PLANNING OVERVIEW – TERM

Year Level Unit Title Salvation Topic Aspect of Human Development

4 All Powerful God Bible The forces in the universe

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

Wondering at the creator of the universe (human development)

A1 Wondering at the forces in the universe:
Students have already been introduced to the earthly forces of wind and water in year three and will now be introduced to gravity and the
changes in nature eg. movement of the sun, seasons.
A2 Wondering at God who created the forces of the universe:
We can find clues about God’s nature by looking at His creation. God gave us all the ability to wonder so that we might discover more clues to
His nature. Wonder is a sense that can be developed or repressed, and as such should be strongly encouraged as an aspect of religious
spirituality.
A3 God is an all-powerful provider:
Observing the forces that God created can teach us more about what God is like. Observing the immense influence that each force has helps
us to realise the immense power that God must have, to have created all such forces and hold the universe together. Observing the cycles that
living things go through, we realise that God uses His power to provide for all His creatures. Those that respond to the call of God are cared for
even more lovingly. As a class, God’s great gifts and immense power of provision should be celebrated.
The promise of Christian salvation
B1 Jesus gave thanks to God his Father for God’s power:
Students have learned in year three that God uses his immense power to provide for us. In year four, students are taught, as Jesus first taught,
to give thanks for God’s care. By giving thanks to God we grow to know Him better.
B2 Jesus showed the importance of celebrating the Bible:
If we are seeking to know God better, one aspect of great importance is the Bible, God’s own special book. The focus of B2 is for students to
reflect and imagine what the world might be like if every single person lived and loved others the way that God wants them to.
Christian response
C1 God’s friends celebrate God’s words in the Bible:
God’s friends treat the Bible in a special way and respond to particular parts of Bible readings with prepared responses, such as “thanks be to
God”, “and also with you”, “glory to you, Lord”, and “praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ”. Students learn that the Bible has two testaments. The
Old testament contains information about Genesis and Exodus, and the New Testament contains, along with 23 other books, the four Gospels.
C2 God’s friends learn the power of God’s promises from the Bible:
Students learn that God’s promises have special power. God makes promises to show us all that His words are as powerful as His actions.
Stories that show the power of God’s promises include the story of Abraham, the story of Jacob and the story of Joseph.
C3 Jesus taught people to give thanks by loving God who provides:
The first commandment that Jesus made was that all God’s followers should love God as much as possible, just as God loves them. Students
learn that by keeping the first three of the Ten Commandments, we can keep the first of Jesus’ Great Commandments, as they are all ways of
showing love for God.
C4 Continuing to wonder at what the forces in the universe teach about the power of God:
Students reflect on what they have learnt and ponder how they can further their wonder about what the forces in the universe teach us about
the power of God. Students also continue to wonder at how the Bible can teach us about the power of God’s promises.

Key Understandings and Learning Points

A Wondering at the Creator B The Promise of Christian Salvation C Christian Response
A1 Wondering at the forces in the universe B1 Jesus gave thanks to God his Father for God’s C1 God’s friends celebrate God’s words in the Bible
A1.1 Identifies the forces in the universe. power C1.1 Explains special ways in which God’s friends treat
A1.2 Expresses wonder at the forces in the universe. B1.1 Illustrates times Jesus gave thanks to God for the Bible.
A2 Wondering at God who created the forces of the God’s power. C1.2 Identifies sources from which the Word of God
universe B2 Jesus showed the importance of celebrating the can be read.
A2.1 Expresses wonder at God who created the forces Bible C2 God’s friends learn the power of God’s promises
in the universe. B2.1 Describes ways the Bible helps people to live as from the Bible
A3 Attribute: God is an all-powerful provider God wants. C2.1 Identifies the power of God’s promises in the
A3.1 Celebrates God who is an all-powerful provider. story of Abraham.
C2.2 Identifies the power of God’s promises in the
story of Jacob.
C2.3 Identifies the power of God’s promises in the
story of Joseph.
C3 Jesus taught people to give thanks by loving God
who provides
C3.1 Explains how, by keeping the First of the Ten
Commandments, people live
Jesus’ First Commandment.
C3.2 Explains how, by keeping the Second of the Ten
Commandments, people live
Jesus’ First Commandment.
C3.3 Explains how, by keeping the Third of the Ten
Commandments, people live
Jesus’ First Commandment.
C4 Continuing to wonder at what the forces in the
universe teach about the
power of God
C4.1 Reviews and expresses the main ideas of the unit.
Links to General Capabilities
Literacy Numeracy ICT Critical and Ethical behaviour Personal Intercultural
Lesson A: Listening, Lesson A: Lesson C: Do Ink Green Creative Thinking Competency Understanding
discussion, writing. Contemplation of time Screen app, film Lesson A: Reflect and Lesson C: Working in Lesson A: Discuss
and how it passes making. respond to Godly play randomised groups. different creation
Lesson B: Creative stories eg. Dream time
writing, listening, Lesson B: Questioning Lesson B: Creative stories
discussion. about how best to writing.
count the total ant legs
Lesson C: Discussion, on the page Lesson C: Story retells,
listening, narrative creative flair.
structure.
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
Lesson A: Allow own Lesson B: Self- become happy witness To follow & become a To respect all people
choice of response moderation, calming To worship God & missionary & become tolerant of
medium in reflect and own feelings of worry become reverent disciple of Jesus others’ beliefs
respond activity. or doubt.
Lesson A: Allow time to Lesson C: Believing the
Lesson C: Strength of reflect and respond promises made to us.
faith, believing in the after Godly play,
power of God’s word. encourage deeper
thought.

Lesson B: Prayer of
thanks.
Belief in God’s power.

Lesson C: Making and

receiving promises with
God.