What is Religious Studies?

YEAR 7: AUTUMN 1

Key Questions

  1. What is Religious Studies?
  2. Remembering and Reflecting
  3. Feasting
  4. Being Together

 

About the unit

In this unit pupils investigate a variety of features central to religious belief and practice, drawing links with a possible diverse variety of experiences from Primary School. Using a range of written and visual sources they learn about and understand the ways in which people express their faith. Students will be encouraged to think about what is important to them, and how our beliefs and values affect society. They will learn about different religious practices, such as festivals and holy days, and how these may be useful for personal reflection. Students will find out about special laws, such as food laws, and why these are important to religious believers. They will be encouraged to reflect upon special objects and the symbolic meaning these might have for people.

This unit is expected to take approximately 7 hours.

Where the unit fits in

This unit is to be taught at the beginning of year 7, and provides an introduction to a new approach in RE at key stage 3. The unit builds on work done at Primary School, attempting to bring together and build upon previous learning. Feeder schools follow different curricula, so it is difficult to assume a level starting point. This unit should allow teachers to determine where students are, as well as trying to help students with different learning histories to begin their secondary RS studies from the same starting point.

This unit serves as an introduction to the study of religion, and provides students with a basis on which to build later in key stage 3 or at GCSE RE/RS.

Expectations

At the end of this unit

most pupils will: recognize the diversity of religion; reflect upon what is important to them in life; describe in some detail how Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are remembered by Jews and give reasons why; describe how Jews and Muslims follow food laws and give some reasons why; describe the importance of the spice box and reflect upon what is important to themselves

some pupils will not have made so much progress and will: have some idea about the diversity of religion; begin to think about what is important in their life; describe some of the ways Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are remembered by Jews; begin to understand why these days are important; know some of the laws followed by Muslims or Jews; know a little bit about the importance of the spice box and begin to think about what is important to themselves

some pupils will have progressed further and will: appreciate diversity of religion; reflect critically upon the things that are important to them in life; describe in detail how Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are remembered by Jews and give several religious reasons why; describe in detail how Jews and Muslims follow food laws and give a range of reasons why; describe fully the importance of the spice box and reflect meaningfully upon what is important to themselves

Prior learning

It is helpful if pupils have:

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:

Speaking and listening – through the activities pupils could:

Reading – through the activities pupils could:

Writing – through the activities pupils could:

Resources

As well as a range of textbooks and published resources, this unit will be enhanced by the use of ancient and modern materials from believers’ sources, including:

Out of school learning

Pupils could:

Future learning

Pupils could go on to: