RE Newsletter Oct-Nov 2018

Sacraments

God, thank you for loving me.

In Baptism you called me by name to live as your child.

Help all your people to know their call in life. For your greater glory, raise up generous leaders to

serve as priests, deacons, sisters, and brothers. Amen.

The RE curriculum is focused on 10 topics. Each topic is revisited each year building on the children’s knowledge. Therefore, although the unit titles remain the same, pupils’ experiences, knowledge and learning all progress. They are being taught different aspects of being a Christian, based around the topic. In each unit, related aspects of different world faiths are also taught. Throughout the Sacraments topic the children will learn about how; FS Godispresentateachstageofourlife.

Year 1 Jesusgaveusthesacramentsofforgivenessandhealing.

Year 2 Christ gave the sacraments to the Church and they are effective signs of grace.

Year 3 Jesus instituted the Eucharist so we could share in his life, death and resurrection.

Year 4 We are called by God to be holy and serve Him and build His Church.

Year 5 TheSacramentsofHolyOrdersandMatrimonyareattheserviceofcommunionandmission.

Year 6 Throughthesacramentsweprofessandliveoutthefaiththatcomesfromtheapostles.

The above will be explored both through RE lessons and Collective Worship. If you wish to further this at home, follow the suggestions attached. R

Foundation Stage This unit introduces children to the idea of God’s presence at all times in their lives. It allows them to become familiar with special occasions in their own lives, the lives of others and the life of the Church. With plenty of discussion, it will prepare the children for future learning about sacraments. Help at home: Talk to your child about the seven sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination and Anointing of the sick. Talk about other special stages in your life. Have you completed a sacrament? Tell your child about your experience. Show them some pictures.

Year 1 The children will focus on the sacraments of forgiveness and healing and learn about stories from the Bible where Jesus heals and forgives. They will also explore the symbols and signs that show forgiveness: sign of peace, saying ‘sorry’. They will also look at how the church looks after the sick. Help at home: Read some stories from the Bible where Jesus heals people: the blind man; the paralytic man; and where he or God shows forgiveness: the woman about to be stoned or Joseph and his brothers. Write or say a ‘sorry’ prayer together every night. Discuss how hard it is to say ‘sorry’ but how much better it makes us feel. Explain that you as an adult also find it tricky.

Year 2 The focus of this unit is on developing the children’s understanding of what a sacrament is through the exploration of what happens at Baptism, the Eucharist and Matrimony. They will learn about the symbols used during these sacraments. Help at home: If attending Mass, ask your child to spot links with the Last Supper. Show your child pictures of your own wedding or someone else’s. If they have been baptised or christened, show them their certificate, candles or what they wore.

Year 3 During this unit the children will focus on and deepen their understanding of the Eucharist and the concept of how we are spiritually fed through the sacrament of Communion. They will look in depth at the Eucharistic prayer said during Mass and at the prayer we say before we receive communion ie The Lamb of God. Help at home: Find the story of the

Last Supper and focus on the words Jesus said. Say them together at Mass,if you attend. Discuss the role the priest plays in mass and

how it is linked to the role Jesus played at the Last Supper.

Year 4 This unit helps pupils to explore the nature of vocation and its symbolism in preparation for work on the sacraments of vocation in Year 5. This is done through Old Testament stories, which show how God calls people in faith and the symbolism of anointing. They will learn about Moses and David and consider the call for priests, nuns etc. Help at home: Watch an animated version of the story of Moses available on youtube. Discuss why people are chosen to do certain things like nurses, teachers etc Link this to why Moses was chosen for the qualities he had. Discuss how God calls priests and nuns or people to work in missions.

Year 5 During this unit the children will study in depth the sacrament of matrimony and what commitment means. They will look at the scriptural wedding prayer. They will also look in more depth at the commitment priests and deacons make. Help at home: Discuss how people show commitment to each other. Discuss how commitment can sometimes be difficult. Look up together how a priest is ordained and what vestments he wears. Find out the difference between a priest and a deacon.

Year 6 In this unit the children will build on all the work undertaken on sacraments in previous years and it will enable them to explore sacraments at a deeper level. In particular the children will understand their own role in the Church. They will revisit all the symbols linked with sacraments. Help at home: Revisit the sacraments they have made or are likely to make in the near future eg confirmation. Look up all the symbols on the internet and then have a mini-quiz to see how many they can link with the seven sacraments.

Key Events Wednesday 31st October: All Saints Mass Monday 12th Nov: Remembrance Assembly Friday 16th Nov: Children in Need Thursday 29th Nov: Wear it Blue Day

October is the month of the Rosary. Please take the opportunity to talk about Mary, the Mother of God and to prayer her special prayer together.