Third to Sixth Class

The Strands of the Religious Education Programme for 3rd - 6th classes 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 Natural World
- Relationships and Moral Values
- Ultimate Questions
Awareness of those of Other Faiths and none

We also have strands for Infants to Second class - click here to view them.

Celebrations, festivals, ceremonies and customs: (↑top)

This strand continues the work begun at junior level and explores the festivals, rites of passage and church services which are part of the Christian tradition. The origins of these celebrations and customs will be looked at together with their relevance for Christians and an exploration of how they are to be found in churches today. Objectives for this Strand

Sacred writings, stories and key figures: (↑top)

This strand has at its core the Bible and the wealth of story contained in it. The children will be encouraged to become familiar with handling the Bible and locating biblical material. They will encounter many Biblical characters and look at God’s relationship with his people as portrayed in scripture. They will be enabled to discover background, historical and cultural information which will help them as they engage with the text. They will be encouraged to recognise the relevance of the Bible for today. Stories of Christians from history will be explored as examples of people who followed God’s call. Objectives for this Strand

Beliefs: (↑top)

As the children begin to think on their own beliefs they will explore some aspects of the nature of God and the divinity of Jesus which have been taught by the Christian Church down the centuries. The Apostles’ Creed will be examined as a summary of the beliefs of Christians. Objectives for this Strand

Sacred Places, worship and symbols: (↑top)

As in junior classes, participation in worship in the classroom, school assembly and in church services is encouraged. This is an essential strand for increasing awareness of the central experiential dimension in Religious Education. Parish/school links are encouraged and the children are enabled to explore their parish/local church and to look at a variety of other church buildings and styles of worship. Some background knowledge about the Church of Ireland, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church and other Christian Churches will also be included in this strand. Objectives for this Strand

Moral Values and Attitudes: (↑top)

This strand encourages the children to think about moral values and attitudes and to look at the guidance to be found in the Scripture and in the lives and teaching of others. Objectives for this Strand

Personal Search: (↑top)

The strand Personal Search has been subdivided into three areas so as to encourage the children, on their own personal journeys. They begin to reflect upon their own stance as they search for answers to important human questions about the world and about God.

The Natural World:
As Christians living in the world there is a responsibility of stewardship and care for creation. This strand encourages the children to develop an attitude of care for the environment.

Relationships and Moral Values:
Christians live in local communities and need to take responsibility for their own lives and to have concern for the well being of others. This strand encourages children to think on these issues from a Christian perspective.

Ultimate Questions:
The strand helps children to discover that religion is essentially about ultimate questions and to recognise that there are different points of view. It also aims to give children the tools to express their own views. Objectives for this Strand

Other Faiths: (↑top)

By separating ‘Other Faiths’ into a separate strand for 3rd – 6th one does not assume the necessity of covering these faiths in the same detail or under the same headings as Christianity. It is hoped, however, that children will become aware of and sensitive to the beliefs and practices of those of other or no faith(s) who may be part of their school or local communities. This will be dealt with in greater detail in post-primary school through the Junior Certificate Programme. Objectives for this Strand

The child should be enabled to (at his/her own level of ability):

