Come and See
The ‘Come and See’ programme of Religious Education is recommended by the Archdioceses of Liverpool.
Come and See is developed through three themes which are gradually explored each time at greater depths: Church, Sacrament and Christian Living.
The process for delivering the topics in ‘Come and See’ has three stages – ‘Explore’, ‘Reveal’ and ‘Respond’.
Explore
‘Explore’ is the introduction to the topic where the children’s life experience is explored. The questions it raises are wondered at, shared, investigated and their significance reflected upon.
Reveal
‘Reveal’ is the heart of the programme where knowledge and understanding of the Catholic faith is revealed through the Word, in Scripture, Tradition, doctrine, prayers, rites and Christian Living.
Respond
‘Respond’ is where the learning is assimilated, celebrated and responded to in daily life.
The effective delivery of Religious Education
The following strategies and aims underpin the effective delivery of Religious Education at Holy Cross Catholic school.
- Religious education will be taught discretely and developmentally. It will include the deepening of knowledge, and understanding of key theological ideas and their application to life.
- Ample opportunities will be offered for children to apply and use their knowledge and skills in cross-curricular studies to deepen their understanding of religious truths and think creatively.
- Engagement with their own and others’ beliefs and values will help to develop good attitudes and dispositions so that children are instilled with a love of learning and a desire to go on learning.
- Engagement with difficult questions of meaning and purpose which everyone has to face will enable them to think critically about their own questions of meaning and purpose.
- Offer the children a sense of self-worth through their experience of belonging to a caring community and an awareness of the demands of religious commitment in everyday life.
Other Religions
Why teach about other Faiths or Religions?
“In Meeting God in Friend and Stranger” an article produced by the Bishops of England and Wales, it outlines that;
“Within our schools we are seeking to educate all pupils of whatever religion to be able to live a way of life that integrates their beliefs with all other aspects of what it means to be human. As part of this, they must learn to live alongside others who are different and hold alternative views, including religious views.”
In school we refer to Judaism as another faith because of our shared Christian and Jewish heritage. Jesus was a Jew. We refer to Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism as other religions. These are studied because they have a belief in one God. Judaism is studied for one week every year whilst the other religions are taught for one week annually in rotation.
We want our children to have a rich and varied experience so visitors and visits to other places of worship are welcomed and encouraged. Each unit is taught discretely and not in any way comparatively with Christianity.
Come and See Themes and Topics Overview
| Themes & Topics | Early Years 1&2 | Year 1 & FS1 | Year 2 & FS2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|
Domestic church Family |
Myself God knows and loves each one |
Families God's love and care for every family |
Beginnings God at every beginning |
Homes God's dream for every family |
People The family of God in Scripture |
Ourselves Created in the image & likeness of God |
Loving God who never stops loving |
|
Baptism / confirmation Belonging |
Welcome Baptism; a welcome to God's family |
Belonging Baptism an invitation to belong to God's family |
Signs and symbols Promises made at Baptism |
Promises Promises made at Baptism |
Called Confirmation: a call to witness |
Life choices Marriage commitment and service |
Vocation & commitment The vocation of priesthood and religious life |
|
Advent / Christmas Loving |
Birthday Looking forward to Jesus' birthday |
Waiting Advent a time to look forward to Christmas |
Preparations Advent; preparing to celebrate Christmas |
Visitors Advent: waiting for the coming of Jesus |
Gift God's gift of love & friendship in Jesus |
Hope Advent: waiting in joyful hope for Jesus; the promised one |
Expectations Jesus born to show God to the world |
|
Local Church Community |
Celebrating People celebrate in Church |
Special people People in the parish family |
Books The books used in Church |
Journeys Christian families hourney with Jesus |
Community Life in the local Christian community: minitries in the parish |
Mission Continuing Jesus' mission in diocese (ecumenism) |
Sources The Bible, the special book of the Church |
|
Lent / Easter Giving |
Growing Looking forward to Easter |
Change Lent a time of change |
Opportunities Lent; an opportunity to start a new in order to celebrate Jesus' new life |
Giving All Lent a time to remember Jesus' total giving |
Self Discipline Celebrating growth to new life |
Sacrifice Lent a time of aligning with the sacrafice already made by Jesus |
Death & New Life Celebrating Jesus' death & resurrection |
|
Pentecost Serving |
Good News Passing on the Good news of Jesus |
Holidays & Holydays Pentecost: feast of the Holy Spirit |
Spread the Word Pentecost a time to spread the Good News |
Energy Gifts of the Holy Spirit |
New Life To hear & live the Easter Message |
Transformation Celebration of the Spirit's transforming power |
Witnesses The Holy Spirit enables people to become witnesses |
|
Reconciliation Inter-relating |
Friends Friends of Jesus |
Being Sorry God helps us to choose well Sacrament of Reconciliation |
Rules Reasons for rules in the Christian family Sacrament of Reconciliation |
Choices The importance of examination of conscience Sacrament of Reconciliation |
Building Bridges Admitting wrong, being reconciled with God and each other Sacrament of Reconciliation |
Freedom & Responsibility Commandments enable Christians to be free & respponsible |
Healing Sacrament of the Sick |
|
Eucharist Relating |
Gathering The parish family gathers to celebrate Eucharist |
Meals Mass; Jesus' special meal |
Thanksgiving Mass a special time for saying thank you to God for everything especially Jesus |
Listening & Sharing Jesus gives himself to us in a special way |
Giving & Recieving Living in communion |
Memorial Sacrifice The Eucharist the living memorial of Jesus' sacrafice |
Unity Eucharist enables people to live in communion |
|
Universal Church World |
Our World God's wonderful world |
Neighbours Neighbours share God's world |
Treasures God's treasure; the world |
Special Places Holy places for Jesus & the Christian |
God's People Different saints show people what God is like |
Stewardship The Church is called to the stewardship of Creation |
Common God Work of the worldwide Christian family |
Big Questions
Click here to go to the Come and See website for more information
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