learning objectives - southwark diocesan board of...

What Is The Bible’s ‘Big Story’ and What Does It Reveal About Having Faith in God?Christianity

Name of Unit:What Is The Bible’s ‘Big Story’ and What Does It Reveal About Having Faith in God?

Faith:Christianity.

Key Stage in which this unit should be taught: Key Stage 2

Recommended Year Group (if specified:)

Previous Learning: All previous learning about Christianity will be a good foundation for this teaching unit about The Bible.AT1 Learning About ReligionFocus: Beliefs, teachings and sources.

AT2 Learning From ReligionFocus: Meaning, purpose and truth.

What This Unit Teaches: How The Bible came into being. How we got The Bible we use today? Whether The Bible has many plots or one plot. What the term ‘metanarrative’ means. Why The Bible is sometimes referred to as a map for Christian life. What The Bible teaches about faith, reflection of what faith means to us. What makes a person of faith in The Bible? How Christians have shown faith and show faith today in spreading the ‘Good News’.Key RE Vocabulary:The Bible, biblical, Christian, The Old Testament, The New Testament, inspiration, version, translation, translator, books, prophets, apostles, library, plot, ‘big story’, metanarrative, God, Creation, The Fall, People of God, Incarnation, Gospel, Salvation, Kingdom of God, map, guide, Christian life, The Apostles’ Creed, belief, verse, chapter, trust, faith, faithful, hope, ‘Good News,’ Jews,

Cross-Curricular Links:English, Personal, Social and Health Education, Maths, Computing, Drama, Art and Design, Design and Technology, History, Geography and Music.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development:Inspiration; sharing personal views and feelings; thinking and reflecting; building trust; learning about those of other faiths and no faith;things / people that guide / influence us, provide a moral compass for people; learning from the past; collaborative working with others;cultural life at different historical times / biblical times.

Sensitivities:Be sensitive towards Muslim pupils who are (generally) not permitted to represent people in dance or drama or in artistic form.If this is the case, consider how they can take part in the activities without compromising their beliefs.

Possible Further Thinking and Extension Activities:Develop an interactive ‘Big Question’ board in class to address questions that arise and ask pupils to say what they find Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education Southwark Diocesan Board of

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interesting and puzzling.Encourage pupils to seek and suggest answers.Lead a Collective Worship about the metanarrative of the Bible;share how Christians may find learning Bible verses helpful and make suggestions for Bible verses to learn.Future Learning:All future learning about Christianity can build upon the learning in this teaching unit about The Bible.

Learning Objectives AT1 AT2 Suggested Teaching Activities Points To NoteLesson 1

Pupils should:

recall some books and types of books of the Bible, who wrote them and say whether they are in the Old or New Testament;(AT1)

express what inspires them about how the Bible came into being and compare their ideas with those of other people.(AT2)

How Did The Bible Come Into Being?How Did We Get The Bible We Use Today?

Introduction:What do we already know about the Bible?In groups mind map (or snowball) known facts about the Bible. An envoy from each group goes to another group with their facts. Compare similarities / differences.

Main Part of the Lesson:Ask the class to bring in different translations of Bibles from home to share with each other. Discuss them as a class, with the person who has brought a particular version in presenting it to the rest of the class.Who has a Bible? Why do they have a Bible? When did they receive it? Do they use it? How? How do they treat it? Why?

Introduce the idea of seeing the Bible through a telescope: long view of books of Bible - count,

Prior to starting this unit of work, the class needs to be asked to bring in different versions of Bibles from home to share with each other.

Resources:Basic information:http://www.request.org.uk/main/bible/bible01.htm

Information and facts about the Bible:http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/l3.php?id=201

Different versions of bibles brought in from

Southwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education Southwark Diocesan Board of

Education

http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/l3.php?id=201



http://www.request.org.uk/main/bible/bible01.htm




Learning Objectives AT1 AT2 Suggested Teaching Activities Points To Note

name, sort the books.

Introduce the idea of seeing the Bible through a microscope: take a closer look at an important character, (not covered elsewhere in the RE curriculum,) e.g. Ruth, Samuel, Paul.Relate their story to the big picture.

