Christianity - Y6 - Religious Buildings and Music (Summer 1)
Christanity What can we learn from Christian religious buildings and music?
Church as a place of worship - What would I expect to find in Christian places of worship?
First Task - Make a list of everything you think you would be able to see if inside a Christian place of worship.
Second task - each group or pair to look at a small pack of photos of the interiors of churches around the world including some photos of your local churches. Record similarities and differences. Do you recognise which of the photos are from our localities? Where did you think the others photos are from?
Third task - at the end of this session we are going to send an email together to local church leaders to help you with your next lesson. (The email above needs to ask churches to introduce themselves and their roles in the local community. You could also ask specific questions which the class decided on in order to aid comparisons, e.g. how does the layout of the church reflect the beliefs of the congregation, how to artefacts aid prayer or worship?)
Church as community - What would my local church want me to know about them?
First task - Individuals to read the responses from the churches to everyone so that you can make sure everyone understands the content.
Second task - Give the emailed responses to the groups for them to present as a chart using whichever method they decide. These could include posters for the churches, fact files, Venn diagrams, mind maps etc.
Symbolism in art - Which piece of art or artefact from my local church can I find out more about?
First task - Ask the children to identify things which are precious. List the words on the board and group them into categories, e.g. things which are worth a lot of money, things money cannot buy, things made from valuable materials, things to do with families.
Second task - Introduce the children to the idea of a box of treasures. Show them a box of treasured objects which have personal meanings, e.g. photographs, wedding rings, old toys.
Ask the children to produce a list of 10 things they would put in their spiritual treasure box and give reasons for their choice. Give their list to a partner who uses it to work out what the person values. Explore how objects have a value because of the links they have to personal experience.
Third task - think about what you have seen in a local church, perhaps a stained glass window, a Station of the Cross, Cradle Roll or piece of art. Can you find out what the symbolism behind these are? Why are they important for members of the church community? How are they used today or have been used in the past? Is it mysterious, beautiful or awesome?
Worship - How is music used in church?
First task - a silent debate about music in school. Children go around trying to answer each question and debating with each other. You can emoji responses from other members of the class according to whether they agree or disagree.
Second task - Look at some photos of music in churches (organ, choir, hymn book, worship band, soloist etc.). Using the pictures discuss the following with your group.
What sort of music happens in a church?
Why are there opportunities for music within a service?
How does the use of music aid worship for a Christian?
Discuss their answers as a class. Are there any class experts who can tell us about music in their own place of worship?
Third task - Listen to the Lord’s Prayer sung by Only Boys Aloud and this version of the Lord’s Prayer being spoken outside of the UK.
Write a post it note about the purpose of music in worship.
FURTHER VERSIONS OF THE LORD'S PRAYER:
Citizen Way - The Lord's Prayer (Official Lyric Video)
Marc Sherwin Del Rosario Carlos - The Lord's Prayer (lyrics)
The Lord's Prayer Lyric Video - Hillsong Worship
Easter - How does the “Lord of the Dance” and “See what a morning” to the Gospel narratives of Easter?
First task - Listen to the song “Lord of the Dance” and highlight any words you don’t understand at first. Look up the meaning of the unfamiliar word using a dictionary or LearnPad and make a note of it.
Look at each verse in turn, can you explain in your own words and then how would you write this as a tweet.
Second task - See if you can link some of the lyrics to the Biblical narrative of the story of Easter. Any Bible references they find can then be written next to the verse.
Alternatively, compare Lord of the Dance with other songs which are sang in church during the Easter period such as “See what a morning”, “Come and See”, “Christ the Lord is risen today”.
Third task - Email your local church to find out which Easter songs were popular.
Social Justice Chants Silence - How does the Christian communities demonstrate their beliefs through song and silence?
In this session introduce children to the Iona Community and Taize community both of which have their own style of music but as a community they have a strong belief in peace and justice. Both write music which are used in churches around the world.
First task - Discuss how silence is also used as part of worship. How can the use of silence make a Christian feel closer to God? Many young Christians aged 17-30 enjoy the style of services at Taize and camp there during the summer. Why do you think this is?
Second task - Learn a piece from Taize if suitable for the class or you could watch a clip.
Laudate Dominum is quite simple to pick up. (Meaning Praise the lord all nations.)
Third task - Locate the Iona Community on a map of the UK. Explain how some Christians from the UK go on pilgrimage here. They also write songs which are used in churches around the world.
Look at the lyrics for “The Summons” or the Anglican Songs of Praise "The Summons". Who do you think is asking the questions and who is answering them. How does this song challenge Christians to be involved with social justice?
|
Y6 Christanity What can we learn from Christian religious buildings and music? |
|
|
1 |
What would I expect to find in Christian places of worship? |
|
2 |
What would my local church want me to know about them? |
|
3 |
Which piece of art or artefact from my local church can I find out more about? |
|
4 |
How is music used in my local church? |
|
5 |
How does the “Lord of the Dance” and “See what a morning” to the Gospel narratives of Easter? |
|
6 |
How does “And can it be “develop understanding of the Holy Spirit and “How firm the Foundation” supports Christians in times of trouble? |