This resource is a complete Upper KS2 Religious Education lesson built around the poem Diagnosis, Pig and Prawn, using poetry as a stimulus to explore beliefs, practices, identity, belonging and living well together in a diverse Britain. Pupils explore why some people avoid certain foods for religious reasons, how ideas of permitted and forbidden have been understood in different traditions, and why practice can vary between individuals and communities.

The lesson also supports learning from religion, helping pupils reflect on dignity, fairness, respectful language, and how labels or judgements can affect people’s sense of belonging. It is designed to be objective, critical and respectful, with explicit guidance on ground rules, inclusion and safeguarding. Pupils are not asked to disclose personal beliefs or family dietary practices. The focus is on understanding rather than judgement.

What’s included
A full 60 minute lesson plan with timings (Do Now and ground rules, first reading and initial response, knowledge build, linking ideas to the poem, structured discussion). A copy of the poem Diagnosis, Pig and Prawn. Guidance on using the classroom slide deck (key vocabulary, prompts, discussion stems, recap). A Comparison Grid handout to support structured learning across traditions (pig/pork, shellfish/seafood, what it means and why it matters, varies within… prompts).

Assessment is built in through an exit ticket, evidence capture (comparison grid and selected quotations), and clear support/stretch/SEND strategies (word banks, sentence stems, optional oral responses, and dual coding suggestions). Suitable for Upper KS2 RE, cover lessons, and cross curricular links with English (poetry and inference/interpretation) and PSHE/Citizenship (identity, respectful dialogue, community cohesion, inclusion).