This week in RE, we explored the powerful story of the Conversion of Saul (Acts 9:1–19). The children read directly from the Bible, carefully working through the text to understand how Saul, who was travelling to Damascus to arrest Christians, experienced a dramatic encounter with Jesus. They learnt how a bright light from heaven stopped him, how he heard Jesus speak to him, and how he was left blind for three days before being helped by Ananias and beginning a completely new life.
We spent time discussing how Saul changed throughout the story, focusing on his thoughts, feelings and actions at different stages. The children considered how he might have felt during the journey, at the moment of the light, and when he was blind, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of the significance of his transformation.
To support their learning, the children worked in groups to create freeze frames of key moments from the story. These included Saul setting out on his journey, the moment of the blinding light, Ananias receiving God’s message, and Saul being healed and baptised. This activity allowed the children to physically represent the events, helping them to sequence the story, remember key details and explore the emotions of each character. They used thoughtful expressions and positioning to show what was happening in each scene.
We also learnt that Saul later became known as Paul, marking his new life as a follower of Jesus. Through class discussion, we reflected on the key question: How did Saul change and what does this tell us? The children began to understand that Christians believe the Holy Spirit can transform a person’s life, and that no one is beyond change.
It was lovely to see the children engaging so thoughtfully with the story and beginning to understand how, in our faith, God can guide people to change and grow.