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.