By engaging in the reflective exercises, students not only consolidate their learning but also develop metacognitive skills, deepen their understanding of Catholicism, and cultivate a habit of lifelong learning and critical inquiry.
Background reading
What is the purpose of the RE classroom in a secular world? (Eureka Street)
Worksheets for teachers and students
Watch
Activity instructions
First, create a KWL chart for yourself in response to these questions:
· What do you know about your students, their beliefs, their background and their knowledge of Catholicism?
· What do you what to know more about?
· How are you going to find this out? How are you going to fill the gaps in their knowledge, while still fulfilling the requirements of your school work program or scope and sequence. How are you going to keep them in engaged while you do that?
Then survey your students using a KWL chart (scroll down in the link).
· What do you know about Catholicism?
· What do you want to know more about?
· How are you going to find that out? Does it have to be in the RE classroom, or can you find your answers elsewhere?
Strategy design
Design your strategy to help students learn more about Catholicism in response to their replies. Some inspiration for your strategy:
Exit tickets: Pop them in a jar at the start of the term and then answer one question at the start of each lesson. This allows for students to ask questions privately and for you to control which ones you choose to answer and how you approach answering them. (Tip: make it fun, novel and engaging. Don’t just read the question and then offer a spoken answer. Incorporate it into your lesson, turn it into a prayer or reflection, call someone on Zoom to answer for you in front of the class, watch a video or Use a strategy like sketch to stretch).
Guest speaker: Invite the Head of RE, the chaplain or a religious to visit your classroom and hold a session similar to ‘You can’t ask that’ on ABC. Create a safe place for students to ask the questions they are too ashamed or embarrassed to ask. Give students a chance to prepare their questions in advance and set ground rules for conduct and respectful discussion on the day.
Interactive role-play: Encourage students to embody historical figures or fictional characters from biblical stories and engage in dialogue with each other. They can ask questions as if they were living in that era, seeking to understand the religious teachings and practices from various perspectives. This approach allows for immersive learning and fosters critical thinking about the context of religious teachings.
Digital scavenger hunt: Create a digital scavenger hunt where students search for answers to basic questions about Catholicism through online resources, such as reputable religious websites, virtual tours of historical churches, or educational videos. They can work individually or in teams to find the answers and present their findings to the class. This activity not only encourages independent research but also familiarises students with using technology for religious education.
Artistic expression: Have students express their questions about Catholicism through creative mediums such as artwork, poetry, or music. They can illustrate their inquiries through visual representations, compose poems or songs that reflect their curiosity about specific religious concepts or practices, and then share and discuss their creations with the class. This approach allows for introspection and interpretation of religious themes in a personal and expressive manner.
Reflect
Make sure students reflect on their learning.
Reflection questions for primary students:
· What was the most exciting thing you learned today about Catholicism? Did you find out anything that made you go, ‘Wow!’?
· How did the activities we did help you understand more about what Catholics believe and why they do certain things? Can you tell me one cool thing you learned?
· Which game or activity did you like the most? What made it fun for you?
· Do you still have any questions about Catholicism? What are you curious about?
· How do you think knowing more about Catholicism might change the way you think about people who believe differently from us? How could it make you a better friend or classmate?
Reflection questions for secondary students:
· What surprised you the most during the activities? Did anything challenge your preconceived notions or beliefs about Catholicism?
· How did the activities deepen your understanding of the historical, cultural, or theological aspects of Catholicism?
· Which activity do you feel was most effective in helping you grasp basic concepts about Catholicism, and why?
· What questions or uncertainties do you still have about Catholicism after participating in the activities? How might you seek answers or further exploration?
· In what ways do you think your newfound understanding of Catholicism might influence your worldview or interactions with others?
Try incorporating these questions into journalling, group discussions, written reflections or creative projects (For instance, they could create multimedia presentations summarising their key learnings, compose reflective essays exploring the significance of their questions and discoveries, or produce artistic pieces inspired by their reflections on faith and spirituality).
Don’t forget to reflect on the experience yourself.
· What went well? What didn’t go well?
· What did you gain from the experience? What did your students gain?
· What will you do differently next time?
· What did you learn about Catholicism and your own spirituality?
· How do you feel about the experience overall? Was it valuable? Was it repeatable?