KS1: Why is the Church important to Christians? About this unit This unit is based on the QCA Unit What can we learn from visiting a Church? It introduces children to the church as a special place where Christians worship. Children are given an opportunity to experience and reflect on the atmosphere in a church, and to explore the purpose of the building. Prior learning Technical Vocabulary Resources It would be helpful if In this unit children will have an opportunity to use words and phrases related to: - Made visits outside school Talked about special places in general Discussed expectations about behavior when they are inside and outside school Christianity, God, Worship, Altar, Font, Bible, Pulpit, Lectern, Cross, Crucifix, Candles Calm, Peaceful, Dark light The local church The local Vicar A range of Christian artefacts A photo pack of Christian artefacts Christianity: photopack and activity book. www.pcet.co.uk A range of music styles A range of Christian Hymns and songs More best worship ever: Various artists Virgin/EMI Expectations At the end of this unit Most children will: Be able to identify key features found in a church and retell how these features are used in a church. They will be able to ask questions and respond sensitively by showing respect for a Christian place of worship. They can recognise what is of value to others. Some children will not have made so much progress and will: Some children will have progressed further and will: Be able to recognise, name and recall the key features found in a Church, talk about their feelings and experiences of visiting a church Be able to describe some key features of a church. They can make links between Christian beliefs and the features of a church. They can ask important questions about the Christian artefacts found in a church
Learning Objectives Pupils will learn: - That the church is a special place for Christians About some of the important features of the church building About some of the activities that take place in a church About the importance of showing respect for other people and their special places and things Possible Teaching Activities Learning outcomes Contribution to other Curriculum Areas Preparing for the Visit Look at photographs of church buildings inside and outside Talk about what the children can see. What is happening? Who are the people? Remind children that the people who go to church are Christians. Discuss the plans for the visit. Encourage the children to talk about what they expect to see, and remind them of any previous visits. What do you remember? Have you been to a church for other reasons, such as weddings, baptisms, services? What can you remember? Build up a sense of anticipation and the feeling that they are going to visit a special place. Explain that the church is special for Christians Discuss how they think they should behave in a church and why how would you expect visitors to behave in your home? Agree a simple code of behavior. Pupils should be able to: - Recognize/name/ identify/describe some features of a church Recognize/name/ identify/describe some of the artefacts in the church features of the building and the artefacts and the way they are used by Christians Opportunity for Social development Citizenship Chose 3 key words and make sure the Children understand them e.g. Peaceful, Joyful, Holy, Ask them to chose a colour that could symbolize each of these words. Ask them to feel some different textures e.g. wood, stone; plastic. Do any of these materials make them think of the three key words?. Ask them to think of some music that reflects each on of the 3 key words. Literacy Art Design/Resistant
Play some hymns or religious songs and ask them to decide which word suits each piece of music best. (More Best Worship songs Ever!) Look at some artifacts or pictures of artifacts. Make a class or group list of questions you would want to ask about each artefact. What does the cross stand for? What are the hassocks for? Why are there hymnbooks and a Bible? Try to answer these questions when you visit the Church materials Music Pupils should learn: - About what a church feels like and looks like About why Christians come to the church, what they do there and how they care for it Why many Christians want their church to be beautiful When visiting the Church Ask the children to sit quietly and use all their senses to experience the atmosphere of the building. Ask them how they feel when they come into the church. Encourage them to talk about smells and the different textures of things they touch, e.g. smooth, polished wood, cold stone, shining metal. Identify colours in windows, carpets, flowers, hassocks and banners. Record their responses for later use in school. Ask the children what they think the church is for. Talk about the people who use the church. When do they come? Why do they come? If possible, invite a priest, minister or a member of the church to discuss this with the children. Ask her/him to answer the Children s questions about the artifacts Who looks after the church, keeps it clean and polished? Who arranges the flowers? Why do you think they do these things? Explore why Christians might want the church to be beautiful and well cared for. If possible, ask a member of the church to answer these questions What is the most important part of the church and why? Provide an opportunity for them to ask questions to the teachers or Pupils should be able to: - Talk about/describe the atmosphere of the church Ask questions about how the church is used people they meet and how the church is cared for and how it is used Recall/identify/describe the parts of the church that they think are important and begin to consider why Respond sensitively, by their behaviour showing respect for other people and places of worship Plan the visit with leaders and members of the church beforehand. Brief them sensitively if they are going to speak to the children or answer questions, so they are aware of the purpose and focus of the visit and the age and likely concentration span of the children. Check whether there are areas where the children shouldn t go, e.g. parts of the churchyard or behind the altar rail. Be prepared for questions about death that may be prompted
Pupils should learn: - to identify some of the features of a church that make it a special place for Christians to evaluate what they have learnt and present the information in a variety of forms members of the church who may be present. Note down any questions that cannot be answered for further research. Allow time for children to make a close observational drawing of something they like in the church, or make a stone, wood or brass rubbing. Take photographs to remind children of the visit when they are back in school Many aspects of the visit can be developed further in the classroom. Follow-up activities focusing on what the children have learnt may extend over several lessons. Tasks could include: - making a class book, labeling important parts of the church; Using a bank of words available in the classroom, add simple explanations to photographs that reflect why the building is special for Christians; Designing a hassock or banner using a picture or symbol seen in the church; Role play baptisms and weddings; Presenting what they learnt on their visit in collective Worship; Inviting a member of the church to come into school to talk and answer their question. Using Photographs make Whose who at the church Vicar, Flower arranger, Organist, etc Pupils should be able to: - Recognize/name/ identify/describe some features of a church features of the building and the artefacts and the way they are used by Christians Talk about/describe the atmosphere of the church people they meet and how the church is cared for and how it is used Recall/identify/describe the parts of the church that they think are important and begin to consider why by seeing graves and monuments inside and outside the church Art Opportunities for Spiritual and Social development Literacy Design Drama Collective Worship
Suggested Assessment Task: Following the visit to the church draw the parts of the church that they consider make it a special place. Label and say why these things make it special as opposed to an ordinary building. Based on an idea from Dave Francis