LESSON PLAN: SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM UNIT TITLE: Bautismo (Spanish for Baptism) LESSON TITLE: The Symbols OUTCOMES: C1.1 - Students compare ideas and experiences of rituals, prayers, words and actions in the sacraments of the Church. YR LEVEL: 3 DURATION: 35 mins KEY CONCEPT: What is Baptism? Its procedure. Its symbols. ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Prior Knowledge: Students know how children are initiated to the Catholic Faith. (The lesson will be based on infant initiation to the Catholic Faith) Purpose: To help students to understand the presence and mystery of God in the Sacraments. To develop the students knowledge on the Sacraments of initiation. Principles: Religious Education in Catholic schools presents faithfully, and with integrity, the richness of the Catholic tradition. Priorities: Religious Education programs are designed to contribute to the religious, spiritual and moral development of all students in Catholic schools and to emphasise the Catholic tradition and its significance in nurturing personal and communal faith. ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT LEARNERS & LEARNING Curriculum Perspective: Learners: Activities will be chosen to incorporate every student considering: Various backgrounds, cultures and religions. Attitudes and abilities of each student. The content in the Syllabus. Church: An Introduction to, and familiarisation with, the activities of the broader Church community. The provision of Religious Education opportunities for students outside the school. Students make links between broader faith community, through family and school activities. SCOPE & SEQUENCE: Holistic Objective: By the conclusion of this lesson, students will be given the opportunity to identify the symbols and meanings of Baptism. Students will be able to demonstrate the lesson objective by re-constructing and role-playing a Baptism ceremony. 1
Analytic Objectives: The activities with assist students to: Knowledge: know that initiation means to become part of a group or community. identify symbols associated with the Sacrament of Initiation. recognise structure of the ritual of Baptism. Process: brainstorm the symbols associated with Baptism. identify the parts in the structure of the Sacrament of Initiation. sort the correct structure of a Baptism ritual. Communication: discuss and record details of a Baptism ritual. Identify and present the parts of the ritual of Baptism. Attitudes & Values: Acknowledge the meaning of each symbol and part of a Baptism ritual. Value the Sacrament of Baptism. Syllabus references: C1 - Sacraments are sacred actions. Through ritual, prayer and symbol they communicate God s presence and action. Sacraments use words and actions accessible to our human nature. Christians should prepare carefully to celebrate the sacraments. C2 - The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Through them one enters life within the Christian Community. Sacraments of Initiation lay the foundation of the Christian life. They give a new birth and provide strength for the journey of life. Through them one becomes a member of the Church. C3 - Baptism is the gateway to life in the spirit. The water bath symbolizes sharing in the paschal mystery, through which one shares a new life by being claimed for Christ in his Church. Baptism opens the door to the other sacraments and the life of grace. Baptism uses symbols of water, sign of the cross, and anointing with oil. The Christian community claims the newly baptized for Christ. LEARNING ACTIVITIES: Content Learning Activities/Teaching Strategies Assessment ORIENTATING PHASE - 10mins Students brainstorm Baptism by constructing a Venn diagram of the Venn Diagram construction groups they are involved in. eg. (Students are to copy completed diagram) o Students are asked what groups they belong to outside of School. o Top two groups are taken an placed on each circle o Discussion of what each group has (symbol) and how do u become part of it. (Students to write in books) o What parts in each group relate? sport choir 2
ENHANCING PHASE - 20mins Steps/Structure of Baptism 1. Naming of the child. 2. Sign of the cross. 3. Liturgy of the word. 4. Anointing with oil of catechumens. 5. Renunciation of sin & profession of faith by parents and godparents. 6. Immersion or pouring of water. 7. Anointing with oil of chrism (forehead) 8. Clothing with white garment. 