Christingle Information for Early Years Practitioners

Transcription

1 Christingle 2017 Information for Early Years Practitioners This resource is intended to support your delivery of RE at Early Years Foundation Stage. It focuses on the Christian celebration of Christingle, which can be held between Advent Sunday (late November) and Candlemas (early February). It supports children s learning about Christianity and Christian celebrations, as well as the work of The Children s Society, a charity that works to give a voice to disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people. You can find further information about Christingle and The Children s Society here: Making the links: Early Learning Communication and language development; personal, social and emotional development; literacy; understanding of the world; Goals expressive arts and design. Fundamental British Values SMSC Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Spiritual development: opportunities to reflect on beliefs; developing a sense of enjoyment and fascination about learning about themselves, others and the world around them; use of imagination and creativity. Social development: using a range of social skills, volunteering and cooperating well, acceptance and engagement with fundamental British values. Cultural development: understand and appreciate a range of different cultures; participation in cultural opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity. SIAMS (Section 48) Core Question 1: the contribution RE makes to the Christian character of the school; the contribution RE makes to learners SMSC; how well RE contributes to learners understanding of and respect for diverse faiths and cultures.

2 Christingle 2017 Information for Early Years Practitioners Reading it Living it Connecting it Focus biblical text: 1 Corinthians The first Christingle (a candle wrapped During Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Part of a letter written by Paul, one of the earliest Christians, to a group of Christians in Corinth. Describes love as the greatest gift from God. Associates love with patience, kindness, protection, trust and hope. In his letters, Paul connects the life, death and resurrection of Jesus with his understanding of love as a gift from God. in ribbon) was introduced by Bishop Johannes de Watteville in Marienborn, Germany, in 1747 as a way of explaining to young children the importance of Jesus. In 1968, John Pensom of The Children s Society adapted Christingle and introduced the symbol we use today an orange encircled by red ribbon holding a candle, dried fruit and sweets. This became a celebratory event known Candlemas, Christians prepare for and celebrate the arrival of Jesus, who they believe is God incarnate (God in the flesh ). Christians believe Jesus shows God s love by caring for all people, regardless of who they are. They endeavour to follow his teaching to love God and treat others as you would wish to be treated. Christians believe that people need to listen and respond to this as Christingle, usually held between message of love in order to bring about Advent (late November) and Candlemas the transformation of suffering and (early February). injustice. Today, Christingle is celebrated in The Children s Society works to ensure schools and churches around the that the voices of disadvantaged and country. It helps to raise millions of vulnerable children and young people pounds to help The Children s Society can be heard, but it also asks for people share the voices and change the stories to listen and respond so that their lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable can be transformed. children, helping them to know that they are not alone.

3 Christingle 2017: Early Years Foundation Stage My Family People we trust Using costumes and role play encourage the children to think about the people around them that they trust, for example, family members, friends, teachers, doctors/nurses, police: Who do we trust? Why do we trust them? How do they make us feel? Why is it important to be able to trust people? 1. My Family Using small world toys/creative activities encourage the children to share information about their family. You might like to introduce stories, such as Who s in My Family? (Robie H. Harris) or Tell me Again about the Night I was Born (Jaime Lee Curtis), in order to consider different kinds of families. Ask the children to write down or draw pictures of the people in their family and record the feelings they associate with these people. You may like to build this into a collage of images/words that could be displayed in the classroom. 2. Christian Beliefs about God Explain that Christians have someone very important that they trust and love, just like we trust and love the people in our families. Introduce the name, God and the Christingle. Tell the children that the Christingle is something that helps Christians explain what God is like and how he makes them feel. The orange represents the whole world: Christians believe God made the world and looks after it; this makes them want to care for the world as well The red ribbon represents God s love for everyone: Christians believe God treats everyone like family; this makes them want to treat everyone like family as well The fruit/sweets represent the good things God has made: Christians believe God provides us with good things; this makes them want to make sure everyone has good things The lit candle represents Jesus who brought light into a dark world: Christians believe God sent Jesus to bring hope to those who feel sad or lost; this makes them want to look after those who feel sad or lost You may like to make Christingles with the children (see handout below for instructions).

4 3. The Children s Society Explain that one of the ways in which Christians try to treat those around them as family is to support the work of charities such as The Children s Society. Tell them that The Children s Society works to help out children who need someone to trust and someone to look after them someone to be like a family to them. Set the children a challenge: tell them that they need to come up with a plan to treat the world and those around them as family. They may like to: Raise funds for The Children s Society: use the fundraising suggestions available on The Children s Society website. Make sure the environment is well cared for by carrying out a litter pick in the local area. Choose one special person at home/in school and produce a thank you card for them that shows all the things that make them special. Think of ways to bring good things to the people around them, e.g. bake cakes for the staffroom/home. Think of ways of bringing light into the world of someone who feels sad, eg by asking them to join in with a game at playtime or sharing your favourite story/toy with them.

5 Enhanced Provision Imaginative and Role Play Small World Play Costumes associated with people who care for us: police, doctors/nurses, etc. Artefacts and clothing you may find in a Christian church People to help children share information about their family Nativity set, including people and animals Model of a church Creative/Messy Area Coloured paper/tissue/foil Sequins Glitter glue Pens, pencils, paint Cocktail sticks Candles for wax drawing Ribbon Oranges Mark-Making Area/ ICT Opportunities Books and Listening Area Template thank you cards The Children s Society s website Eg Who s in My Family? Robie H. Harris Mum and Dad Glue Kes Gray Tell me Again about the Night I was Born Jaime Lee Curtis Dennis and the Big Decisions Paul Sambrooks Reflection Area I wonder? questions about Christingle, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Candlemas I wonder? questions about Christianity and churches Family tree reflection activity (e.g.

6 How to make a Christingle a step-by-step guide What you ll need 1 orange 1 candle Small square of foil Red tape 4 cocktail sticks Selection of dried fruit and sweets Pair of scissors Basic steps 1. Make sure adults supervise young children throughout. 2. Encourage everyone to wash their hands before handling the sweets and fruit. 3. Take an orange and fasten a piece of red sticky tape around the middle. 4. Cut a small cross in the top of the orange and lay a square of silver foil (75mm or 3 inches square) over it. 5. Place a candle on top of the foil and wedge it firmly into the orange (the foil should catch the hot wax as it drips). 6. Load four cocktail sticks with a mixture of dried fruits or sweets so that the points are covered and insert around the base of the candle. 7. Store your Christingles upright in a cool place. Don t make them too far in advance as they don t keep for long. Watch a video of these basic steps here: