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The Strands of the
Religious Education Programme for Infants to 2nd class are:
Celebrations, festivals, ceremonies
and customs;
Sacred writings, stories and key
figures;
Beliefs;
Sacred places, worship and symbols;
Moral values and attitudes;
Personal search
The curriculum is presented
in six strands as above. These are consistent throughout the primary
school and provide a basis for the Religious Education curriculum
at post-primary level.
The strands are presented at four levels,
outlining the content that could be covered at each stage of the
child's time at school. The programme designed for each level will
be flexible so as it can be implemented according to the needs of
each school and each individual child.
The curriculum is drawn up in a spiral
manner, that is, where similar content is revisited at each level.
The methodologies employed and the quantity and type of information
given at each level will reflect the development of the child and
will match his or her needs at that time.
The following relates to the strands and
their implementation in levels 1 and 2 (Infants, 1st/2nd class):
Celebrations,
festivals, ceremonies and customs:
This strand focuses on
the many festivals within the church's year. Not only do the children
learn about these festivals, but they are encouraged to participate
in the celebrations through worship, song and prayer. Objectives
for this Strand
Sacred writings, stories and key figures:
This strand has as its core the Bible and the many stories contained
in it. Children are given opportunities to hear Bible stories at
each level and they are encouraged to respond to and interact with
the stories so as they begin to discover the Bible's relevance
for them. As Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, many
stories of his life and teaching are included in the programme.
At this level 'Jesus the man' is focused on as a foundation for
further understanding of Jesus as the 'Son of God', the 'Christ'.
Stories of other Bible characters and famous Christians through
history are portrayed as examples and inspiration for the children
in their own lives. Objectives
for this Strand
Beliefs:
This strand encourages the child to develop at his or her own level
a basic understanding of the beliefs of Christians and the concept
and personhood of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The children
will participate in prayers and songs/hymns relating to these beliefs. Objectives
for this Strand
Sacred Places, worship and symbols:
Participation in worship in the classroom, school assembly and in
church services encourages a development of the children's awareness
of the central experiential dimension in Religious Education. Parish
school links are encouraged and the children are enabled to explore
their church. Objectives
for this Strand
Moral Values and Attitudes:
This strand encourages the children to become aware of values such
as sharing, caring, loving and forgiveness. By reflecting on the
stories they hear they are led to develop a sense of personal responsibility
for their behaviour and attitudes towards others. Objectives
for this Strand
Personal Search:
This
strand enables the children to begin their search for the answers to
the ultimate questions of life. They can learn how to ask questions,
discuss their feelings and values and respond to their environment.
They can respond to the wonders of the world around them through
worship, language and the expressive arts. Objectives
for this Strand
The child should be enabled to (at his/her own level of ability):
| Junior/Senior Infants |
1st/2nd classes |
| Strand
1 Objectives: Celebrations, festivals, ceremonies and customs |
| - become familiar with how festivals such
as Christmas, Easter and Harvest are
celebrated.
- describe
(through words, music, picture and drama) customs associated
with festivals and participate in the celebration of them.
- draw
on and extend their own experiences of customs associated
with birth and weddings through discussion, writing and illustration. |
- connect Christmas and Easter with
appropriate stories from the life of Jesus.
- participate
in the celebration of events in the Christian year such as
Advent, Christmas, Easter and Harvest.
- discuss
and describe what happens in a Christian baptism and marriage
ceremony.
- explore
how Christians worship God in church services. |
| Strand
2 Objectives: Sacred Writings, stories and key figures |
- realise that Christians have
a special book which they call 'The
Bible'.
- explore
and engage with a variety of stories from the Bible.
- explore
stories about Jesus. |
- explore more stories about Jesus - the healer,
his death and resurrection and the world he lived in.
- explore
and engage with some stories about key figures in the Old
Testament and the New Testament. |
| Strand
3 Objectives: Beliefs |
| - begin to understand something of
the concept and personhood of 'God' by recognising and using
the term appropriately in the context of stories, songs, hymns,
prayers and discussion. |
- develop their understanding of God as a caring,
loving and powerful God.
- explore
why God is called 'Father'.
- show
some understanding that Jesus is special. |
| Strand
4 Objectives: Sacred places, worship and symbols |
- explore the terms 'worship' and
'prayer', participate in worship in the classroom, in assembly
and
church,
listen to and learn some prayers and hymns/songs.
- recognise
that a church is
a special place where people go to worship God and become
familiar with some of the special items in a church.
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- understand
that prayer means communicating with God; thanking and praising
God in words, music, songs and hymns; participate in worship
in the classroom, assembly and church.
- describe
the main special items in a church and
how they are related to the services that take place there,
i.e. baptism, Holy Communion. |
| Strand
5 Objectives: Moral Values and Attitudes |
- begin to become aware of and experience
values such as sharing, caring, love and forgiveness.
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- respond to Bible stories which illustrate moral
values and attitudes and relate these to their own experience. |
| Strand
6 Objectives: Personal Search |
| - begin to search and
explore questions about God, religious beliefs and practices
in response
to their own experiences of life and awareness of religion. |
Download the Strands
of the Curriculum for Infants to 2nd class in
.PDF format.
(You will need at least version 5.0 of Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the file in .PDF format). 
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