SYMBOLISM. 12 to 16 years. Educational visits at the Sagrada Familia. Pre-visit activity. Religious symbolism visit Groups: 12 to 16 years

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Dennis Lewis
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1 Educational s at the Sagrada Familia Pre- activity. Religious symbolism Groups: 1

2 0. Discovering the Temple The Sagrada Familia has an open-doors policy for school children to come and observe and learn. It is part of our commitment to sharing the cultural wealth offered by one of the city of Barcelona s most emblematic monuments. The educational programme is based on learning by revealing; stimulating curiosity, fostering interaction with the space, and nurturing the student s personal experience. Furthermore, in keeping with the spirit of the times and our commitment to new technologies, an application based on the educational contents of the has been developed. Students will use touchscreen tablets to follow the activity. In this document you will find a description of the proposed dynamics both of the pre- preparation as well as of the to the Sagrada Familia. We trust it will be of use to you and that you will enjoy this opportunity to accompany your students on a discovery of one of the most admired buildings in the world! 1. Preparing the In order to make the most of the experience of discovering the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia we suggest doing a pre- activity that includes the following work points: Activate previous knowledge of the Sagrada Familia. Study the reasons why it was consecrated as a basilica so as to create expectations for the. Adapt the focus of the discovery of the Sagrada Familia according to curriculum content chosen by the teacher. Prepare the organization and logistics of the trip. The educational objectives of this activity are: Briefly define the function of the Sagrada Familia, via the discovery of its message, and identify what an evangelizing space is. Evaluate the scope and importance of the Sagrada Familia with regards to Catalan and World heritage. Arouse curiosity and interest in considering the work of the Sagrada Familia as a living and universal Christian work Pre- activity, step by step Material needed: hand-outs for each student in the class Approximate time needed: 40 minutes for the activity and 20 minutes for the organization of the. Distribution: all activities may be done individually, in pairs or small groups, at the teacher s discretion. 2

On this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18) SYMBOLISM Introduction to the activity: we invite students to reflect on the function of a church as a space for living and sharing together in

Activity: to examine some of these churches we provide 4 pictures for students to look at and try to identify. They are: Espira s cathedral, Notre-Dame in Paris, St.

From the answers we expect to elicit the idea that they are exceptional spaces of great beauty, designed for communion with God, and that the four churches have been consecrated as basilicas.

3 On this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18) SYMBOLISM Introduction to the activity: we invite students to reflect on the function of a church as a space for living and sharing together in faith. The quote from Matthew is to remind us of the foundation of the church by Jesus and how he sent the apostles out to proclaim the Kingdom of God around the world. Activity: to examine some of these churches we provide 4 pictures for students to look at and try to identify. They are: Espira s cathedral, Notre-Dame in Paris, St. Peter s Basilica in Vatican City, and the Sagrada Familia. Notre-Dame Sagrada FamIlia St. Peter s Espira s cathedral Key idea: what do these churches have in common? From the answers we expect to elicit the idea that they are exceptional spaces of great beauty, designed for communion with God, and that the four churches have been consecrated as basilicas. We generally understand a basilica as being a large or important church that has been awarded special ceremonial rights. The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia Reflections on the consecration of the temple of the Sagrada Familia as a basilica: after reading the quotation from Pope Benedict XVI relating to the consecration we ask the students: Do you agree with this assessment? What is special about it? What do you think can truly be called an edifice of God means? From the moment of its foundation (this temple) was raised as symbol of the perfect relation between the art of the time and Faith and Liturgy, as well as a genuine image of the Holy Church itself, which is present throughout this world. This temple, for its beauty and its eminent splendour, can truly be called an edifice of God. Pope Benedict XVI,

4 Reflections on the Church: taking into account the desire of Jesus and the Church to have a space for meeting and communing with God and the Christian community, what do you think this recognition means for the Sagrada Familia? Will it mean more ors to the temple? Will it help to attract converts? Will it strengthen the evangelizing aspect of the basilica? Conclusion of activity: The activity will be rounded off with a to the Sagrada Familia. Here we may observe the uniqueness of this work of architecture, both for its exterior which encourages the faithful to enter, and its interior conceived to connect us with God. Visit Organization: for the activity of Discovering the Temple the teacher should put students into groups of 4 to 6 prior to the Suggestions for extending the activity The following are suggestions for complimentary activities to extend the scope of work in the classroom: Search the internet for information on the buildings selected and other basilicas around the world. We recommend the following links: Use the quote from Pope Benedict XVI on the consecration of the Sagrada Familia as a basilica to kick off a discussion on what this recognition means for a church. To broaden the concept of what a basilica is we recommend the following links: Invite reflection on the sense of spirituality that may be felt when attending Mass in a space of this type. To give a better idea of the experience we recommend the following video: 4