Who believes the Bible is God’s word? Is the Bible only used by Christians?Explain that the Jews share the Old Testament and why.Do non-religious people use the Bible at all?

Discuss with pupils: what is important to each of us; what influences each of us; how it influences us.Dig for further information.Create a Smartboard / IWB file to revisit during the unit.

Ask pupils how they think the Bible came into being.Explain that writing took place over a long period of time, over 1600 years, by many people inspired by God, from prophets to Moses to some of the Apostles like John. Among the writers were: prophets, fishermen, kings, a tax collector, a physician, married and unmarried, rich and poor,

home by the class;

The Bible as a library- BBC Religion: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/texts/bible.shtml

http://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/5428http://www.reonline.org.uk/ks1/tt_nframe.php?


Education

http://www.reonline.org.uk/ks1/tt_nframe.php?topiclist.php&3-101&http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/learningzone/clips/showrecord?ContentType=text/html%3B%20charset=utf-8;Id=307;returnUrl=%3FSuppressCaching%3D1%3Battrib_1%3DSCHOOL_LEVEL_N


http://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/5428



http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/texts/bible.shtml





people from all walks of life.Share The Story of the Story.

Watch Class Clip “What Is The Bible?”

Activities:Act out all the books of the Bible – Pupils make up actions for each book, e.g. could be hands together, open up – Old Testament and New Testament, etc.

Drama exercise workout based on the books of the Bible.

Make a class display of the books / stories in The Bible that pupils know within them / key verses and messages, e.g. “The Bible as a Library” display: Make a class 3-D display of the library of different books, could use old cassette / video tape boxes / box files, etc.Display could have pockets to put writing in, build in throughout the year so that by the end of the year there are examples of all the types of writing from the class as in The Bible, e.g. golden rules; writing letters; etc.

Plenary:Show ‘Making the King James Bible’ power point and ask children to reflect on what it has taken

topiclist.php&3-101&http://www.bbc.co.uk/apps/ifl/learningzone/clips/showrecord?ContentType=text/html%3b%20charset=utf-8;Id=307;returnUrl=%3FSuppressCaching%3D1%3Battrib_1%3DSCHOOL_LEVEL_Nhttp://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/5422

http://www.Bible4schools.org/road-to-king-james-Bible/the-king-james-Bible

http://www.Biblegateway.com/


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http://www.biblegateway.com/


http://www.bible4schools.org/road-to-king-james-bible/the-king-james-bible









Learning Objectives AT1 AT2 Suggested Teaching Activities Points To Notethrough history for us to have the Bible as we know it to-day.Look up, compare in KJV and more modern translations and reflect on: Exodus 19:5 and 2 Timothy 3:16.

Sacred Books and Stories and Find Out About: Beliefs and Belonging.- Whiteboard Active:http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/BBCActiveHub/BBC_Active_Hub.aspx


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http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/BBCActiveHub/BBC_Active_Hub.aspx





Pupils should:

describe the metanarrative of the Bible for Christians;(AT1)

ask questions and suggest answers to things they find interesting and puzzling about the Bible.(AT2)

Does The Bible Have Many Plots or One Plot?What Does the Term ‘Metanarrative’ Mean?

Introduction:Thought-shower stories children know from the Bible (from previous RE work and from Collective Worship, and possibly from their faith background) and what Christians learn from them about God.

Main Part of the Lesson:There are many versions / translations of the Bible, but the contents all tell a ‘big story,’ the story of God’s relationship with the people He made. This is referred to as the ‘metanarrative,’ meaning the Bible’s ‘big story.’Use picture cards to recall, order and make a class Bible timeline.Discuss what it says about God’s relationship with the people he made, from God and creation to salvation, the resurrection of Jesus and the kingdom of God. Encourage children to recall what they remember.Continue recalling Jesus’ life and teaching and the message of Easter.

Activities:In groups, pupils to think and write in one sentence what the main plot of The Bible, the metanarrative

The metanarrative of The Bible is one plot which is made up of these key parts: God, Creation, The Fall, People of God, Incarnation, Gospel, Salvation, Kingdom of God.

Resources:What is the Bible?http://www.request.org.uk/unpacked/christian/Bible/Bible.htm

Bible games e.g. picture cards to make a timeline:http://livingwaterBiblegames.com/Bibletimelinegame.html


Education

http://livingwaterbiblegames.com/bibletimelinegame.html





of The Bible is.Ask pupils to individually create a set of symbols, one for each part of the metanarrative of The Bible. These could be in 3-D form, made out of a variety of materials.Plenary:Address questions that arise and ask pupils to say what they find interesting and puzzling.Encourage pupils to seek and suggest answers. Develop an interactive ‘Big Question’ board in class to address these in subsequent lessons.


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Pupils should:

reflect on the ‘big story’ of The Bible and be able to articulate their own and others’ understanding of its metanarrative;(AT1)

know how and why The Bible is important for Christians and some other people.(AT2)

Why Is The Bible Sometimes Referred To Asa Map For Christian Life?

Introduction:Recall learning so far by watching “What’s It Like To Be a Christian?” from Request website.

Main Part of the Lesson:Read and reflect on the Apostles Creed – a statement of belief for Christians.Ask pupils to point to relevant parts of the timeline whilst reading through for a second time.Pupils to highlight on their copy of The Apostles Creed lines that refer to the metanarrative of The Bible.

Explain that the Apostle Paul, writing a letter to the church in Ephesus in the book of Ephesians, called the word of God, The Bible, a Christian’s sword.Paul spoke about Christians needing to “put on the ‘armour of God’” to prepare them for life’s journey, (like a soldier putting on armour for battle.)He refers to the Bible as the sword of God’s Holy Spirit.Ephesians 6:10-18.What do pupils think that Paul meant by this?

Activity:Many Christians learn Bible verses by heart.

Resources:“What’s It Like To Be a Christian?”http://www.request.org.uk

Copies of The Apostles Creed, (large display copy and individual copies)available in Common Worship prayer book and on the Church of England website in the Prayer and Worship section,http://www.anglicansonline.org/basics/apostles.html

The BibleSouthwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education Southwark Diocesan Board of

Education

http://www.anglicansonline.org/basics/apostles.html



http://www.request.org.uk/

http://www.request.org.uk/



How do pupils think learning these verses would help a Christian?They believe God, through His Holy Spirit, will bring The Bible to mind at any time, helping them to follow the right paths through life. This is like a map, for life, for Christians to follow.

Is this similar at all to any other faiths? If so, which ones and in what ways? Jews also learn verses from parts of The Old Testament by heart.

Ask pupils to research from a variety of sources, different Bible verses to look up and remember which people feel help them in life. Sources could include asking people, looking in The Bible, searching the internet, including the Bible Gateway website, etc.Ask pupils to choose their favourite bible verse that could help them in life and to record it on something permanent to keep in a little container in their possessions.

Plenary:Play quietly some reflective music, e.g. a hymn / Christian worship song that focuses on the metanarrative of The Bible, or a part of it.Ask the class to individually share their special Bible verse with the rest of the class.

Further Activity:

Other sources to use for researching Bible verses,Bible sayings in daily use: http://www.bible4schools.org/files/files/RE_bible_bible_sayings.pdf

http://www.Biblesociety.org.uk

Materials for recording Bible verses on;

Little containers to store Bible verses in;

Reflective music, e.g. a hymn / Christian worship song that focuses on the metanarrative of The Bible, or a part of it.


Education

http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/

http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/

http://www.bible4schools.org/files/files/RE_bible_bible_sayings.pdf




Learning Objectives AT1 AT2 Suggested Teaching Activities Points To Note(Either here or at the end of this unit of work.)Lead a Collective Worship about the metanarrative of the Bible; share how Christians may find learning Bible verses helpful and make suggestions for Bible verses to learn.


Pupils should:

know what Christians mean by the word ‘faith’and make links between what Christians learn from The Bible and the ways in which they express their faith in God;(AT1)

express what faith means to them and others, (including those with different religious views).(AT2)

What Does The Bible Teach About Faithand What Does Faith Mean To Us?

Introduction:In pairs ask pupils to, in turn, lead their blindfolded partner around the classroom / school. Discuss how this felt by each person in each role. Elicit the idea of trust.

Main Part of the Lesson:What is ‘faith’?Discuss ‘faith’ in a person, ‘faith’ in an organisation, etc., Biblical meaning.Is the word ‘faith’ used in different depths in these examples? How?

Find out how many times ‘faith’ is mentioned in the Bible.

Provide a set of ‘The Bible says Faith is . . . ’ statements to the class for them to discuss in groups. The focus should be on pupils discussing

Resources.The Bible,Hebrews 11:1

Look up ‘faith’ in a concordance:http://Bibletab.com/

Sets of ‘The Bible says Faith is . . . ’ statements;

www.biblegateway.comSouthwark Diocesan Syllabus for Religious Education Southwark Diocesan Board of

Education


http://bibletab.com/

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Hebrews-11-1/



their personal responses to each statement, what they think it teaches a Christian and also how a member of another faith may respond to each faith statement.

Activities:Share with the class the Bible quote: “Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1Discuss what this quote means.

Pupils to reflect on what does faith in God mean to me? / to Christians?Draw upon learning across the lesson including words in Hebrews 11:1 and understanding of faith in the Bible, and also from previous RE learning and Collective Worship. Pupils can also draw upon their own faith if they have one.Pupils to individually choose a way in which to express the most important thing they feel / have understood about faith.

Plenary:Ask the class to reflect on why faith may be important to them and why it is important to many other people.

http://www.request.org.uk/main/basics/questions/questions.htm


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Pupils should:

learn about examples in The Bible of people who showed faith and how their lives inform the lives of believers;(AT1)

explain how people of faith from The Bible affect them and / or others.(AT2)

What Makes A Person of Faith In The Bible?

Introduction:Re-cap about what a ‘faithful’ person is.Ask pupils what people of The Bible do they know of who they think were ‘faithful’ people?

1st Main Part of the Lesson:Present and compare the story of 2 characters from The Old Testament, e.g. Daniel in the lions’ den and Ruth, Abraham and Sarah, etc.How did these characters show their faith? What did they have faith in? What do they show and teach us about faith?

1st Activity:In groups of 4 – 6, pupils devise a drama / dance of either story to emphasise the importance of faith in that character’s life.

2nd Main Part of the Lesson:It is not always easy for people to keep their faith in difficult circumstances. Contrast stories from The New Testament where there was an absence of faith, e.g. Jesus calms the sea, Mark 4:40; Thomas doubts John, 20:24-8;with acts of great faith in Jesus, e.g. the woman with a haemorrhage, Mark 5:28; the friends of the paralysed man, Mark 2:5 / Luke 5:20; etc.

Sensitivities:Be sensitive towards Muslim pupils who are (generally) not permitted to represent people in dance or drama.If this is the case, consider how they can take part in the activity without compromising their beliefs.

Resources:The BibleDaniel:www.Bibleforchildren.org/PDFs/english/DanielandtheLionsDenEnglish.pdfRuth:Testament – The Animated Bible - RuthYouTubeorwww.Bible4schools.com

or Abraham and Sarah An abridged version of the story of Abraham:


Education

http://www.Bible4schools.com/

http://www.Bibleforchildren.org/PDFs/english/DanielandtheLionsDenEnglish.pdf





2nd Activity:Diary writing / poetry to express how these characters felt. Pupils choose one of the New Testament people they have learnt about and write a diary entry / poem to express how the character feels about faith or the lack of it.

