Colour key:
Making sense
Understanding impact
Making connections
Why is the word "God" special to Christians ?
- Talk about things they find interesting, puzzling or wonderful and also about their own experiences and feelings about the world
- Retell stories, talking about what they say about the world, God, human beings
- Think about the wonders of the natural world, expressing ideas and feelings
- Say how and when Christians like to thank their Creator
- Talk about what people do to mess up the world and what they do to look after it.
Why is Christmas special for Christians ?
- Talk about people who are special to them
- Say what makes their family and friends special to them
- Recall simply what happens at a traditional Christian festival (Christmas)
- Begin to recognise the word ‘incarnation’ as describing the belief that God came to Earth as Jesus
- Retell religious stories, making connections with personal experiences.
Why is Easter special for Christians ?
- Recognise and retell stories connected with celebration of Easter
- Say why Easter is a special time for Christians
- Talk about ideas of new life in nature
- Recognise some symbols Christians use during Holy Week, e.g. palm leaves, cross, eggs, etc., and make connections with signs of new life in nature
- Talk about some ways Christians remember these stories at Easter.
Being special: where do we belong ?
- Retell religious stories making connections with personal experiences
- Share and record occasions when things have happened in their lives that made them feel special
- Recall simply what happens at a traditional Christian infant baptism and dedication
- Recall simply what happens when a baby is welcomed into a religion other than Christianity.
Which places are special and why ?
- Talk about somewhere that is special to themselves, saying why
- Recognise that some religious people have places which have special meaning for them
- Talk about the things that are special and valued in a place of worship
- Begin to recognise that for Christians, Muslims or Jews, these special things link to beliefs about God
- Get to know and use appropriate words to talk about their thoughts and feelings when visiting a church
- Express a personal response to the natural world.
Which stories are special and why ?
- Talk about some religious stories
- Recognise some religious words, e.g. about God
- Identify some of their own feelings in the stories they hear
- Identify a sacred text e.g. Bible, Torah
- Talk about some of the things these stories teach believers (for example, what Jesus teaches about being friends with the friendless in the story of Zacchaeus; what Jesus’ story about the ten lepers teaches about saying ‘thank you’, and why it is good to thank and be thanked; what the Chanukah story teaches Jews about standing up for what is right), etc.