KEY LEARNING AREA:

Gilmour

Religion GRADE:6

TERM 1

YEAR: 2015

The Communion of Saints.

Class Context for Learning Differentiated learning

Class Needs
Individualised Learning Needs
Catholics/non-Catholics other faiths practising/non-practising
ASD ADHD (abstract concepts may need further unpacking visuals etc)

Learning Intentions
Learning Intention
By the end these learning experiences, students

Will have been involved in a variety of prayer practices.

Will have an understanding of the term communion of saints.

Success Criteria
Success Criteria
Students demonstrate an understanding of the term communion of saints

TEACHER: Helen

 Students will explain the significance of personal and communal prayer, including the Our Father and
The Examen, and the use of spiritual exercises, including reflective prayer journaling and praying with
the icons of the saints, for the spiritual life of believers. They will participate respectfully in a variety of
these personal and communal prayer experience and spiritual exercises.
Students explain the significance of prayer, ritual, sacraments and sacred texts for the faith journey of
believers, personally and communally. They participate respectfully in a variety of prayer experiences,
including formal prayers such as the Hail Mary and Our Father; meditative prayer including Lectio
Divina and Ignatian Meditation; and meditative prayer practices including silence and stillness, and
praying with icons and images.
Easter- The Last Supper the instituition of the Eucharist.

Assessment
Students will explain the significance of prayer- a personal and communal prayer
Students will demonstrate involvement in prayer practice.
Students will create a personal triptych.

Content Descriptions
People of God
Communion of saints is a term which describes the
spiritual bond that exists, through Baptism, between
all the members of the Church, living and dead.
Prayer and Spirituality
Meditative prayer uses silence and stillness to assist
believers to listen and talk to God. Believers use a

Elaborations.
exploring different ways of understanding the term
communion of saints - as the community of
believers (e.g. Ephesians 1:1, 2:19, 3:8,18; Psalm
31: 23 24, Wisdom 5: 5 6; 18: 9, Matthew 27: 52,
Acts 9:10 16, 32 35, 36 -42, Romans 1: 7; 8:27;
12:13; 15:25 26, 31; 16: 1- 3; 1Corinthians 1: 2;

range of practices for preparing the body and the

mind for meditative prayer and engaging in the work
of meditation, including prayer journaling. The
Examen is a meditative prayer in the Christian
tradition.
Meditative prayer uses silence and stillness to assist
believers to listen and talk to God. Believers use a
range of practices (including silence and stillness, and
praying with icons and images) for preparing the body
and the mind for meditative prayer, and engaging in
the work of meditation. Christian iconography
expresses in images the same Gospel message that
Scripture communicates by words. Praying with
scripture is a form of meditative prayer in the
Christian tradition. There are a variety of ways to pray
with scripture, including Lectio Divina (Benedictine
tradition) and Ignatian Meditation.

6:1, Philippians 1; 1; 4:22, Colossians 1: 24 26,

Philemon 1: 4 - 7); as those who have died and
entered into a new journey of life with God (e.g. as in
the Eucharist Penitential Act, Apostles Creed,
Eucharistic prayers)
using the Arts, create a visual representation
(Triptych)of the meaning of the term communion of
saints for Catholics.
learning about different ways to pray, including
Lectio Divina, Ignatian Meditation, praying with icons
and images)
learning about different ways of calling believers to
prayer (e.g. sign of the cross, prayer bells / rain
sticks, music)
learning different practices for preparing the body
and mind for Meditative Prayer, including silence
and stillness
writing icons and creating triptychs for prayer

Significant Days and Celebrations

Ash Wednesday
Lent
St Patricks Day

Learning Experiences
Resources
Teacher Background
Mandated Scriptural
Texts
Core texts
Communion of Saints
Paul refers to the
believers as "the
saints"
Ephesians 1:1
Ephesians 2:19
Ephesians 3:1-21
Tuning In

What is the
topic?
Why should
we study this
topic?
Frame
manageable
questions.

The Apostles Creed

Watch the youtube of The Apostels Creed. Discuss what they think it means.
Ask the children to brainstorm what they think belief means.
Group activity

Each group agrees on a definition for belief. Dictionaries may be

helpful!

Each student finishes the sentence: I believe on a Post-it note.

Working in groups, each student puts their note on a large piece of butcher
paper and exchange with another group. Statements are compared to
decide if they are statements of belief or not.

Each group decides on five things a Christian believes and lists these
on a large poster.

With a copy of the Apostles creed, students draw a box around each

What do I already
know about this
topic?
I think I know
x,y,z.
How is this
relevant to me?

section pertaining to the Father, Son and Spirit. In each box they highlight
statements of belief and of fact.

Finding Out

Revisit the Apostles Creed

Children highlight In the communion of Saints and discuss what they think
it means.
Handout information and scripture passages about the communion of
saints
Read through and discuss.
Children use the bibles to find the scripture passage on the board and we
discuss how they are relevant to the communion of Saints.
Practice Stillness and Silence every day in the morning in different mannersusing candles, music, being outside in a quiet space.
Exploring the different ways of praying: The Examen, Ignatian meditation,
Praying the rosary and praying with Icons.

Identify
possible
sources of
information
Identify skills
necessary for the
investigation.
How did it
happen? Who
was there and
what were the
facts?

Sorting Out
Pacticing the Examen at the end of everyday.

Identify
possible
sources of
information

Practicing Ignatian meditation using Scripture passages. Start with Loaves

and Fishes as a practice. Use other scripture passages such
as_________________________.
Praying the Rosary around our school statue.

Scripture passages
highlighted above and others
suitable for the Ignatian
meditation.
Icons.
Bibles.
Roasry beads.

Identify skills
necessary for the
investigation.
How did it
happen? Who
was there and
what were the
facts?

Praying with Icons.

Communicating

Extend and
challenge
students
understanding
s
Offer more
information
Is there
something else I
need to deepen
my knowledge
understandings?
What difference
does this make to
me?

Reflecting and
Evaluating

Making a Triptych using icons:

1. Students can locate icons online, print and use to create a personally
significant triptych.
2. Students create their own personal triptych using the My Story, Our Story,
The Story theme.
Children choose a method of prayer in which they want to be photographed
and write a personal reflection about why this way of praying and
meditating is important to them.

Students will
personal and
Students will
practice.
Students will

explain the significance of prayer- a

communal prayer
demonstrate involvement in prayer
create a personal triptych.

Templates of the Triptychs.

Camera.
Computers.

 Extend and
challenge
students
understanding
s
Offer more
information
Is there
something else I
need to deepen
my knowledge
understandings?
What difference
does this make to
me?