RE   Year 7

Unit 7C Festivals

Last modified 24/08/02

by P Clark

About the unit

 

In this unit pupils will be looking at festivals and the role of festivals in their own lives and in Religion. Pupils study Festivals of Light, Christmas and Divali as well as Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.

 

Where the unit fits in

This unit follows on from units about Creation stories and World Religions. It is studied towards the end of the winter term so that pupils can be learning about Christmas just before Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expectations

 

At the end of this unit

 

all pupils will: Be able to explain the role of festivals for believers and for non-believers.; be able to describe the rituals involved in the 3 festivals covered and explain their significance for believers.

 

most pupils will: Be able to assesses for themselves the value of festivals and the spiritual and social significance of celebrations. Explain in detail the significance of the festivals they have covered and the symbolism involved.

 

some pupils will have progressed further and will: be able to empathise with believers from other traditions them themselves and identify ways in which the festivals bring believers closer to each other and their God (gods).

 

 

Language for learning

 

 

Through the activities in this unit pupils will be able to understand, use and spell correctly words relating to the study of:

·                Religion,

 

Speaking and Listening—through the activities pupils could:

·                Ask questions to gain clarification

·                Using group work explain about festivals and their meanings

 

Writing—through the activities pupils could:

·                Plan and develop ideas and lines of thinking in continuous text

·                organize content into complete text with the relationship between points/paragraphs clearly signalled, eg therefore, nevertheless

 

 

·                               

 

 

Prior Learning

 

·       Pupils should have looked at Christmas and other festivals at KS1 and 2

·       Pupils will have their own celebration from which knowledge can be extended

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festivals

 

Learning Objectives

Pupils should learn:

Possible teaching activities

Learning outcomes

Pupils:

Points to note

Resources

 

 

 

 

 

1. The Year (What is a festival?)

·  The significance of festivals

·  The impact festivals have on their own life

·  The diversity of festivals

·  Discussion ‘what is a festival?’

·  Highlight the difference, personal (birthday, anniversary), National, Queen’s Birthday, Universal (millennium,) etc.

·  Brainstorm ‘Why do we need festivals?’

·  Use ‘The Year’ sheets to demonstrate the festivals through the year

·  Recognise the affect festivals have on them

·  Reflect on the meanings of festivals

·  Understand the significance of festivals in society (ie to bring people together, to raise people’s spirits etc.)

·  Homework display work on one of the moths of the year

·  The Year worksheet

·  Display versions of above (bigger only one month)

2. Christmas 1

·  The significance of Christmas to Christians

·  The affect Christmas has on their own lives

·  The affect that the person of Jesus has on their own lives

·  The story of Jesus Teacher led with contributions, most students will know the story.

·  Talk through the significant parts of the story, eg. ‘Why was the son of God born in a stable?’

·  Create Christmas cards relating significant parts of the story, this could be transferred to a modern time

·  Can relate the Christmas story and it’s significance

·  Can apply knowledge in the adaptation of the Christmas story

·  Home work research some of the Christmas traditions

·   

3. Christmas 2

·  The affect Christmas has on their own lives

·  The symbolism of Christmas and it’s meaning

·  Traditions around Christmas

·  Hand out old Christmas cards, students identify the themes. Discussion about why they are as they are

·  Read through Christmas work sheet, discuss key points

·  Jigsaw lesson 12 traditions of Xmas, expert groups end with competitive quiz

·  Understand the many Christian and non-Christian traditions associated with Christmas

·  Learn from these  traditions and apply something of the Christmas message to their lives

·  Homework celebrate Christmas!!

·  Old Christmas cards

4. Divali

·  The significance of Divali to Hindus

·  The similarities and differences between Divali and Christmas and New Year

·  Discuss traditions of New Year

·  Read through and explain Divali

·  Pupils work through Divali Sheet

·  Understand the traditions surrounding Divali

·  Recognise the importance of a yearly occasion to take stock of life and set new goals

·   

·  Divali Worksheet

5. Ramadan & Eid-Ul-Fitr

·  The significance of Ramadan for Muslims

·  Why Muslims fast at Ramadan

·  The significance of self-sacrifice and fasting in Religious life

·  Introduce the key word ‘fasting’

·  Ask ‘Why do people fast?’

·  Briefly explain Muhammad’s receipt of the Qur’an and the night of Power

·  Use the Ramadan worksheet to explain what Muslims do at Ramadan

·  Read through Sue Penny‘s, ‘Islam‘, Ramadan

·  Watch the video about Ramadan

·  Understand the meaning of ‘Fasting’

·  Recognise the affect fasting can have on a believer

·  Understand the significance of Ramadan

·  Compare Ramadan with Christmas and Divali

·  This may take 2 lessons

·  Ramadan Worksheet

·  Sue Penny ‘Islam’

·  video

6. My Festival

·  To demonstrate their knowledge of festivals

·  To recognise the key elements of festivals

·  Brainstorm ‘What are the key elements of the festivals we have discussed’

·  Use these elements to create their own festival

·  Learn from the religions they have studied and apply this to the creation of a festival

·  This make take 2 lessons

·  Big paper

 

           BUXTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION