Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish new year festival that takes place in September or October. It marks the beginning of the new year in Judaism. You can use this Key Stage 1 resource pack to teach pupils about this important festival in Judaism.
What's inside this KS1 resource pack?
- Rosh Hashanah text and comprehension – PowerPoint
- Rosh Hashanah text and comprehension – PDF version
- Comprehension answer sheet
- What happens during Rosh Hashanah? worksheet
- Teacher notes with guidance on how to use the resources in the classroom.
KS1 Rosh Hashanah activities
This Rosh Hashanah resource is a well-pitched and engaging way to introduce KS1 pupils to an important religious festival. Written in clear, simple language, the text helps children understand not just the facts about Rosh Hashanah – such as when Jewish people celebrate and what happens – but also the meaning behind the traditions, like saying sorry and starting afresh.
The structure of the text is ideal for KS1 learners, with short, manageable paragraphs and clear subheadings that support early reading skills.
Children are introduced to key vocabulary such as “shofar”, “Synagogue” and “L’shana tovah”, with enough context to help them understand these new terms.
The focus on familiar concepts – like eating sweet food, attending a celebration with family and saying sorry – makes the content relatable and accessible, even for those who are completely new to learning about Judaism.
Comprehension questions throughout the resource are developmentally appropriate, encouraging retrieval and simple reasoning. The final question also invites personal reflection, prompting pupils to think about how celebrations might be similar across different cultures and experiences.
This resource could be used in a variety of settings: as part of an RE topic on religious festivals, in a guided reading group, or as an independent task for more confident readers. It's an excellent tool for supporting both cultural understanding and literacy in the KS1 classroom.
Browse more Rosh Hashanah activities.