Stoneyhill Primary School Religious and Moral Education Policy May 2008
RELIGIOUS AND MORAL EDUCATION POLICY RATIONALE Education is about the development of the whole person. Religious and Moral Education deals with the development of the person in relation to self-awareness, relationships with others, and the realm of beliefs, values and practices which go to make up a religious outlook on life. As such it makes an important contribution to the personal and social development of pupils. (5-14 Guidelines Religious and Moral Education SOEID 1992) AIMS In Stoneyhill Primary School, through the teaching of Religious and Moral Education (RME) we aim to: promote a more holistic approach to Christianity, world religions and moral education, offering the children a clearer and deeper understanding which is relevant and meaningful to their own beliefs, values and attitudes encourage children to show respect for those who adhere to different faiths encourage children to develop a personal view of the world using critical evaluation and discovery, which will enable them to make appropriate decisions and informed choices. LEARNING AND TEACHING All staff should be familiar with the aims of RME, enabling them to contribute where opportunities arise across the curriculum. To realise these aims we need to ensure that: they relate to the needs and interests of pupils at that stage and, where possible, show cross curricular links teachers should support learning through links with the home, the faith community to which the child may belong and the local community more broadly they provide continuity and scope for developing the processes and key aspects of personal and social development within the four capacities of A Curriculum for Excellence learning and teaching should try to incorporate the involvement of the wider community and allow children to actively experience religion in society. PLANNING Teachers will plan activities, using the agreed school format, based upon the school s revised programme. This programme, which moves away from a previously fragmented approach, allows teachers and pupils to focus on one world religion per year, as a core topic. The aim of this is to encourage deeper learning across relatively fewer themes than at present (see Appendix 1). May 2008 2
ASSESSMENT AND RECORDING Assessment will centre on development of key skills, knowledge of content of topic, understanding shown in relation to topic, and personal response to topic. Care should be taken not to assess the personal stances of pupils in relation to beliefs and values. REPORTING Use should be made of the standard reporting form, allowing the teacher to give a general description of the course, which is the same for all pupils, and then to add a specific comment about each individual pupil. The general comment addresses the knowledge and content of the course and the specific comment identifies the pupil s skill achievements. Example This year we have looked at the use of signs and symbols in the world and in religion, and discussed concepts of justice and fairness. This has included work in Christianity, especially the symbolism of Christmas and Easter, and rules for living both within world religions and as members of groups in our society. We have also looked at aid organisations in Britain and overseas. Helen is now able to discuss the key features of Christianity. She recognises symbols associated with world religions and understands the importance of rules in society. RESOURCES Additional to the Stanley Thornes Core Resource texts provided for each class, there are a wide variety of resources housed in the Resource Room and the Library. (Please see Appendix 2 for resource list.) SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES Regular gather rounds and assemblies are held. Pupils will be involved in the following activities: listening to stories from the Christian faith, stories from other world religions and stories with a moral theme taking part in the celebration of religious festivals sharing with each other aspects of their work in class SCHOOL CHAPLAIN AND RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE All pupils (except for those whose parents have requested they do not take part) will attend. Christmas and Easter celebrations led by the School Chaplain. These celebrations may take place May 2008 3
in St Andrew s High Kirk. The School Chaplain will have a rolling programme of visits to each class throughout the school year. RESPONSIBILITIES The head teacher will: support the policy by allocating time and resources review the policy regularly monitor the policy through established monitoring procedures. Teachers will: plan for RME in accordance with school policy and guidelines teach RME in accordance with the programme set out in the Appendix record, assess and evaluate individual, group and whole class progress using school, authority and national guidelines share and discuss progress with pupils, parents, management and other partner agencies. Parents Role Working in partnership we aim to: encourage parents to use their knowledge and skills for enhancement of learning and teaching foster home/school links through homework, the school website, parent consultations, written reports and parental involvement in class. MONITORING AND EVALUATION The responsibility for the implementation of this policy lies with all staff. However, promoted staff will, through routine quality assurance procedures seek to ensure that it is put into practice. All staff will be involved in evaluating the effectiveness of this policy. May 2008 4
APPENDICES May 2008 5
Appendix 1 PROGRAMME OF STUDY CLASS CHRISTIANITY OWR PERSONAL SEARCH POSSIBLE EXPERIENCES 1 Harvest Appreciation of food and sharing Christmas Birth of Jesus Easter Spring seeds/new beginnings, growth Bible Characters Old/New Test Stories* Celebrations Birthdays etc 1/2 Harvest products from the harvest Christmas A special baby Easter Life cycles Special Books The Bible* Sikhism Natural World Seasons Myself The Bible as a special book *Minister in to read and discuss the Christmas Story and Advent Church/ Minister *Minister in to discuss preparation for baby 2 Harvest growing/transport /Selling food Christmas Birthdays* Easter Baptism Birth/Baptism Places of Worship Buddhism People who help us A visit to the Farm *Visit to church to discuss baptism 3 Harvest Harvest around the world Christmas Consolidation of Story** Easter Palm Sunday/ The Life of Jesus Bible Stories Characters/ Key roles/comparisons/ visit churches * Hinduism Judaism Caring for our World Friends and Family Churches *Minister in to discuss Palm Sunday **Safe places 3/4 Christmas Giving gifts / Symbolism within the story * Easter The Last Supper ** Festivals & Celebrations from OWR Cultural Identity What makes people leave their own countries? Churches *Real meaning of Christmas **Special Meals 4 Christmas Gifts for our World * Easter - The Life of Jesus (Idea of Heaven) ** Sikhism Islam Community Musselburgh - what do they need? Gurdwara *Visit to Church **world gifts & presentations May 2008 6
5 Christmas-The Road to Christmas/Advent * Easter - Lent /The Road to Easter/ Holy week/good Friday ** Comparing Differences Hinduism Beliefs Recognise different beliefs with respect and understanding Churches *Minister ** Lent class discussion 5/6 Christmas Christmas as the festival of light (Around the World) Easter symbolism of Easter including Last Supper Buddhism Rights and Responsibilities 10 Commandments Police 6 Christmas Jesus as the Light of the World * Easter - The Empty Tomb / Different perspectives from a friend of Jesus / Ascension * Parables and miracles Islam Creation Stories from OWR Creation my role in the world - Family - Different points of view of the creation story Mosque *Minister P6/7 The Bible Timelines / Old/ New Testament/ key figures / events Sikhism Belonging to groups moral dilemmas Gurdwara Discussion / Teacher development needs 7 Christmas commerciality - Christmas around the world* Easter - After the Ascension Judaism WWII Charities Visits from Charity Reps *Minister May 2008 7
CLASS Primary 1 APPENDIX 3 Christianity Harvest When is harvest celebrated? Why? What is important to make a good harvest? Food Sharing Why should we care about others? Christmas Easter Intro to Story of Christmas Who were Jesus parents? Where born? Who visited? / What did they bring? Easter Story Spring Discuss growth/change in spring/life cycles New life What are the signs of new life? (Why do we have Easter Eggs? Relate to story) (P1/2) Celebrations Personal Search Birthdays/ Myself Be able to discuss themselves Birth Now Look at photos from Birth Now Why do we celebrate birthdays? Celebrations for birthdays? Natural World Seasons Change within each season Weather Changes outside 8
CLASS Primary 1/2 Easter Life cycles Discuss changes plants seed to plant / animals egg to bird and tadpole to frog Growth myself How have I grown? Changes? Why do we have Easter Eggs? Relate to story Harvest - Products Farming/ Where do products come from? Wheat/oats/barley etc Harvest from sea think about local environment Christmas A Special Baby Story Why was Jesus so special? Sikhism Belonging Being a Sikh Who is Guru Nanak? Special Person 5 k s very brief show what they are Gurdwara Special place Personal Search Bible Special book My special books Photo albums Baby books etc 9
CLASS Primary 2 Easter baptism Have you been to/were you baptised? Bring photos What happens? What would wish for as a baby? Harvest From growing to shops Stages of harvest What happens? Christmas Consolidation of story Jesus birthday Why we celebrate? Gifts Brought to Jesus? Birth/Baptism Places of worship Church baptism Traditions Christening gown/warning Photos Buddhism Being a Buddhist Who is the key figure in Buddhism Siddhartha Guatama Key rules for life 8 Fold path / relate to school rules Sacred Places - Temples 10