5 2. Description of the dynamics of the The objective of the is to turn the Sagrada Familia into a setting for learning that inspire emotion, experience and knowledge. This is made possible by encouraging students in the active discovery of the basilica. The general objectives of the are: To appreciate the uniqueness of this work of world architecture. To put it into the context of its Christian and cultural function. To present it as a living work, and reveal aspects which will encourage later s, viewings and discoveries. The work points are, broadly speaking: The chronology of the construction of the temple. The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia as an expiatory temple. The historical figure of Antoni Gaudí and his architectural solutions for accentuating a sense of spirituality. The link between architecture and nature as divine creation. The religious iconography of the temple and the message it transmits. The values of the Sagrada Familia Practical aspects of the Approximate duration: 1 hour 15 minutes. Distribution: Small work groups of between 4 and 6 students. Material needed: one touchscreen tablet for each group of 4-6 students will be provided at the beginning of the activity. Route: starts at the School building of the Sagrada Familia and continues as follows: Introduction at the School building / the Passion facade / central nave / the Nativity facade / conclusion outside the temple. Optional activity: the Sagrada Familia offers the opportunity to pray in the temple, if the group wishes. Role of teacher: the teacher s role during the is indispensable. The teacher is to help in the carrying out of the activities by accompanying the group and guiding the work of observation and discovery. The recommended number of teachers is 1 for each 15 students. This means a group of 30 students will be accompanied by 2 adults, while a group of over 30 students will be accompanied by 3 adults The, step by step: Initial phase: Presentation of the dynamics of the session, the route to be followed, and issue of material for use during the (a touchscreen tablet for each group of 4-6 students). The expected norms of behaviour will also be explained. A video will be shown as an introduction to the subject, both to motivate and set out the contents of the activity. Development phase: The activity consists of a tour of several specific areas of the basilica led by a guide-educator. On their touchscreen tablets the groups will have a plan of the temple 5

6 which will allow them to know which area they are in, and do the various activities at specific points in the basilica which favour discovery. Synthesis phase: At the end of the tour the group will take part in an activity to reinforce their experience, remind them of the points and information discovered, and evaluate the experience according to the objectives set in the initial phase Other aspects to consider: It is vital that students are put into work groups (4-6 students) before the activity commences. Please arrive punctually for the start of the ; late arrival may result in some of the steps or activities being omitted. Students share equipment in groups. The items should be treated responsibly and with care. All students should be encouraged to take an active part in all the activities. Cameras are allowed and time will be available for students to take photographs of the temple. NOTES 6

On this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18) Jesus founded the Church and sent out the

Churches were built so that believers could live and share in faith together as a community.

God, some of which are extraordinarily beautiful. Below are four exceptional buildings.

7 On this rock I will build my church (Matthew 16:18) Jesus founded the Church and sent out the apostles to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Churches were built so that believers could live and share in faith together as a community. Around the world there are many spectacular buildings and monuments dedicated to the worship of God, some of which are extraordinarily beautiful. Below are four exceptional buildings. They are Notre-Dame in Paris, St. Peter s Basilica in Vatican City, Espira s cathedral, and the Sagrada Familia. Try to identify them. What do you think these churches have in common?

and Liturgy, as well as a genuine image of the Holy Church itself, which is present throughout this world. This temple, for its beauty and its eminent splendour, can truly be called an edifice of God.

8 The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia In 2010 Pope Benedict XVI went to Barcelona to consecrate the temple of the Sagrada Familia as a Basilica. In his words we can find the reason why he awarded this privilege: From the moment of its foundation (this temple) was raised as symbol of the perfect relation between the art of the time and Faith and Liturgy, as well as a genuine image of the Holy Church itself, which is present throughout this world. This temple, for its beauty and its eminent splendour, can truly be called an edifice of God. Pope Benedict XVI, Now that you know the reasons why the Sagrada Familia was consecrated as a basilica, consider: Do you agree with this assessment? What is special about it? Taking into account the desire of Jesus and the Church to have a space for meeting and communing with God and the Christian community, what do you think this recognition means for the spread of the Faith? Soon you will the Sagrada Familia, a church with an exceptional exterior and an interior well-known for infusing a sense of holiness. All are welcome in the House of the Lord.

Program of the Orthodox Religion in Primary School

Ecoles européennes Bureau du Secrétaire général Unité de Développement Pédagogique Réf. : Orig. : FR Program of the Orthodox Religion in Primary School APPROVED BY THE JOINT TEACHING COMMITTEE on 9, 10