Planning RE using the Mind Friendly Framework for Learning

ENCOUNTER

Connect to previous learning: What do I already know? What do I want to know?

What do we know about giving gifts? What makes a special gift?

The Big Picture: What will I be finding out or learning about?

Why do we give gifts at Christmas?

Learning intentions: to know, to be able to do, to understand

To learn about the Wise Men giving gifts to the baby Jesus.
To think about what gifts people give to babies and why.

Achievable steps: What are we going to do? How are we going to do it?

We are going to listen to the story of the birth of Jesus, with special thinking about the gifts the Wise Men brought. Then we are going to talk about the kinds of gifts people give to babies, and why we give those particular things.

We are going to reflect on the fact that giving and receiving gifts are important in Christianity and that Jesus was God’s gift to people. You will be able to choose a way of making a gift for a baby through artwork, music, writing and dance.

Teacher input: engaging the learner and encouraging thinking through visual, auditory and kinaesthetic cues

• Read an extract from Disney’s version of “Sleeping Beauty” about the baby princess’s christening and the gifts that the fairies gave to her.
• Talk about the kinds of gifts people give to babies and why.
• Think about how the fairies gifts were “special”. Do you think they were good gifts? Why?”
• Discuss “invisible gifts” through sharing the story of “Badger’s Party”.
• Listen to the story about the birth of Jesus, with special thinking about the gifts the shepherds and Wise Men brought. Could watch the video ‘Lion for a King’ as an alternative.
• Talk about why the shepherds and Wise Men gave these gifts – were they suitable for a baby?
• What presents do we like, and do we like giving or receiving best?
• Look at a box of presents. Pass the gifts around and decide whether they are suitable to give to a baby or not.
• Listen to some music and decide which is more appropriate for a baby.
• What presents would you give to a baby?
• Brainstorm ideas.
• Discuss why Christians give gifts and how this makes them feel.
• Extension – Discuss Jesus being God’s gift.

RESPONSE

Main activity: children explore the learning and establish meaning through activities which take account of multiple intelligences.

• Make certificates for friends/family and crackers with promises inside (as invisible gifts)
• Make some music to help a baby go to sleep.
• Make up a song to sing to a baby.
• Create a dance for a baby.
• Make a card to give to a baby.
• Write a story or poem to read to a baby.
• Draw/paint a picture or make a collage to put into a baby’s room.
• Design and make a toy suitable to give to a baby.

Show you know: practise, rehearse and memorise key points. What have I learned?

• Each group show what gifts they would give to a baby and explain why the baby would like them. Would they have given any of these presents to baby Jesus?

Reflection: How did I learn? What do I need to know next?

• Think about why it is important to give gifts to others, and how their presents would differ from those of the Wise Men.