"Awareness, Mystery and Value" syllabus (Somerset, N. Somerset and B&NES) |
Key Stage 2 Study Units |
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Unit 1: OURSELVES
This unit explores ideas of what it is to be human and relates them to religious beliefs. |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| Consider physical and non-physical aspects of human identity e.g. soul, spirit, atman | 'Do What - Funerals'; 'Basics - Life After Death' (Discover what Christians believe about life after death as an introduction to looking at the concept of soul.) |
| Explore a range of factors that might influence or affect a person's identity or personality (including religious identity) | 'Basics - Forgiveness, Right and Wrong, Environment etc' (Use these pages to explore how Christian beliefs might be worked out in a personal lifestyle.) 'Action' (Use this section to investigate faith in practice.) 'Do What - Day in The Life' (Use this section to investigate faith in practice.) |
| Consider beliefs about the value of human beings | 'Bible' - Life and Teaching of Jesus e.g. The Good Samaritan; The Lost Son (Use these pages to look at what Jesus taught about our relationship with other people.) |
| Participate in and value times of stillness and reflection | 'Do What - Prayer' (Use these pages to introduce the idea of personal prayer and reflection.) |
| Consider how stories, hymns, prayers etc. help people understand more about themselves and their relationships | |
| Unit 2: WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE A CHRISTIAN? THE LIFE & TEACHING OF JESUS This unit explores aspects of the life and teaching of Jesus and how they relate to Christian life, practices, celebrations and the pattern of Christian festivals. Pupils should be given opportunities to: |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| Learn about the key features of Jesus' life and teaching: his birth and its meaning for Christians, baptism and temptations, disciples, friends and followers, teaching about the kingdom of God, parables and miracles, the two greatest commandments, Holy Week and the Passion Narratives, the resurrection | 'Bible' - Life and Teaching of Jesus 'Festivals - Christmas; Lent; Easter; Pentecost' 'Do What - Baptism; Communion' 'Bible' section is being extended to include more on the events in the life of Jesus. |
| Learn about how key events in the life of Jesus are celebrated | |
| Consider what the life and teaching of Jesus may mean to Christians and to themselves | |
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Unit 3: WRITINGS
This unit explores how religions express values and commitments in a variety of written forms, and how value is attached to those writings. |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| Hear examples of many kinds of writing and story | 'Do What - Music' uses a wide variety of extracts from the Psalms. |
| Consider the origins of special or holy writings, e.g. their revelation, writing, compilation | 'Basics - The Bible' |
| Consider the ways in which communities value special books e.g. handling, covering, decoration | |
| Consider the moral message(s) within different stories and their relevance to people's lives | 'Bible' - Life and Teaching of Jesus |
| Express some moral beliefs or ideas in a variety of ways, e.g. through stories, poetry | 'Basics - Environment' the end of the section includes excerpts from poems and songs, and includes ideas for student activities. |
| Unit 4: WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE A CHRISTIAN /BELONGING, BELIEF AND IDENTITY This unit explores Christian beliefs about God and Jesus (including his teaching, friends, family and community) and how they relate to aspects of individual, family and community life. |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| Learn about some of the key beliefs Christians may share | 'Basics' section |
| Learn about aspects of Christian worship, both personal and corporate | 'Do What - Worship, Communion, Prayer, Music' |
| Learn about the life Christians lead as members of a Christian group or community | 'Do What - A Day in the Life' |
| Learn about some differences between Christian denominations | 'Basics - One Faith'; 'Churches - Denominations' (Use these sections to explain how the Christian church holds key common beliefs and expresses Christian practices in different ways.) 'Churches'; 'Do What - Baptism, Communion, Rites of Passage' The 'Churches - Looking at Church Buildings' section specifically contrasts an Anglican and a Baptist church building, and the way they meet the separate needs of the denomination. (Use this section of the site to prepare pupils to visit contrasting churches in your area.) |
| Investigate the qualities that might be demonstrated by Christian believers and relate them to their own experiences of life | 'Bible' (Look at Jesus' teaching about such things as caring for outcasts and discuss how this works practically.) 'Basics - Forgiveness' (Examine the Bible's teaching about forgiveness, and explore creative responses to this theme.) 'Action' (Investigate some groups engaged in social action, and consider why members may have become involved in such activities.) |
| Unit 5: JOURNEYS
This unit explores how religions express aspects of life's journey in a variety of creative ways. |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| The many reasons for going on a special journey and engaging in a religious quest | 'Do What - Pilgrimage' |
| Practices and events associated with some special journeys | 'Do What - Pilgrimage' |
| How rites of passage are dealt with in different traditions, especially birth, initiation, marriage and death | 'Do What - Rites of Passage' |
| Artistic, symbolic and other expressive work associated with special journeys and the journey of life | Some content in 'Do What - Art; Christian Symbols' |
| Unit 6: BARRIERS AND BRIDGES
This unit explores how religious beliefs affect approaches to moral issues. |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| Identify a range of questions related to a moral issue | 'Basics - Environment'; 'Issues' in the 14+ section |
| Hear stories about people/organisations who have been involved in some way in moral issues | 'Action' |
| Consider some of the factors that may affect attitudes and behaviour towards a moral issue e.g. rules, traditions, principles, commitments, experiences, possible consequences | ' Issues' in the 14+ section |
| Express their own ideas and views about a moral issue in the light of a range of responses | |
| Unit 7: EXPRESSIONS OF BELIEF
This unit explores how religions employ signs, symbols and the arts to express aspects of human nature. |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
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Consider how people express information, ideas, feelings and beliefs in a variety of ways: |
'Do What - Christian Symbols; Art, Music, Baptism, Communion' 'Churches - Anglican - What Does A Vicar Wear?; Looking at Church Buildings' 'Festivals - The Church Year' Use 'Festivals - Christmas; Lent & Holy Week' to make Christingle, Christmas card, Advent Calendar, Palm Cross etc. |
| Express their ideas, feelings and beliefs in a variety of ways e.g. prayer, conversation, drama, dance, music, drawing, painting | |
| Reflect upon the underlying meaning of different forms of expression: signs and symbols, artistic expression, universal symbols (see above) | As above. |
| Unit 8: QUESTIONS AND MYSTERIES
This unit explores ideas about the natural world and our place in it, and relates them to religious beliefs. |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| Discuss the feelings of wonder, amazement, disappointment that aspects of life may evoke e.g. the natural world, relationship to others and the natural world, birth | Use various pages of the site to encourage pupils to think about such issues before discussion e.g. 'Basics - Life After Death; Environment'; 'Do What - Funerals; Weddings' |
| Consider ideas about the nature and existence of God | 'Basics - Environment' |
| Consider questions and beliefs about the nature of life on earth, such as why there is suffering and the relationships between people, animals and the environment | 'Basics - Environment' (explores the fall of man); 'Issues' in the 14+ section |
| Consider beliefs about life after death | 'Basics - Life After Death'; 'Do What - Funerals' |
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Unit 9: LIFE STORIES
This unit explores how people's values and commitments might be demonstrated in the lives of religious leaders and believers. It may include a study of a particular religious community.
Pupils should be given opportunities to: |
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What the study units require |
Useful pages of RE:Quest |
| Hear about, discuss and reflect upon the lifestyles or main events in the lives of people who acted out of conviction | 'Life Stories' section is under construction |
| Consider how the values and commitments people have may affect the way they lead their lives | |
| Reflect on their attitudes and behaviour in the light of qualities demonstrated by other people (see above) | |
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Key Stage 3 Study Units |