TEACHING
ACTIVITIES
- Read the story
of 'The Church Mouse'. Identify the special place for the mouse. ·
Discuss what are special places to them and consider why they are
special (7a/d).
- Visit the church.
(Take cat puppet and finger mice). Look at the outside of the building
and talk about the features. Inside, sit quietly to absorb the atmosphere.
Look at arches, windows, pillars (7c).
How does it make them feel? Play quiet game - cats clues. Cat gives
clues about different parts of building. Mice creep to that part.
(Take photographs to remind children of the features - possibly using
digital camera).
-
Ask children about what sorts of things they had in their special
places. Special places usually have special things associated with
them. (Playgrounds have swings etc). What special things were inside
the church? Revisit game of cat's clues using photographs. Children
to draw a part of the church and write a clue to go with it. Share
these around circle and guess each other's. Make into class book
(7b).
- Invite vicar
into school to talk about his/her favourite place within the church.
Why is it special? After visit, write about vicar's special place
(7d).
- Show a selection
of signs and symbols (photographs or pictures or artefacts). What
does each one mean? What is it? Does it stand for anything else? (7c)
Show a cross and a crucifix. Compare the 2 objects. Explain the symbolism
of the empty cross in Church of England. Children can make their own
crosses from wood or clay and decorate them beautifully.
- Telling stories
in pictures - looking at the stained glass windows showing story of
Jesus' life (7c). Make a stained glass window picture to show part
of a story that means something special to Christians.
- Sit children
in a circle. Light a candle in the centre of the circle and have a
time of quiet reflection (possibly play some soft music). Discuss
uses of candles - powercuts, birthdays. What is their function - to
give light (practical) - atmosphere and celebration. Talk about the
candles in church - help children identify through discussion why
light is a symbol for Jesus.
- Make a game
- give blank game board of church outline. Children to fill in some
details and use cat and mice to move around church naming parts and
collecting cheese (7b).
Write own questions for each place.
- Discussion about
why church is special for some people. What happens there? Services,
Christenings, weddings, etc (7d).
Listen to examples of church music - organ music and children's songs
and choir. Write a group prayer.
- Revisit the
church. Children take their book of clues and follow them around.
Ask the children to think about what things mean as well as the appearance
or function (7b/d). Ask vicar to perform a short service or blessing
that the children can be involved in or witness.
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