CLASS Primary 3 Easter Palm Sunday Intro to Story Jesus on a donkey? If Jesus came today how would you treat him? What might he look like? Where would be live? Harvest Around the world Look at different countries Compare to UK Weather. What produce do we get from abroad? Christmas Consolidation of story Story link to Egypt Topic Tie in to places of safety Bible stories Moses Joseph Hinduism Hindu Gods Shrines Worship/Places Judaism Link to Egypt Story of 10 commandments Compare to school rules Torah 11
CLASS Primary 3/4 Christmas Giving gifts Symbolism what does Favourite gifts Islam Easter Eid Ramadan The last supper link to Romans Topic Story Trust among friends Judas/Peter Betrayal relate to friendships What happens? Why? Hinduism Hou Diwan What happens? Why? Judaism Hannukah What happens? Why? Cultural identity Why do people emigrate? What does if mean to be Scottish? Why do people migrate? Multi-Culture 12
CLASS Primary 4 Christianity Idea of Heaven Christmas Gifts for our world Easter The life of Jesus What would wish for in our community? in our town? in our world? Class researches need, discuss as class, decide on gift symbolic gift to church services Changes you would make? Story of Easter Last Supper Shrove Tuesday Jerusalem Palm Sunday Holy week Easter Sunday Sikhism Sikh book How used / How treated Dress/diet/customs everyday worship/cleansing Gurdwara interior / furnishings 5 Ks Celebrations - guru nanaks birthday/divavi Islam Qu ran how used/treated Dress/diet/customs Mosque interior/furnishings 5 Pillars of Islam Ramadan /EID Community Places of worship within Musselburgh Visit / compare/ contrast appearance 13
CLASS Primary 5 Christmas The road to Christmas Easter The road to Easter Advent Christmas Carols learn traditional hymns Significance of candles 12 days after Epiphany 3 wise men arriving in Bethlehem Holy week/good Friday Lent Story of Jesus - 40 days/40 nights Good Friday Jesus on the Cross / Story of Christianity Comparing differences Roman Catholic Mary Main Focuses within each Anglican form/customs Orthodox Why are they different Church of Scotland - branches? Baptist Hinduism Worship at home customs (vegetarian) Diet /dress Hindu Gods Ganesh, Rama & Sita, Lakshmi, Shiva Place of worship temple appearance What happens Pilgrimage Benares Ganges Celebrations Holi Diwali Beliefs Show respect and understanding Discuss likes/dislikes. Compare and contrast. Show how people are different Look at different beliefs What do you like about different faiths? eg Rules/Customs/Celebrations etc. Discuss the importance of accepting each others beliefs Islam Creation my role in the world Family Different points of view of the world Culture / customs within different countries Where did I come from? Compare and contrast Science and Religion 14
CLASS Primary 5/6 Christmas As the festival of light Diwali / St Luci Winter Solstice Hannukah Christmas Around the World Significance of light Advent Star Advent candles in Christianity Easter Symbolism Eggs rolling of Crown of Thorns Cross Jesus/ Palms / Hot Cross Buns New Life Last Supper cup & bread Buddhism Who is Buddha? Where did he come from? Story? How did his life change? Enlightment Nirvana Daily life importance of meditation/community prayer/temple Main Teachings 8 Fold Path Dalai Lama Rights and responsibilities 10 Commandments Moses on Mount Sinai Golden Calf What are they? Why do we have them? What do they mean? A world without rules link to sports / schools etc. 15
CLASS Primary 6 Christmas Jesus as the Light of the World Jesus as a saviour What does light represent? Concept of light of World? Concept of Light of Life? Easter The Empty Tomb Different perspectives from friends of Jesus Peter Mary at the Tomb Parables Good Samaritan Sowing of the Seeds Why the Whale became? Link to Miracles Jonah and The Whale Noah Jesus Calms the Storm Jairus Daughter Islam Daily life Culture Customs Dress/Prayer/Food Islamic schools Muhammad Story of / Abraham Mosque What does it look like? What happens? Celebrations EID / Ramadan 16
CLASS Primary 6/7 Christianity Bible and Timelines 7 th Day Let there be Light / Adam and Eve / Timeline Old and New Testaments Key figures and events Sikhism Daily Life Culture and Customs Dress/Diet/Home Life 5K s Guru Nanak Guardwana - Interior / what happens Celebrations Diwali / Hola Mohalla Moral dilemmas Will I/ Won t I Making choices / decision making Cool in School / Keeping Myself Safe Rules and Consquences Belonging to groups Friends/ Family/ Clubs/ Sports/ Religion Negative aspect of belonging to Groups Peer pressure / Sectarianism Segregation 17
CLASS Primary 7 Christmas Around the World Independent Research Compare & Contrast Customs/Cultures Traditions Stories relate to Christianity Easter After the Ascension Doubting Thomas Key Events Judaism Daily Life Dress/Diet/Food/Family Life Traditions Synagogue what happens? Rabbi Torah Charities 10 Commandments Origin of Judaism / Abraham / Isaac Symbols related WW2 Star of David Hannukah compare and contrast Passover celebrations Menorah Christian viewpoints of what Charity is? Charity/ Charitable Giving Differences How can we make a difference? Making changes? Christian Charities Christian Aid Role of Charities in Community 18