Christianity - Y6 - LOCALLY & GLOBALLY Y6 (Spring 2)
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES WITHIN CHRISTIANITY LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY?
WEEK 1 How are the churches in our local community similar and different?
Exploring churches can help us find out what Christians value. Give the children pictures of some local church exteriors. Ask them to choose two to compare. Ask the children to brainstorm words to describe each picture. What do the words show about the differences between the two churches? Do you think different things are of value, e.g. simplicity, grandeur, display?
Give the children pictures of the types of things they will find in the two different types of church. Ask them to sort the objects into groups for each of the two churches and give reasons for their decisions. Ask them to sort the objects into things that are friendly and intimate, and things that are mysterious and awesome. Are the groups the same for the two churches? Explore the reasons for their answers.
Have a look at the websites of the two churches chosen. What can they find out about worship, services, Eucharist, leadership, groups and community use etc.? Remind them that the church isn’t just the building; the important aspect of the church is the community of believers.
Identify the local churches on a map, explaining their names and denominations. Discuss why Christians in our village / town choose to go to different churches.
Week 2 Can you compare worship in a local church to a church in another country? (Perhaps one your school is linked to.)
Ask children / families who attend church in your school to become experts for this lesson. Ask them to tell you what a service looks like. What do you do, what parts of the service do you like, can they tell you about special services which they have attended there like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost? Do they know if there is a membership to their church, have they seen a baptism / confirmation? What is their favourite worship song?
If you have an international partnership school, email questions to them or friends you may have around the world. Do they feel part of a larger community of Christians around the world?
Have a look at this song called “Hosanna”. The video was made during CV-19 lockdown with Christians over Europe contributing in their own language. They are part of an organisation which has an annual international festival for young people attended by 50,000 young people from around the world and 500 Priests.
Another place where Christians meet together is Taize. The Catholic and Protestant Monks who make up the Taize community are from around 30 different countries and are joined by young adults for a time of reflection from around the world. It is an important site of Christian Pilgrimage. Prayer and Silence are important parts of worship in Taize. Their music is often repeated phrases which may be sung in a canon. You could also have a go at singing one if appropriate for your class to do so. You could also look at Iona in Scotland as part of this session and what a mega church looks like with over 2000 attendees over a weekend.
Introduce the Greek term “Koinonia” to the class.
Children to write about what this term means in reference to the Global Christian Community.
Week 3 Can you compare how communion is celebrated in local churches?
Resources from local churches. Email response from local churches to ask them to explain how they take communion and other details. This can then be a research response ready for teams in class. It maybe that local ministers may be willing to record themselves giving a short talk. Make sure the children are happy with the terms Anglican, Catholic and Non-Conformist.
Which churches do they know and which of the above categories would they fit?
Today’s session is a group research task. Each table group has a particular local church to focus on but can also access national websites according to denominations. They need to create a lift the flap poster to explain communion according to those particular churches.
Design a list of enquiry questions as a class which may include areas such as who can take communion, who leads it, what words are said, what does it signify, particular prayers or songs etc.? Groups to have a designated speaker who reports back to the class.
Christianity What are some of the differences and similarities within Christianity locally and globally?
How are the churches in our local community similar and different?
Can you compare worship in a local church to a church in another country? (Perhaps one your school is linked to.)
Can you compare how communion is celebrated in local churches?
How do local Christian communities celebrate Easter?
How is Easter celebrated around the world?
St George is the Patron Saint of England, how is he remembered around the world?