EDRE527

Assignment 2 Jessica Van De Garde and Dominique Pringle

UNIT OUTLINE TOPIC: PRAYER

YEAR LEVEL: 7
This outline has been developed according to the teachings and principles presented in the
2017 Religious Education Curriculum Document draft for the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
This specific lesson would be held as an introduction to different types of prayer that we
encounter. Students would already have some exposure to what prayer is, and how it is
practiced within their school life and/or home life.

Student Outcomes

Students will be able to explain the nature of prayer in a variety of faith traditions by
identifying distinctive characteristics and reflecting on the purpose of prayer.
Students will be able to articulate their understanding of the significance and value of
prayer in the contemporary world and prayer across social and cultural
understandings.

It is the intention of this unit is to provide students with opportunities for their spiritual
development by broadening their understanding of prayer and its significance across a
variety of faith traditions, cultural understandings and social contexts. This unit applies the
pedagogy of encounter in its approach to engage students with the content by
demonstrating its relevance in the contemporary world.

Core Content/Knowledge

1. Defining prayer according to the teachings of the Catholic Church:

Prayer is both an activity and a way of living. Formal or informal, verbal or nonverbal,
prayer is communication with God, which can be expressed in a variety of ways and take a
variety of forms (Catholic Education Melbourne).
Formal vs. informal: Prayer can be ordered, ceremonious, solemn and precise or
casual and simple.
Verbal vs. nonverbal: Prayer can be spoken out loud, an internal conversation, or a
conversation without words. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1994, Part 4,
Section 1, Chapter 3, Article 1)
Types of prayer: What is personal, liturgical and communal prayers) and what are
blessing, adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise prayers? (To
Know, Worship and Love, 2003, p.111-112).

2. Identifying specific characteristics of prayer according to Catholic Church's

teaching as shown in Scripture:
Matthew 6:5-13 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you,
they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they
think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father
knows what you need before you ask him.
EDRE527 Assignment 2 Jessica Van De Garde and Dominique Pringle

9
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily
bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Characteristics of prayer:
Prayer is a private/personal interlaction with God.
Through the Lords Prayer we pray for the glory of the Father (v10), and for our hopes (v11-
13), calling God Father which further emphasises the personal relationship we as
Christians have with the Lord.

3. Defining ritual (in clear contrast to defining prayer) and understanding the sign of
the cross as a ritual.
Ritual - a ritual is an established or prescribed procedure for a religious rite.
The sign of the cross is a ritual that Catholics complete which signals the start and finish of
a prayer.
Many religions involve rituals in their prayer lives, including hinduism and judaism (see
below)

4. Identifying different types of prayer and ritual across different faiths and cultures,
and the social context of the contemporary world.

Prayers in Hinduism - said throughout the day, to serve and worship their gods.
https://prayersmantrasspirituallyrics.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/daily-prayers-of-hindus/
Prayers in Judaism - said morning, afternoon and evening. Regular prayer is for the
purpose of building a relationship with God.
http://www.jewfaq.org/prayref.htm
The Aboriginal Our Father Video
http://www.resourcemelb.catholic.edu.au/object.cfm?o=284
Discover more with the Usborne book of world religions (see resources below)

Curriculum Approach

In the 2017 Melbourne Archdiocese Religious Education curriculum framework, prayer is

directly addressed in one of the five content areas: Prayer, Liturgy and Sacrament. The
curriculum structure and its emphasis on applying the pedagogy of encounter, encourages
a focus on student experience in the teaching of prayer. The role of the teacher in a
Religious Education classroom is to facilitate dialogue with and between students that
allows them to engage. The purpose for this dialogue is to provide students with the
opportunity to explore the relationship between their experiences and their understandings
of the Catholic Churchs teaching that God is encountered through prayer. At the year 7
level, the curriculum frames prayer and ritual in the context of other faith traditions. It
highlights the significance of prayer and ritual for the Catholic faith community as well as a
variety faith traditions.
EDRE527 Assignment 2 Jessica Van De Garde and Dominique Pringle

Teaching Activities

Activity 1: Four corners brainstorm - how is prayer relevant today? How has prayer
changed over time?

Students will be separated into four groups, in order to discuss visual prompts supplied by
the teacher. These prompts will be about prayer within: the home, the church, the media
and the school (one topic per group). Students are given 10-15 minutes to discuss these
prompts within their group, and mind map them on the supplied paper. Teachers will
monitor and guide discussion as required.

Once group discussion has occurred, each group will have the opportunity to share their
findings and thoughts with the class. The whole class is welcome to contribute with
personal experiences, understandings, various views and thoughts. The teacher will
encourage students, through the discussion, to develop their understanding of what prayer
can be, and how it has developed and changed over time. (From the rosary to prayer using
social media).

The teacher will mindmap this discussion on the board, electronically, and email it through
to each student at the end of class.

Prompts:

Prayer at home
EDRE527 Assignment 2 Jessica Van De Garde and Dominique Pringle

Prayer within the Church

Prayer within the school

EDRE527 Assignment 2 Jessica Van De Garde and Dominique Pringle

Prayer within the media/society
EDRE527 Assignment 2 Jessica Van De Garde and Dominique Pringle

Activity 2: What does prayer mean to you?
Students are to select their own image of prayer. This could be from the prompts provided,
or from the internet (using song lyrics, an image of prayer in your own religion or faith etc).
Students will then answer the questions below in response to this image, and using what
they have learned this lesson.

1. What does this image mean to you?

2. Where do you encounter prayer in your life?
3. How do you pray?
(Grace before dinner? Prayer before bed? In church? At school? In homeroom? With
family? When we need something? Hail Mary full of grace, help us find a parking
space)
4. What have you learned about prayer today, and has your understanding of prayer
changed? How?

Student Resources

Archdiocese of Melbourne (2003) To know, worship and love, Year 7. 2nd ed.
Melbourne: James Goold House Publications. Chapter 10 & 11. (Student resource)
Boyle A & N. (2001). All About Faith 2. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. Student Resource
Fleming, J et al. (1999). Living in Hope. Harper Collins. (Student resource)

Teacher Resources

Catholic Adult Education Centre. (n.d.). How do you pray?. Inform: Current thinking
on Catholic issues.
Catholic Adult Education Centre. (n.d.). Family prayer. Inform: Current thinking on
Catholic issues, 20.
Catholic Adult Education Centre. (n.d.). Five ways Australian Catholics use the Bible.
Inform: Current thinking on Catholic issues, 59
Engaging in Prayer. Faith Formation. Catholic Education Melbourne.
http://www.resourcemelb.catholic.edu.au/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Engaging%20with%2
0Prayer%202017%20FINAL%20flyer.pdf
Karris, R.J. (Ed.). (1992). The Collegeville Biblical commentary.Winona, Minn.: The
Liturgical Press.
Meredith. S. (1995). The Usborne book of world religions. USA: Usborne Publishing.
Nolen, B. (1999). Prayer strategies: A teachers manual. East Melbourne: Harper
Collins.
OP Zanzig T. & Allaire, B. (1997). Understanding Catholic Christianity. Teachers
edition. Winona, Minn.: St. Marys Press.
Pontifical Council for Social Communications. (2002). The Church and the Internet.
Retrieved from
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/pccs/documents/rc_pc_pccs_
doc_20020228_church-internet_en.html