Plenary:Share work with the rest of the class.While work is being shared, reflect on what does faith mean to Old Testament and New Testament characters? e.g. Abraham and Sarah, Samuel, Joshua, Gideon, Peter, Paul, etc.(Link to any other units about characters from The Bible that have been studied previously as part of the RE curriculum.)

http://wordofloveforyou.com/abr1.htm

http://www.bing.com/search?q=Bible+gateway+passage+lookup&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE8SRC

The Miracle Maker clips:http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/tv/The-Miracle-Maker/99192/full-episodes?cmpid=FCST_rdrct

Sacred Books and Stories and Find Out About: Beliefs and Belonging.- Whiteboard Active:http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/BBCActiveHub/BBC_Active_Hub.aspx

Animated Bible Stories:The Life of Jesus


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http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/tv/The-Miracle-Maker/99192/full-episodes?cmpid=FCST_rdrct



http://www.bing.com/search?q=bible+gateway+passage+lookup&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE8SRC







Learning Objectives AT1 AT2 Suggested Teaching Activities Points To NoteDVD- Channel 4 Learning:

Quest:Life Stories & Creation StoriesDVD- Channel 4 Learning:http://shop.channel4learning.com/index.php?page=shop&pid=1714&cid=99


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http://shop.channel4learning.com/index.php?page=shop&pid=1714&cid=99





Pupils should:

understand how faith in The Bible has inspired Christians to spread the ‘Good News’ and how they continue the work of spreading the ‘Good News’ today;(AT1)

understand how and why the words and stories from biblical times have been passed down to us today and how they continue to help Christians in their faith.(AT2)

How Have Christians Shown Faithand Show Faith Today

in Spreading The ‘Good News’?

Introduction:Ask the class to think about things that they remember, e.g. stories, lessons, special times, experiences, people, etc.Why do they remember them?What is it about these particular things that mean that members of the class especially remember them?How have these things affected them? What have they learnt from them?

Main Part of the Lesson:Recap with pupils about how old The Bible is and how relevant and important it still is today for so many people, especially Christians, and also parts of The Old Testament for Jews.Why has The Bible “stood the test of time?”

Tell the story of Mary Jones for the pupils to reflect personally on.How did Mary Jones show faith by spreading the ‘Good News’? What is the ‘Good News’?How does that spreading the ‘Good News’ that Mary did continue today?

Sensitivities:Be sensitive towards Muslim pupils who are (generally) not permitted to represent people in artistic form.If this is the case, consider how they can take part in the activity without compromising their beliefs.

Resources:The story of Mary Jones,Sacred Books and Stories and Find Out About: Beliefs and Belonging.- Whiteboard Active:http://www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/


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Faith in the Bible itself, e.g. translators.Explore how the Bible has been translated over the centuries.A possible focus is on the work of the Wycliffe Bible Translators today, whose faith in the Bible leads them to life-changing deeds. Historical evidence / archaeology.

Activity:Draw a story board to express what pupils have learnt and have understood about:how faith in The Bible has inspired Christians to spread the ‘Good News’ and how they continue the work of spreading the ‘Good News’ today;how and why the words and stories from biblical times have been passed down to us today and how they continue to help Christians in their faith.

Plenary:Play some appropriate music quietly with The Bible(s) on display or appropriate image(s) on display of The Bible / The Bible’s contents, / The Bible being shared.Reflect on all the learning that has taken place throughout this teaching unit and also other previous RE learning, in Collective Worship and, if pupils are members of a particular faith, within their faith, if relevant: - How has The Bible changed the world over the

years?

BBCActiveHub/BBC_Active_Hub.aspx

http://www.spinnaker.org.uk/Mary_Jones_and_her_Bible.htmWycliffe.org.uk - In One Ear activityhttp://www.wycliffe.org.uk/docs/cm-in1ear.pdf

Bible4schools resources on how we got our modern Bible,

Information about how The Bible came to be produced in English 400 years ago and its impact since then on individuals and society:http://www.kingjamesbibletrust.org/

Appropriate music for reflection;


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http://www.kingjamesbibletrust.org/



http://www.wycliffe.org.uk/docs/cm-in1ear.pdf



http://www.spinnaker.org.uk/Mary_Jones_and_her_Bible.htm






Learning Objectives AT1 AT2 Suggested Teaching Activities Points To Note What might the country have been like if The

Bible had not been shared / written down? Why is The Bible still important today, years

after its creation? What does The Bible mean to you?

The Bible(s) / Images of The Bible / The Bible’s contents / The Bible being shared.


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