Planning

Documents
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Early Childhood
University of Notre Dame

TERM ONE
OUTCOMES
OUTCOME 1:
Children have a strong sense
of identity
Children feel safe, secure, and
supported
Children develop their emerging
autonomy, inter-dependence,
resilience and sense of agency
Children develop knowledgeable
and confident self-identities
Children learn to interact in
relation to others with care,
empathy and respect
PRINCIPLES
1. Secure, respectful & reciprocal
relationships
PRACTICES
Holistic approaches
Continuity of learning & transitions
Use colours to show when each aspect is being covered
TERM TWO
OUTCOME 2:
Children are connected with and
contribute to their world
Children develop a sense of belonging
to groups and communities and an
understanding of the
reciprocal rights and responsibilities
necessary for active community
participation
Children respond to diversity with
respect
Children become aware of fairness
Children become socially responsible
and show respect for the environment
2. Partnerships
Responsiveness to children
Cultural competence
TERM THREE
OUTCOME 3:
Children have a strong sense of
well being
Children become strong in their social
and emotional wellbeing
Children take increasing responsibility
for their own health and physical
wellbeing
3. High expectations & equity
Learning through play
Assessment for learning
EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK
TERM FOUR
OUTCOME 4:
Children are confident and
involved learners
Children develop dispositions for
learning such as curiosity, cooperation,
confidence, creativity, commitment,
enthusiasm, persistence, imagination
and reflexivity
Children develop a range of skills and
processes such as problem solving,
enquiry, experimentation,
hypothesising, researching and
investigating
Children transfer and adapt what they
have learned from one context to
another
Children resource their own learning
through connecting with people, place,
technologies and natural and processed
materials
4. Respect for diversity
Intentional teaching
Learning environments
OUTCOME 5:
Children are effective
communicators
Children interact verbally and non-
verbally with others for a range of
purposes
Children engage with a range of texts
and gain meaning from these texts
Children express ideas and make
meaning using a range of media
Children begin to understand how
symbols and pattern systems work.
Children use information and
communication technologies to access
information, investigate ideas and
represent their thinking
5. Ongoing learning & reflective
practice
Links to Spiritual Capabilities Links to Religious Capabilities

Prudence Justice Fortitude Temperance Faith Hope Charity

• To wonder & become • To relate & become • To dare & become • To fast & become To search for God & To trust & become To give & become
awe-filled loving resilient grateful become hope-filled by God charitable like God
• To search beyond & • To regret & become • To yearn & become • To meditate & mystified by God To repent & become To act justly &
become wise forgiving good become peaceful To serve God & redeemed by become merciful like
To enjoy life & become God’s God God
become happy witness To follow & become a To respect all people
To worship God & missionary & become tolerant of
become reverent disciple of Jesus others’ beliefs

AIMS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION – Highlight those items that relate to the planned activities
Religious Education in the early years aims to
provide students with the opportunity to
discover God in people and creation by:
Experiencing the created environment, using all of
their senses
Expressing basic ideas about the created
environment in which they live
Sorting and classifying living and non-living things
Identifying signs of God’s creation
Wondering at what God who created their world is
like
Developing an awareness that by caring for living
and non-living things they are living as God wants
Discovering things about themselves
Identifying significant others
Recognising people and places of importance
Wondering at all the ways God loves them
Developing awareness that by caring for people
they are living as God wants.
Religious Education in the early years aims to
provide students with the opportunity to
draw on human experiences of God by:
Identifying the many gifts that God has given them
Reflecting on experiences of family, love, care,
forgiveness and community
Exploring a range of human interactions
Demonstrating socialisation into the early years
community
Reflecting on experiences of play and work, likes
and dislikes, belonging and celebrations
Wondering at God in the midst of human
experiences.
Religious Education in the early years aims to
provide students with the opportunity to
know Jesus by:
Wondering at the person of Jesus in the Gospels
Wondering at Jesus’ love for them
Hearing and being immersed in stories about the
life of Jesus
Identifying significant people in the life of Jesus
Identifying the way that Jesus loved and cared for
people
Engaging in play experiences based on the stories
of Jesus
Responding to stories about Jesus
Exploring and making meaning of Scripture.
Religious Education in the early years aims to
provide students with the opportunity to live
like Jesus by:
Naming ways that people can show love and be
considerate like Jesus
Identifying ways of including people based on how
Jesus included people
Exploring ways of forgiving like Jesus
Identifying ways of choosing to do good following
the example of Jesus
Wondering at the love that Jesus had for all people
Using their special gifts to help others
Wondering at the ways they can use their gifts to
help people
Knowing special people who like Jesus used their
gifts to help others in particular ways
– Mary, the mother of Jesus
– Joseph
– Some saints (patron saint of the school or
founding order).
 EARLY CHILDHOOD RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM PK AND K ONLY