Strand 1: Celebrations, festivals, ceremonies and customs
3rd/4th classes	5th/6th classes
Understand some of the symbolism associated with customs and stories e.g. giving presents or Easter Eggs. Show knowledge and some understanding of customs associated with rites of passage eg. baptism – (infant and adult), confirmation, marriage, and funerals.	Show knowledge and understanding of the following seasons of the Church’s Year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost. Be able to relate these seasons to the main events in the life of Jesus. Know something of the origins of baptism in the life and teaching of Jesus.
Strand 2 : Sacred Writings, stories and key figures
Understand terms such as gospel, miracle, parable and be able to illustrate with selected Bible stories. Locate Bible references. Explore and engage with the story of Moses. Explore and engage with some other stories about key figures in the Bible. Know stories of notable Christians both contemporary and from history.	Show a basic understanding of the chronological order of some of the key events in the Bible. Have an awareness of some of the context and background to the Bible stories covered. Know the main events in the life of Jesus and some of his teachings. Understand some examples of Biblical imagery e.g. God as Father, Jesus as Good Shepherd. Explore and engage with the story of Saint Paul and a wide selection of Old and New Testament stories. Have some knowledge of the history of the Bible – its writers, who it was written for and how it is available to many people today.
Strand 3 – Beliefs
Show some understanding of God as creator and moral authority. Understand that Christians believe Jesus showed what God is like.	Engage with and have some understanding of the Apostles’ Creed. Be able to associate God with terms such as eternal, almighty. Understand something of what it means when Christians call Jesus – Son of God.
Strand 4 – Sacred places, worship and symbols
Participate in worship in the classroom, school assembly and church, further develop their understanding of different aspects of worship ie. singing, listening, praying. Show some knowledge and understanding of the design and furnishings of a variety of churches. Think about why people attend church and what is special about church buildings. Explore how Christians worship God in a variety of church services, including some of those in the prayer books of the Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian churches.	Participate in worship in the classroom, school assembly and church. Further develop their understanding of the breadth of Christian worship (including worship from other countries). Be familiar with prayers, particularly The Lord’s Prayer. Continue to develop their understanding of church services, particularly those from the Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian traditions and including both those that take place regularly on Sundays and those church services that mark key points in life and death – baptism, confirmation, marriage and funerals. Trace the origins and be familiar with the Holy Communion service. Be aware of some of the main phases in the history of the Church from the Early Church to the present. Become familiar with some of the structures of the main Christian churches in Ireland – (diocese, parish, bishop, moderator, circuit, congregation). Recognise and understand some Christian signs, symbols and artefacts.
Strand 5 Objectives: Moral Values and Attitudes
Show some knowledge and understanding of the Ten Commandments and discuss their relevance and application. Understand some of the moral teachings of Jesus through parables. Appreciate the moral qualities in the lives of saints and other notable modern Christians.	Know and understand the central principles of ‘love God’ and ‘love your neighbour’ and apply them to their own lives. Appreciate the moral qualities in the lives of saints and other notable modern Christians.
Strand 6: Personal Search
The Natural World
Reflect on the natural order of the human life-cycle – birth, growth, maturity, death – in association with religious ceremonies marking these changes.	Reflect, on human dependence on, and responsibility for, planet earth. Show awareness of particular environmental issues and human responsibility for them.
Relationships and Moral Values
Reflect on the benefits and responsibilities of belonging to groups e.g. clubs, family, friends. Appreciate the need for rules in such groups and in society generally.	Show awareness of and concern for the needs of individuals in the local community. Show some understanding of moral principles such as loving God and loving one’s neighbour. Identify, discuss and apply these principles in real and imaginary situations. Show awareness of and concern for the needs of groups in society e.g. through charities and missionary organisations.
Ultimate Questions
Recognise that religion is essentially about ultimate questions. Recognise that there are different points of view on religious matters. Be able to listen to the views of others and express their own with growing articulation and confidence.	Recognise that religion is essentially about ultimate questions. Recognise that there are different points of view on religious matters. Be able to listen to the views of others and express their own with growing articulation and confidence.
Strand 7: Awareness of those of Other Faiths and none
Understand that some people have different faiths or may have none. Encounter religious traditions special to other people in the school or locality.	Understand that people have different faiths and practices or may have none, become aware of this and become sensitive to those of differing faiths in school and community. Become familiar with the names of some of the major world religions. Develop an understanding of Judaism – its celebrations, festivals, ceremonies and customs; sacred writings, stories and key figures; beliefs; sacred places, worship and symbols, moral values and attitudes. Encounter aspects of religious traditions important to other children in the school or neighbourhood