At Argyle we believe in the importance of children developing and expressing their own beliefs and values. When planning for teaching and learning in Religious Education, we use the Camden Agreed Syllabus 'Living Difference.' Through the 'Living Difference' syllabus children learn that they need to understand how and why people live differently from each other and respect their right to do so. Children learn to identify and understand how and why we have different beliefs, attitudes and practices and that by doing so they can also gain respect from others. Living Difference focusses on enagaging with and enquiring into concepts. Concepts are 'big ideas' that enable us to interpret and communicate human experience and make sense of the world. Within religious traditions people use distinctive concepts to express their experience and their understanding of the world.
At different key stages students are progressively introduced to different groups of concepts as follows:
A concepts that are common to all human experience
For example, remembering, specialness, celebration, rights,
duty, justice
B concepts that are shared by many religions and are used in
the study of religion
For example,God, worship, symbolism, the sacred,
discipleship, stewardship, martyrdom
C concepts that are specific to particular religions
For example, Dukkha, Trinity, Tawheed, Redemption, Khalsa,
Moksha, Torah.
Christianity is taught aross all Key Stages and children are encouraged to make links between their own beliefs, those of Christians and those of other religions they have studied.
In Reception and Key Stage 1 children learn about Islam.
Years 3 and 4 are taught about Hinduism.
Years 5 and 6 learn about Judaism.
Our Overview of Concepts Taught In Religious Education
Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
|
Year R |
Special Things |
Birth – celebrating birthdays |
Special People |
Symbol of new life eggs |
Storytelling – learning from stories |
Symbol of light – candlelight |
Year 1 | Special Food | Angels | Special Places | Sad and Happy - Easter | Special Clothes | People Jesus Met - Fishermen and Loaves |
Year 2 |
Persuasion - why did people follow Jesus? |
Journey‘s end -Nativity |
Fame |
Welcoming - Palm Sunday Easter Garden |
Trees as a Symbol |
Bible Authority |
Year 3 |
Creation stories |
Protection - Raksha Bandhan |
Good and Evil – Holi |
The cross as a Christian symbol |
Death Ceremonies (Egyptian link) |
Ritual - Hindu Worship |
Year 4 |
Ritual - Water |
Symbol - Advent and Divali |
Jesus' miracle stories |
Ritual - paschal candle |
Ritual - Arti ceremony |
Sacred Places of worship |
Year 5 |
Ritual – Sukkot |
Identity and Symbol – Hanukkah |
Wisdom |
Symbol - Eucharist - |
Messages – Jesus his teaching and his message |
Special Books |
Year 6 |
Persuasion or Sacrifice WW2 |
Christmas : the Magi and their gifts |
Power |
Resurrection – the empty cross |
Flight |
Interpretation – how do people perceive God? |
Educational Visits
Visits to different places of religious worship is seen as an invaluable part of our teaching of Religious Education.These could be to the local church or mosque,a synagogue or a Hindu temple. If parents have any concerns about this we ask them to discuss it with us. It is usually possile for parents to accompany on these visits.
Year 5 visited Belsize Square Synagogue
During their visit they learned about some of the items Jewish people regard as sacred including the Torah, their Holy book.