the drama activity, assign roles that require fewer lines or simpler movements for pupils needing support. Provide visual prompts of key story events to aid memory.
Challenge
Challenge pupils to incorporate more complex emotions or dialogue into their drama scenes. Encourage them to explore alternative endings or character motivations.
Additional adults
The teaching assistant will circulate during the drama activity, offering guidance to groups on character expression and scene development, ensuring all pupils are engaged.
SEND provision
In the drama activity, form mixed groups so every pupil can contribute; some can narrate or add a sound effect. Pupils who would rather not perform can use the art materials to make a diya picture of the lamps that lit Rama and Sita's way home, then share it in the plenary.
Resources
- Projector
- Art materials
Learning outcomes
All pupils will be able to identify Rama and Sita as central to the Hindu celebration of Diwali and recall one event from their story.
Most pupils will be able to retell the main parts of the Rama and Sita story and explain why Hindus celebrate Diwali.
Next lesson
Pupils could find out how Sikhs and Jains celebrate Diwali, or explore how it is celebrated today, such as making rangoli patterns or sharing traditional foods.