Students investigate spirituality by describing how Christians experience the presence of God in the world. The purpose of the unit is to assist students to see the character of God as reflected through His creation and to explore ways in which people experience God through different elements and experiences in His world.
The Christianity in the World key idea: people make decisions using a range of religious perspectives and ethical frameworks forms the basis for this unit of inquiry. The central idea for this unit of inquiry is that God created people with the ability to make choices about how they act everyday. Students inquire into: how feelings affect the choices that people make, good and inappropriate choices and the consequences of the choices people make.
This unit of inquiry demonstrates one way Year 1 students can explore the Christianity in the World key idea: People express their spirituality in various contexts within and beyond Christianity. Through a variety of resources, experiences and modes of expression, students inquire into questions relating to knowledge of God, the mystery that surrounds God, and communication with God. Throughout their journey they have opportunities to respond to their learning and reflect on their growing understandings of the presence of God in the world.
CW 2.3 Last tree in the city This unit of work demonstrates how two key ideas, Christian Living: Christians have responsibility in and for the world and Christianity in the World: People make decisions using a range of religious perspectives and ethical frameworks, can be integrated to give richness and depth to a topic sparked by a picture book: Last tree in the city. Having responded to a mysterious letter, asking about their world, that arrives in their classroom from an alien in outer space, students move on to inquire into aspects of creation, responsibility, care, choices, decisions and consequences as essential questions and the story of “The last tree on the planet” are woven throughout. Opportunity to incorporate material from Planet Ark is also programmed into the range of learning experiences.
CW 3.1 Lutheran and Judaism The unit of work demonstrates one approach that can be taken with year 5 students and the Christianity in the world key idea: religious beliefs and ideas shape people’s thinking and actions. Past and present are taken into account as students inquire into the concepts, practices, symbols and stories that give meaning and expression to Christians – Lutherans and Jews. As they progress they begin to chart similarities and differences in the relationship between the two religions.
CW 3.2 Christian spirituality in practice This unit of work demonstrates one approach that can be taken with Year 5 students inquiring into the CW key idea: People express their spirituality in various contexts within and beyond Christianity. The teacher has annotated the unit, reflecting on aspects of it as the students received and responded to the variety of experiences. Starting with the opportunity to express thoughts about heaven and life, students move on to investigations into aspects of spirituality as experienced by Christians using a range of resources such as movies, biblical passages, and their own observations and experiences. Assessment for the unit involves the use of a lotus diagram, and the rubric used in conjunction with it is also provided.
CW 5.2 Spirituality and ritual This inquiry unit demonstrates one way that two key ideas: CW People express their spirituality in various contexts within and beyond Christianity and CC Christians pray, worship and celebrate the sacraments can be drawn together to provide the framework for a rich learning experience.
CW 5.3 Ethics and justice This unit has been written to fulfil the requirements of the CSCF as well as the requirements of the QSA Religion & Ethics SAS. The unit begins with an overview of models for ethical decision making before investigating two major ethical issues: globalisation & violence/conflict. The essential questions form the core of the unit, whereby students continue to make links between what they value and do and what the world is like. Alongside these investigations students investigate an issue of human rights violation, looking at what can be done to respond.