Consider jointly planning an RE Theme day with a local church to enable pupils to engage in an extended reflection with an individual, local and global ‘values in action’ focus. This enables them to consolidate their understanding of concepts, consider what difference learning about ‘Harvest – Global Gratitude’ makes to believers and to themselves. Through creating a ‘gift’, sharing in a ‘live’ project, for example organising a fundraiser, between their local church and overseas neighbour, they experience what it is like to show gratitude in action.
Download RE-with-Soul-Harvest-Explore-Global-Gratitude-Theme-Day-Outline-.pdf
This part of the unit can be undertaken as a cross-curricular project linked to Art or DT teaching and learning. The applied learning via the theme day involving creating gifts for our local or global neighbours, allows for useful assessment opportunities both of theological understanding and personal reflection.
Ideas include designing a ‘live’ campaign for a charity supported by the local church or planning and leading a school harvest festival (Plan of action to be decided by the children) Pupils are able to explore ‘live relationships’ between Christian believers in their local church communities and communities in Mozambique that enable them to compare and contrast aspects of Christianity as it is expressed in the UK and overseas.
Supporting SIAMS and the Christian Aid Global Neighbours Accreditation Scheme. RE with Soul learning activities and theme days effectively support schools in meeting criteria for the Christian Aid ‘Global Neighbours Accreditation Scheme’.
Creative process
- using the church space and involving parents, church members where possible
- introducing the brief e.g. for creating artwork or designing a fundraising campaign
- working in groups with a group leader appointed who overseas team work throughout the
- creative process- (considering your neighbour in team work – see related guidelines)
- researching and visualising ideas using agreed starting points
- presenting initial group ideas to the class – inviting feedback on how concepts ideas/learning about baptism has been communicated
- reflecting on and refining ideas in preparation for translation into chosen medium
- translating ideas into agreed outcome in partnership with parents, staff, church members
Possible outcomes
Harvest Festival for the school or a contribution to the Harvest Festival in the local church
Banners on a theme, designs for windows, altar cloths, priests vestments, resources for children for the overseas community linked to the local church, for example the Diocesan Companion for the Diocese of London Anglola, London, Mozambique Association ALMA