Religious Education in the early years aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop a basic understanding of Catholic life, prayer and Scripture by:
Knowing that prayer is the way that people develop a relationship with God.
Recognising religious symbols including the cross, liturgical colours and holy water.
Knowing simple ways of praying – making the Sign of the Cross, joining hands in prayer, singing.
Engaging in informal prayer experiences i.e. prayers of praise, thanks, sorrow, petition, spontaneous prayers or through song or movement.
Participating in rituals (e.g. Children’s Liturgy of the Word, having a set process for coming to prayer).
Appreciating the importance of Christmas and Easter as special celebrations for the followers of Jesus.
Developing an awareness that God’s family is called the Church.
Coming to know of the relationship between Jesus and the Father.
Developing an awareness that Jesus came to tell people about God’s love.
Meeting the parish priest and knowing of his role in the Church.
Visiting the parish church and learning of its role as the place that gathers God’s family.
Knowing how God’s family celebrates and experiencing liturgies and other appropriate school activities.
Recognising the Bible as the special book that tells people about God’s love.
Observing, manipulating and retelling Scripture stories using pictures and other objects
Participating in ritual to listen to and respond to Scripture.
YEAR: Kindergarten THEME: Family
OVERVIEW:
This terms the children will be wondering about families. Children will learn that they are a part of a family. They will explore who their family is and the
similarities and differences between their own family and others. They will bring in photos of their families and talk about special things they do together. The
Sacrament of Baptism will be linked to this unit of work, through being initiated to become a part of Gods family. This will bring about a sense of belonging
through home, school and the Catholic community. Children will visit the church where Baptism is celebrated with Gods family (Community). The children will
learn about Jesus and his family and make connections between his and their own. The children will explore/discuss and show how they show love to their family
like Jesus.
The children will learn about Bible stories through Godly play and listen to stories about Jesus life. Prayer ritual will be performed at the end of our unit of work.

Ideas for WONDER God in People and Human Experiences of Knowing Jesus Living Like Jesus Catholic Practices – Prayer
questions Creation God Experiences
 I wonder if all  Prayers of thanks – thank
families are the  Create a simple  Share family  Tell the story of  Visit the local you for families.
same? (A) family tree or paint a experiences Joseph’s visit from church.
picture of their family (holidays, (3) the angel.  I wonder what we
 I wonder if Jesus  Prayers of forgiveness –
members.(1) camping, will see in
helped his to say sorry for hurting
mealtimes, going church.(G)
family?(F) family members.
to Church) and
 I wonder how  Family paintings –  Tell the story of the
celebrations
many people are in Children will paint a (birthdays,
Visitation.  I wonder what we
Jesus’ family?(B)I picture of what they  Link to the Sacrament of
Baptism). will hear in
wonder if Jesus like to do with their Baptism – becoming part
church
had to eat all his  Tell the story of of God’s family, ‘the
family. Make one for wonder.(G)
Jesus as a boy Church’. (7)
dinner? Jesus’ family and  Read stories about
visiting the temple
 I wonder if Jesus’ add to display. (2) families and
family got cross discuss the way
(5)  I wonder what we
 Send suggestions for
with him?  Picture of their families show love. will feel in church.
family prayers home.
 I wonder what families together on Link to God’s love
Jesus liked to do the wall for us.  Tell the story of the
with his family (C) Nativity.  Prayer Table – display
 I wonder who is in pictures of Jesus’ family
Jesus’ family(D)(E) and suggested Bible
 I wonder if you can stories.
see yourself I the
story
 PLANNING OVERVIEW – TERM
Year Level Unit Title Salvation Topic Aspect of Human Development

Overview – explanation of the content of the unit and how it explores the Salvation Topic and development of the Human Person

Key Understandings and Learning Points

A Wondering at the Creator B The Promise of Christian Salvation C Christian Response

Links to General Capabilities

Literacy Numeracy ICT Critical and Ethical behaviour Personal Intercultural
Creative Thinking Competency Understanding

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LEARNING AND TEACHING PROGRAM

Evaluation and
Week Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5
Assessment
 Wondering about
1 family.
Human experience
I wonder if all families are
the same? (A)
Mat session:
We all belong to a family.
Some are big and some are
small. Most families live
together.
Book.
“The Family Book” by Todd
Parr
Art Intergration (1)
Kandinsky style family tree:
Children will draw pictures
of their family and cut them
out. These will be placed
onto Kandinsky style circles
These will be placed around
the room.
Children will compare their
families to each other. How
many people are in your
family?
Song: “We are family” By
Jack Hartmann
Home Corner:
Will be made up as a family
home. Shirts, ties, dresses
for children. (10)
Human Experience
Mat session:
I wonder how many people
are in Jesus’ family? (B)
Remember yesterday we
read the book “The Family
Book” by Todd Parr.
We found out that there
are many different ways to
be a family. We made a
family tree which shows all
our family members.
Activity:
Math Intergration (2)
Children will receive a
house template and they
will then place onto the
house the number of sticky
dots of the people who live
in their house. This will
create a visual graph.
I wonder who created
families
Song: “We are family” By
Jack Hartmann
Human experience.
Mat session:
I wonder what you like to
do with your family? (C)
I wonder what Jesus liked
to do with his family ?(C)
Share an experience you
had with your family.
Maybe it was a birthday or
you all went to the
beach,zoo
Jesus belonged to a family.
He had a mum and dad.He
would have done things
together with his family.
Next week we will learn
more about Jesus and his
family
Art Activity: English
intergration (3)
The children will paint a
picture of something they
like to do with their family.
This will then be scribed by
the Educator.
The children if they like can
also paint a picture of what
Jesus might like to do with
his family.
ICT:
Book creator to make a
simple book about their
family. This could be used
for assessment (8)
Song: “We are family” By
Jack Hartmann

2 Knowing Jesus
Wonder questions:
I wonder who is in Jesus’
family? (D)
Mat session:
Just like you Jesus had to
learn to walk, to sleep
through the night and share
his toys. He learnt these
things from Mary and
Joseph.
I wonder what your mum
and dad taught you to do?
Dramatic play: HASS
integration (4)
The dramatic play area
would be set up as a house
like Jesus’ Place pictures
around the area of the time
Song: This is where I live
.
Knowing Jesus Knowing Jesus/Living like
Jesus
I wonder what Jesus liked I wonder if Jesus helped his
to do with his family? C) family?(F)
I wonder what it was like in Mat session:
the Temple? (E) Making connections
Mat session:
Review yesterday lesson.
Last week we learnt about Get children to make a
some things you liked to do connection between their
with your family. Today we family and Jesus’
will look at what Jesus liked Book :
to do with his family. “Tucking Mummy in” by
Gather children together Morag Loh.
What did the children do to
help their mummy who was
Activity: so tired?
Godly play script: (5)
“Jesus in the Temple”
Children will gather around Activity: Take Home Ted
and listen and wonder. Children will have the
Luke 2:41-52 opportunity to take home a
I wonder why Jesus’ parent Teddy bear. Children can
were worried? draw a picture of
I wonder if your parents themselves and Teddy Bear
ever got worried about of how they helped at
you? home.(9)
May be you hurt yourself?
Activity : Block corner
English Intergration
(6)
Pictures of temples and
other architecture will be
placed around the block
area. This will be near the
writing/drawing corner for
children to also look at
different types of structures
e.g. church, houses. Words
such as church, temple will
also be placed in the area
 Living like Jesus
3 Mat session:
Godly Play Activity: (7)
The sacrament of Baptism
Children will form a semi-
circle. Pose wonder
questions.
The same way we celebrate
your birthday this is also a
celebration. (11)
Song “We are a family”
By Jack Hartman
Catholic Practices Catholic Practices Assessment:
Children will visit the A prayer ritual will be Assessment will be
church and talk the Priest. performed to bring our through a sample
topic to a conclusion. of work
I wonder what we will (Please see below)
see/hear inside the
church?(G)
Song “We are a family”
Allow students to spend By Jack Hartman
some quiet time in the
Church near Educator
Children will notice the
Baptismal font.
Once inside the church
point out that this is where
Gods family gather
together.
Care needs to be taken so
that children do not think
this is the Priests house
 Manipulatives
CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY (BLOCKS) LEARNING CENTRE PLAN
 Play with a doll house
 Add pictures of families onto blocks
Week 5 to Week 7 _  Puzzles with scenes of families
for children to play with.
doing things together
 Build a church
 Use bubble wrap and hammers to
 Build a temple (6)
 Build a house or room INVESTIGATION TABLE pop the bubbles
 use peg people and other props for
 Create a map or plan of their house
retelling stories of Jesus.
 Week 1 – photos of children with their families. Bring
 Cutters and playdough to make
something special in to place on investigation table. Children
playdough families.
could also bring in photos of themselves as babies. Play guess
the baby.  People shaped manipulatives

©The University of Notre Dame 2010 developed by C McGunnigle
Week 2 Jesus’ home
 Week 3 display of Baptism e.g. candle, robe etc.
Collage
PAINTING  Create a collage of things my family
 Painting of your family likes to do together.
 Paint some of the things you like to do 
with your family. (3)
ICT Collect pictures from magazines of
different types of families
 Using book creator children make a book about their family.(8)
 Paint a picture of your own room  Make different types of homes
 Use Osmo. This is a creative way to trace and draw. It also
 Paint a picture of your favourite room people live in with their families
develops children’s fine motor skills
in the house

DRAMATIC PLAY Home Corner DRAWING / WRITING CENTRE

 Week 1 family home (10) BOOK CORNER  Draw pictures of your family
 Books about different families, animal,
 Week 2 Jesus’ house dress ups (4)  Books on architecture temples and
collections etc
 Week 3 Baptism/Church (12) churches.
 Books that relate to different interest of the
 Celebrations: Baptism  Write card to a family member
children
 Provide clothes of parents.  Write a letter/card to Jesus
 Different places families go e.g. restaurants
 Teddy Bear to go home (9)
 Rein act the nativity

PLANNED ASSESSMENT - 1 formal assessment that links to a key understanding or learning point develops higher order thinking skills and comprehensively
assesses student learning.

Who are the people in your family?

Can you draw and name them? Who are the people in Jesus’ family?

My Family Jesus’s Family

Child can name members of their family Child can name members of Jesus’ family
PLANNED RITUAL - 1 planned ritual that supports the learning that has occurred in the unit of work.

My Family

We Gather: We Go Forth
Teacher: Let us all pray
First, I would just like to welcome our families to our prayer service. This prayer service All:
will involve Godly play for the children. Today we gather to celebrate the wonderful gift
that was given to us from God our families. God places us in a loving family to grow, Dear God
develop and learn and we give thanks to him for the gift of family. We thank you for the gift of families.
We ask your blessing on all families today and always.
We will begin with the sign of the cross .In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Be with us in our daily life together
Amen. Be our guide in times of challenge.
Be our strength in times of difficulty.
Be our joy in times of delight
Opening prayer:
May we welcome Jesus as our unseen guest in our home
God is so good. May we be his voice and hands,
God is so kind Respecting and caring for those we meet
God gave me a family that is all mine.
A family to love. May we look to the example, Jesus Mary and Joseph
A family to care. As we strive to be the best family we can be
A family that is always there.
God knew what I needed when God made me. Most holy family of Nazareth, pray for us
God knew I needed a family.
Amen Amen
We Listen:
Children will sing “My family”
We listen now to a Godly play story of being welcomed into Gods family through
Baptism
We Do/respond
Lest us just pause and stop to reflect on our own family

On the table you will notice a large heart shaped piece of paper. With your
child/children please write you family names onto the heart. Once this is done please
place it using the wool onto our small bare tree in the centre of the room.
PARENT INFORMATION SESSION

Please see PowerPoint.

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APPENDIX – copies of resources used in lesson plans: Bible passages, worksheets, resource sheets, learning activities.

BiBleGateway/n.d.Luke 2:41-52, New International version (NIV). The boy jesus at the temple. Retrieved from:https://
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?Luke+2%3A41- 52&version=NIV

Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia. (2009). Mandate of the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia 2009-2015. Retrieved from
http://cms.ceo.wa.edu.au/about_us/bishops_mandate.jsp

Catholic Education Office (20014) Let the Little Children Come to Me, A resource for raising the religious awareness of children in the early years.
Leaderville, Western Australia:Worldwide Online Printing

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations For the Council of the Commonwealth of Australia [DEEWR].(2009). Belonging,
being and becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia. Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth of Australia

Parr,Todd. (2001). The Family Book, New York: Machette Book Group.

Loh,Margaret (1991). Tucking Mummy In: New York Orchard Books

Retrieved from Mrs T First grade Family theme preschool by Andrea Jewett
https://www.pinterest.com.au/a8designs/family-theme-preschool/?lp=true