Christingle 2017 Information for KS1 teachers This resource is intended to support your delivery of RE at KS1. 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 vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people. You can find further information about Christingle and The Children s Society here: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-you-cando/fundraising-and-events/christingle-in-your-school Making the links: 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.
Christingle 2017 Information for KS1 teachers Reading it Living it Connecting it Focus biblical texts: Luke 1.46-55; Exodus The first Christingle (a candle wrapped During Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and 20.12. in ribbon) was introduced by Bishop Candlemas, Christians prepare for and Luke 1.46-55 is also known as the Johannes de Watteville in Marienborn, celebrate the arrival of Jesus, who they Magnificat or Mary s Song; it is a song of joy Germany, in 1747 as a way of explaining believe is God incarnate (God in the and praise spoken by Mary after she finds to young children the importance of flesh ). out that she will be the mother of Jesus. Jesus. Christians believe Jesus shows God s Exodus 20.12 forms part of the Ten In 1968, John Pensom of The Children s love by caring for all people, regardless Commandments one of the key texts in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible; Society adapted Christingle and introduced the symbol we use today of who they are. They endeavour to follow his teaching to love God and this particular commandment tells people an orange encircled by red ribbon treat others as you would wish to be to honour their father and their mother. holding a candle, dried fruit and sweets. treated. Christians believe that people This became a celebratory event known 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 raises over 1 million to help vulnerable children and young people The Children s Society share the voices can be heard, but it also asks for people and change the stories of disadvantaged to listen and respond so that their lives and vulnerable children, helping them can be transformed. to know that they are not alone.
Finding a way in Our hopes and dreams Ask pupils to carry out a straw poll of teachers/parents to find out what hopes and dreams they had as children: What jobs did they want to do when they grew up? What kind of person did they imagine they could be? This might be during break time or as homework. Use the answers to the questions as a stimulus to start thinking about the pupils own hopes and dreams for their future. You may like to record this artistically or as a series of tweets/blogs for the school website. Realising our ambitions Carry out a silent conversation: Put pupils in groups of four or five Give each group a large sheet of A3/sugar paper with this question in the centre: Who helps us reach our goals? Ask the pupils to respond to this question without talking they can write or draw on the paper; for example, they might like to write the names of people who help them. After five minutes, ask the whole class to think/talk about the people they have identified are there any similarities (eg family members, friends, teachers)? You might like to record any themes that emerge with the helping hands worksheet (see handout included below). Christingle word bank Christingle Jesus God Christian Christianity Advent Christmas Epiphany Candlemas Hope Ambition Trust Love Community Children Voice Family You could ask pupils to begin to think about how they say thank you to the people who help them out particularly their family members. You could introduce the key texts at this stage, considering why the authors of these texts think it s important to honour the people who bring us up.
What do Christians believe are God s hopes and dreams? Explain that Christians believe that God has hopes and dreams for the world and for human beings. They believe God wants us all to live as one supportive and loving family, helping each other make the most of all the opportunities we have to fulfil our potential. Introduce the Christingle and tell the pupils that the Christingle is something that helps Christians explain what God is like and what his ambitions are. The orange represents the whole world: Christians believe God made the world and looks after it; they believe he wants human beings to look after it as well. The red ribbon represents God s love for everyone: Christians believe God treats everyone like family; they believe he wants us to treat each other like family and offer support and love to everyone. The fruit/sweets represent the good things God has made: Christians believe God provides us with good things; they believe he wants everyone to be thankful for the good things they have and share them with others. 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; they believe that he wants all people to live the way Jesus lived and care for each other, especially when times are hard. You may like to make Christingles with the pupils (see handout below for instructions). Thanking those who give us a helping hand 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 give them a helping hand 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 offer a helping hand. They may like to: Raise funds for The Children s Society: use the fundraising suggestions available on The Children s Society s website. Make a commitment to do one thing this week to help out someone at home, at school or in the local community who usually helps us out; pupils could record this in a diary account, through photographs or in a vlog.
How to make a Christingle a step-by-step guide What you ll need 1 orange 1 candle Sheet 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: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-you-cando/fundraising-and-events/christingle/how-make-christingle
Helping Hands Who helps you reach your goals? Write the name of one/two people who help you feel supported and safe. The Children s Society gives a helping hand to thousands of children and young people around the UK so that everyone can feel supported and safe. They do this through events such as Christingle 2017. You can find out more about Christingle 2017 and the work of The Children s Society here: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-you-can-do/fundraising-and-events/christingle-in-yourschool