Religious Education

The statutory basis for all Religious Education is the Bible and the time allocation is ½ hour per day or 2 ½ hours per week.  Parents have the right to withdraw their children from Religious Education classes or collective worship after notifying the Principal.

 

The Board of Governors can involve the Dept of Education to inspect the provision of Religious Education within the school.  Ministers or other suitable persons to whom parents do not object, shall be granted reasonable access at convenient times to the pupils or to inspect the Religious Education given in the school.

 

 

THE CORE SYLLABUS

 

The Core Syllabus provides us with a common Programme of Study for part of the total Religious Education programme.  It is based on 3 main strands:

 

1 ® The Revelation of God

 

2 ® The Christian Church

 

3 ® Morality

 

The programme of study embraces all three for each of the Key Stages. The aims of the programme are encapsulated in the Attainment Targets:

 

 

ATTAINMENT TARGET 1

 

Pupils should develop an awareness, knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the key Christian teachings about God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, about Jesus Christ, the Bible and an ability to interpret and relate the Bible to life.

 

 

ATTAINMENT TARGET 2

 

Pupils should develop a knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the growth of Christianity, of its worship, prayer and religious language; a growth awareness of the meaning of belonging to a Christian tradition and sensitivity towards the beliefs of others.

 

ATTAINMENT TARGET 3

 

Pupils should develop their ability to think and judge about morality, to relate Christian moral principles to personal and social life and to identify values and attitudes that influence behaviourism.

 

 

THE PLACE OF THE BIBLE IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

 

The Bible:

 

v    Provides insights into a religious view of life.

v    Opens a window onto God in a special way.

v    Its teachings are centrally important and timeless.

v    It raises issues which are as relevant now as in the 1st century     e.g. respect for people, respect for God, truth, values etc.

v    It helps the pupils to understand their own culture and heritage   e.g. the part played by the Christian festivals in our culture.

 

 

The needs of the pupils:

 

v    To be given skills in the use of biblical language.

v    To learn to be at home with the Bible.

v    To be familiar with the background of the Bible as an aid to understanding.

v    To gain an insight into faith in God to which the Bible testifies.

 

 

The place of Bible stories:

 

There are levels of understanding and children can develop a positive attitude to the Bible and to spiritual concepts through the stories:

 

v    Language provides the concept for ideas.

v    Known concepts help the children cope with the unknown.

v    Children should have stories (told to them) read to them for the:

·      ‘quality of the language’

·      ‘merits of the story’

v    Bible stories provide concepts in which religious concepts can develop.

v    Bible stories can provide realistic settings of ordinary experience with the unusual spiritual ideas so that the latter make human sense.

v    The idea of God is formed in the actual story telling and in the experience of worship.

 

 

Conclusion

 

v    Bible stories will be presented in well thought out ways.

v    Religious concepts are built up as words are heard and used in particular concepts.

v    Bible stories provide ideal contexts for defining Christian concepts.

v    The Bible encourages pupils to explore the place and significance of religion in human life and contributes to each pupil’s need for a guide by which to live.

v    The Bible helps to combine the spiritual, moral, ethical, aesthetic, cultural and linguistic in the cross curriculum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


KEY STAGE 1 OVERVIEW

 

M

Areas to include

3 AT’s/P.O.S.

PRIMARY 1

PRIMARY 2

PRIMARY 3

PRIMARY 4

1

(Greatness of God)

CREATION – God is the creator of all things.

God’s care for Creation

God has given bread, food, water.

Day and night.

Land and sea

(six events)

(Greatness of God)

God’s care for Creation

God-creator of all things

- a book to read

- Creation is good

(Greatness of God)

Creation Diary, creation of man and woman.

God cares for the world, people and animals.

(Greatness of God)

God is great; holy, love; knows everything-the same creator of outer space, sea.

God made plants, animals, people, everything.

- love forever

Respect for the environment

Animals and their food.

Animals, their babies & homes.  Develop a caring attitude towards living things.

Living things: pets, rabbits, hamsters etc.

‘This is the day’.

Each has the responsibility to care for the environment.

Bible in worship.

‘And God said the Sun….’

‘He made the stars to shine’.  ‘Who made the twinkling stars?’.  ‘Behold What Manner’.

Psalm 118 v 24.

‘Don’t build your house’.

Matt 7:24

‘The Ant Song’.

Worship & Prayer

Special Occasions

HARVEST

Thank you for ®

Noah

Harvest – special time of celebration

Bread/Water

HARVEST – special time of celebration

Story of Ruth (kindness)

Harvest celebration

Promise to Noah

 

Water

Harvest celebration

 

Sea & soil

Story of paper

2

Jesus used the Scriptures

Old Testament stories

God’s care for people

Joseph or Moses

God’s Old Testament friends, Jacob, David (any of these).

Abraham, Samuel, Eilijah, Elisha, Joshua, Deborah, Gideon (any of these).

Promise to Noah, Jonah, Nehemiah, Daniel (any of these).

Respect for Others

Recognise the value of co-operation, sharing & helping.

Respect for property.

 

Examine attitudes & behaviour towards other people.

 

 

M

Areas to include

3 AT’s/P.O.S.

PRIMARY 1

PRIMARY 2

PRIMARY 3

PRIMARY 4

3

Birth & Boyhood of Jesus

Annunciation, Mary visits Elizabeth , Journey to Bethlehem

Birth – Shepherds & Wisemen.

Jesus’ cousin John

Introduction Jesus/John

Annunciation, Visit of Mary to Elizabeth , Roman Census, Journey to Jerusalem .  Birth

Shepherds/Wisemen, Herod, flight to Egypt .

Annunciation, Visit of Mary to Elizabeth , Roman Census, Journey to Bethlehem .  Birth

Shepherds/Wisemen, Herod, Angel warns Joseph, flight to Egypt-return to Nazareth .

Annunciation by Gabriel to Mary, Roman Census, Journey to Bethlehem .  Birth

Shepherds/Wisemen, Herod.

Family life customs in Nazareth

.

 

Jesus grows up

Jesus in the Temple

Family life in Nazareth Benji 1 (part 1) Special places Home – Family/Street/Clothes.

.Worship & Prayer

Christmas

Special Occasions

Special time of celebration

Christmas

Special times of celebration

Christmas

Special time of celebration

Christmas

Respect for Others

Collecting for any Third World country

Any charity.

Project on any charity.

Barnardo’s Homes

4

Ministry of Jesus

Jesus & his friends-the fishermen, Zacchaeus.

Jesus & his friends-Matthew, Nicodemus.

Peter, Andrew, James, John, Mary, Martha, woman at the well.

Jesus & his friends John the Baptist, secret friend (Nicodemus).

Miracles of healing.

Paralysed Man.

The blind man, ten lepers.

Jairus’ daughter, Centurion’s servant, man with skin disease.

Peter’s mother-in-law, lady with the bent back.

Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, obedience.

Zacchaeus

Prodigal son, unmerciful servant.

Parable on obedience, two builders.

 

Lord’s Prayer (Forgiveness)

Daily bread.

Forgiveness/Praising God

May your kingdom come

Your will be done

Jesus’ teaching about love

Lost sheep

Lost coin/Lost son

Mary-Box of ointment, washing disciples feet

Let the children come

Respect for self

Recognise one is unique & special.  Care foe the body-eyes, ears, tongue & nose.

Recognise that they are loved & respected.

Recognise they need to care for their bodies.

Jesus’ relationship with God the Father

Parable of lost sheep (see above)

Any references to Jesus’ birth as Son of God (see above)

Any of the earlier events

Any event in life of Jesus to show sonship.

Worship & Prayer

 

Worship & Prayer anytime, variety of prayers eg sorry

 

 

Respect for others

Recognise value of co-operation, sharing, helping others

 

Helping others-being honest, love of God, loving our parents

Co-operation, helping, sharing with others

 

 

M

Areas to include

3 AT’s/P.O.S.

PRIMARY 1

PRIMARY 2

PRIMARY 3

PRIMARY 4

5

St. Patrick’s Day.

 

 

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day.

Passion, Death & Resurrection.

Passion, Death & Resurrection.

Entry into Jerusalem , Last Supper.

Betrayal, trial, death, resurrection.

Entry into Jerusalem , Last Supper.

Betrayal, trial, death, resurrection.

Passion, Death & Resurrection.

Entry into Jerusalem , Last Supper.

Betrayal & arrest, trial & crucifixion, death & burial. The Resurrection; empty tomb.

Passion, Death & Resurrection.

Entry into Jerusalem , Last Supper, betrayal, Peter’s denial.  Trial & crucifixion. Death & burial-Resurrection; empty tomb, people who saw Jesus’ resurrection.

6

God’s Word.

 

Bible is God’s word, God’s Special Book.  It tells us about ____.

Bible tells us about God the Father.

Jesus, like light/instruction/book.

 

Bible tells us about God the Father and God’s Rules.

The Christian Church – Beginning & Growth.

 

 

 

 

 

People have been influencial in the growth of the Church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caring & sharing of the early Church

Story of Paul & Lydia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barnabus meets Paul

Paul, brief outline

Beginning & Growth. Caring, sharing, praying together.

Saul – prison officer

Dr Luke, Crispus, Timothy, Aquila/Priscilla, Philip.

 

 

Onesimus the slave.

 

 

Life of Peter

Learn a lesson, Jesus died for all

(Pentecost)

Peter’s release from prison

Peter’s healing, sharing.

Respect for God & Others

 

Two commandments,

Love God & neighbour.

 

 

Respect for God

Respect for Parents

Commandments – honesty.

The best way to live

Love God

Love one another

Do not steal

The greatest rules

Good Samaritan

Love for Samaritan

God’s rules

(The Golden Rule)

Jesus’ book.

 

KEY STAGE 2 OVERVIEW

 

Module

Areas to include

3 AT’s & P.O.S.

PRIMARY 5

PRIMARY 6

PRIMARY 7

1

a

Creation and Fall

 

 

 

 

Respect for the Environment

Wonder and variety of creation

God’s wonderful world

God gives us food.

 

 

Caring for God’s world.

Read and reflect on the biblical account of creation.

Reflects on human creativity and the misuse of their creative power eg Cain and Abel.

 

 

Hear and reflect Creation and Fall.

b

Harvest

 

Harvest – Promise to Noah

Co-worker for God for a better world.

Stewardship.

Harvest in other lands.

God’s promise to Noah.

c

Respect for Self.

 

The boys Jesus grew up with.

Physical and moral, emotional and social skills.

Positive attitudes to their talents, qualities, values.  Recognise and accept own limits.  Gift of sexuality.

2

a