1. The Church
Y3/4
In Britain the Christian Church is made up of a range of denominations e.g. Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed etc… The exterior and particularly the interior of the church buildings reflect different aspects that are important for that community e.g. the central place given to the altar in, for example, a Roman Catholic Church
This relates to the following Programme of Study and Scheme of Work:
Christianity – Holy Building – the Church

2. Sensory Visit to 2 churches of denominations (or visit/virtual tour
Areas of learning
Prepare a photographic/collage display of all the people involved in the church community with speech/thought bubbles arranged around it. UA, STU, HGSU, UECL
Prepare a presentation about the church for another class/parents. UECL, STU, UA
Prepare an information booklet about the churches. UECL, STU, UA
Write a diary entry/day in the life of/story about a member of the church community UECL, HGSU
Morphing activity (See CLEO website)
Skills and Attitudes
Investigation, Interpretation, Synthesis, Application, Communication,
Self-awareness, Respect,
Open-mindedness, Appreciation & Wonder.
Creative
Assessment
Produce a quiz: ‘spot the difference between these church buildings’
Learning Hooks
Be a church detective
The Church
Learning Hooks
Sensory Visit to 2 churches of
different
denominations (or visit/virtual tour
combination).
Learning Hooks
Behind the building
Useful websites
Spiritual Development 

3. Creative Assessment
Produce a quiz for the next year group: ‘spot the difference between these church buildings’ (AT1)
Annotate your quiz to show which 2 aspects within the churches you think are most
inspiring and why (AT2)
AT1
Level 2 - Children can identify features of the church and their importance for the Christians who worship there.
Level 3 - Children can describe the meaning of some key religious features of the churches e.g.-icons, statues, stations of the cross, baptistery, font, altar, pulpit. They can recognise similarities between two different churches.
Level 4 - Children can describe and show understanding of some of the key features and symbols of a church making links between them and Christian beliefs and practice.
AT2
Level 2 - Children can respond to the atmosphere and symbolism of the church buildings,
Level 3 - Children can make connections between their own personal responses to special places and those of others. They can raise questions about the nature and purpose of the Churches.
Level 4 - Children can describe a building that inspires them and influences them and suggest why it is important to them, making comparisons with the experience of others.

4. Church Visit
Sensory walk around the churches – what can you see, hear, touch, smell, taste and wonder. Record first impressions using camera, rubbing, sketches, tape recorder, note taking.
Stilling activity in the church (ethos)
Question and answer session with the vicar/church wardens/cleaners/ florists etc.
Raising questions about furniture/artefacts in different areas in the church – record on large sheets of paper in situ.
Role play of baptism with a doll, communion/blessing.
Compare and contrast experiences in the different churches visited.

5. Church Detectives Orienteering exercise around the church.
Photo search.
Treasure hunt in the church yard.
Make a plan of churchyard. Plot the graves, photograph each grave stone, make a rubbing, record the details of the occupant. Collect information together as a historical record.
Hunt for the things that no-one else might notice – what do these things show us about the church as a living building/community? (e.g. cleaning rota, flower arrangers, choir rehearsals, global links/ sponsorship evidence).

6. Behind the Building
Hunt for the things that no-one else might notice – what do these things show us about the church as a living building/community? (eg cleaning rota, flower arrangers, choir rehearsals, global links/ sponsorship evidence).
Question and answer session with the vicar/church wardens/cleaners/flower arrangers, organist etc. Who are you? What is your role in the church? Why are involved? How did you get involved? What difference do you make to the life of the church/community?
Stilling - Imagine the church without these people. What would it be like? What would be left? How would it make you feel? Is the church just a building?