9. Lighting of candle from Easter candle. (This steps are to be printed on cardboard and place in a bag to be used for sorting by students) Sacrament of Baptism: Teacher demonstrates the structure of baptism to the class with a few students volunteers. (props are brought for each symbol used) The nine steps focused on in the lesson are discussed with the students. Ask students, How are these steps related to the groups initiations listed previously? The teacher places each step into a bag, as they are discussed by students. Teacher emphasises that demonstration is not a real baptism Sacrament Sort: Students (who have been behaving) will be chosen from the class to collect a part of the sacrament from the bag and stand in front of the class to be sorted in order by the groups of students left over. 1. a student is selected to hold a part. 2. another student will be selected and place in the queue. 3. more students selected until all parts are exhausted. 4. remaining students will raise their hands to be allow to sort each step, one at a time. 5. when students agree to a sorted structure, question standing students on correct order. 6. fix by modelling order with students if necessary. Consultation: Survey of prior knowledge about Baptism. Observation See the process by which students come to an agreement on steps order. Take note of individual contributions Content Learning Activities/Teaching Strategies Assessment SYNTHESISING PHASE - 5mins Students will demonstrate their knowledge/understanding of the nine steps by re-ordering the unsorted steps Observation (focused) Teacher will remove all traces of the structure/symbols of the Baptismal ritual and begin to query students on structure and symbols of the rite by writing on the board the steps/symbols provided by students. Observe students knowledge/understandings of the symbols Fill out checklists under student names in book 3
EVALUATION: ASSESSMENT: Technique Instrument Item Consultation Survey Checklist of knowledge Observation Focused Analysis Sequencing cards Observation Focused Checklist and Comments REFLECTION: What? Not Effective Very Effective 1. Performance of students 2. Lesson content 3. Teaching methods 4. Teaching materials & resources 5. Range & balance of activities 6. Methods of assessing students 7. Sequence of topics/activities 8. Lesson objectives 9. Lesson as a whole RESOURCES: Text Audiovisual People Other Nine steps of the structure of Baptism printed and cut from and A4 sheet o be used during activity. - - Cardboard cut outs Symbols Doll Oil bottle x 2 Water Cup Tub White garment Candle Unit Background Information Strand: Celebration and Prayer Unit: Baptism & Symbols Band: A (Year 3) What happens at a Baptism? There is often a party or meal after a special event, such as a Baptism. People bring cards and gifts to wish the baby well. 4
At the end of the baptism, the priest will say some formal words of welcome to acknowledge that you child has joined the Church and to show how pleased they are to have you among them. A Baptism always takes place in a church. The parents must make sure they speak to the priest to book their Baptism at the church. After the water has been poured on the child s head, the priest will give the child a Certificate of Baptism. Before a Baptism, parents often buy their child a special outfit, called a Baptism or Christening gown. It is usually white. First of all, the priest will make the sign of the cross on the child's forehead. The priest may also invite the parents and the godparents to sign the cross on the child's forehead after he or she has done so. When parents and godparents arrive, they will be asked by the priest to sit at the front of the church. After the sign of the cross has been made on the child s head, the priest will pour water on the child's head. Water is a sign of washing and cleansing. In baptism it is a sign of being washed free from sin and beginning a new life with God. The child may be given a lighted candle before everyone leaves the church as a reminder of the light which has come into their life. 5
References 1. Brisbane Catholic Education (1997). Religious Education - A Statement on Religious Education for Catholic Schools. Brisbane, QLD Australia : Brisbane Catholic Education 2. Brisbane Catholic Education (1997). Religious Education - A Syllabus for Religious Education for Catholic Schools. Brisbane, QLD Australia : Brisbane Catholic Education 3. Brisbane Catholic Education (2003). Religious Education: Years 1 to 10 Learning Outcomes. Brisbane, QLD Australia : Brisbane Catholic Education 4. Brisbane Catholic Education (1997). Sacraments of Initiation - Sample Unit (Band A Yr2/3). Brisbane, QLD Australia : Brisbane Catholic Education 5. Ryan, M. (2003). Expressions: A religion series for Catholic primary schools. Australia: Social Science Press. 6. Brisbane Catholic Education (2004). Religious Education: Years 1 to 10 Learning Outcomes. Retrieved 13 March 2007 from: http://www.bne.catholic.edu.au/data/portal/00005054/content/4481600113938137713 9.doc 7. Melbourne Archdiocese.Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne - Sacraments. Retrieved 1 April 2007. from: http://www.melbourne.catholic.org.au/teaching/sacraments.htm 6