Lesson Plan: The History of Easter
II. While Reading Activities
Word Inference
- significance |siɡˈnifikəns| noun- the quality of being worthy of attention; importance: adolescent education was felt to be a social issue of some significance.
- pagan |ˈpāɡən| nouna person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions; a non-Christian.
- Orthodox |ˈôrTHəˌdäks| adjective-(of a person or their views, especially religious or political ones, or other beliefs or practices) conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; established and approved: the orthodox economics of today | orthodox medical treatment | orthodox Hindus.
- resurrection |ˌrezəˈrekSH(ə)n|noun-• (the Resurrection) (in Christian belief) Christ’s rising from the dead.
- Christianity |ˌkrisCHēˈanədē| noun-the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices.• Christian quality or character: his Christianity sustained him.
- Holy Week |ˈˌhōlē ˈwēk| noun-the week before Easter, starting on Palm Sunday.
- denomination |dəˌnäməˈnāSH(ə)n| noun-a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.
- origin |ˈôrəjən| noun -the point or place where something begins, arises, or is derived: a novel theory about the origin of oil | the name is Norse in origin | the terminology has its origins in America.
- deem |dēm| verb [with object and complement] regard or consider in a specified way: the event was deemed a great success | [with object and infinitive] : the strike was deemed to be illegal.
- sacrificial |ˌsakrəˈfiSH(ə)l| adjective-relating to or constituting a sacrifice: an altar for sacrificial offerings.
Reading Comprehension
True /False/NA-Statements
- F-Easter is a Christian holiday.
- T-Easter is also associated with the Jewish holiday of Passover.
- T-The Last Supper was essentially a Passover feast.
- F-In western Christianity the period prior to Easter holds special significance.
- T-The Sunday immediately prior to Easter is called Palm Sunday.
- F- Palm Sunday commemorates when followers laid palm leaves across the road to greet Jesus.
- T-In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Easter rituals start with the Great Lent.
- T-Examples of non-religious Easter traditions include Easter eggs, and related games such as egg rolling and egg decorating.
- F-Mostly children participate in Easter egg hunts.
- F-The exact origins of the Easter Bunny tradition are unknown.
Grammar Focus: Prepositions
In some denominations of Protestant Christianity, Easter Sunday marks the beginning of Eastertide.
Despite its significance as a Christian holy day, many of the traditions and symbols that play a key role in Easter observances actually have roots in pagan celebrations.
He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect in the province of Judea from 26 to 36 A.D.
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