THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION

THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY & RELIGION CURRICULUM

Theology, Philosophy and Religion (TPR) provides children with the opportunity to think about the “Big questions” in life and to consider the answers that have been given to these by people of different religious faiths through the centuries. From the earliest years, children are naturally curious about questions concerning life, death, and belief and TPR gives them another vocabulary with which to express, discuss and develop their views.

TPR at South Lee aims to:

Develop in children a reflective understanding of values. TPR helps children to think critically and to understand the moral values and choices that they make.
Provoke challenging questions about the meaning of life and give children an opportunity and language with which to explore these questions.
Help children to understand different viewpoints and to respect each other, showing kindness and interest in the beliefs of others. It helps children to understand religion as an important way of expressing and understanding human experience.
Enable children to explore their own sense of identity and belonging.
Help children to understand the world in which we live.
Foster a range of learning skills, including philosophical thought, decision making skills, collaboration, independent working skills, the search for compromise and conflict resolutions that work, skills of dialogue, interpretation, and analysis in a coherent context.

Pre-Prep

Year 1

Key Skills Include:

Know and respond to religious stories
Talk about special objects, places, people and festivals
Understand some simple religious vocabulary
Recognize some religious symbols
Know some key Christian beliefs

Develop a sense of curiosity and interest in the world
Develop awareness of right and wrong
Describe things that are important to them, including relating their experiences to characters in religious stories
Ask a range of questions about puzzling aspects of life and experience and suggest answers

Topics Include:

Christianity
Churches
Harvest
Christmas
Jesus’ Stories

The Last Supper
Celebrations

Year 2

Key Skills Include:

Know and respond to religious stories
Talk about special objects, places, people and festivals
Understand some simple religious vocabulary
Recognize some religious symbols
Know some key Christian beliefs

Develop a sense of curiosity and interest in the world
Develop awareness of right and wrong
Describe things that are important to them, including relating their experiences to characters in religious stories
Ask a range of questions about puzzling aspects of life and experience and suggest answers

Topics Include:

Christianity
The Early life of Jesus
The Parables of Jesus
To learn what miracles are
Hinduism

Buddhism

Year 3

Key Skills Include:

Examine reasons for happenings in religious stories and discuss the emotions of the characters
Relate religious stories to their own experiences and feelings

Discuss and describe key religious ideas from stories and some basic religious beliefs, teachings and events
Describe some religious people using religious words
Ask questions to which there are no universally agreed answers and suggest possible answers, including religious ones
Understand that people have different opinions and beliefs and treat all beliefs and opinions with respect
Identify the effects of actions on others

Topics Include:

Hinduism / Nativity
Islam / Easter
Sikhism / Judaism

Prep

Year 4

Key Skills Include:

Examine reasons for happenings in religious stories and discuss the emotions of the characters · Relate religious stories to their own experiences and feelings
Discuss and describe key religious ideas from stories and some basic religious beliefs, teachings and events

Describe some religious people using religious words
Ask questions to which there are no universally agreed answers and suggest possible answers, including religious ones
Understand that people have different opinions and beliefs and treat all beliefs and opinions with respect
Identify the effects of actions on others and understand that personal beliefs and experiences can influence their attitudes and actions

Topics Include:

Buddhism / Christianity
People of Faith / Food & Fasting
Pilgrimage / Bible

Year 5

Key Skills Include:

Discuss the significance of some religious beliefs, practices, teachings and events for members of faith communities
Ask questions and suggest own answers about the significant experiences of others, including religious believers
Explain their own ideas and beliefs in relation to a range of ultimate questions, explaining what inspires and influences them
Show respect for the different opinions and beliefs and treat all beliefs and opinions with respect

Compare and contrast different religious beliefs, practices and opinions

Topics Include:

Expressions of faith
Faith in Action
Pilgrimage

Year 6

Key Skills Include:

Develop understanding and tolerance of the beliefs and opinions of others
Ask questions and suggest own answers about the significant experiences of others, including religious believers

Explain their own ideas and beliefs in relation to a range of ultimate questions and explain why there are differences between their own and other people’s ideas
Express their own and respond to other people’s values and commitments in the light of their learning
Discuss what is involved in belonging to a faith community in terms of practices and lifestyles

Topics Include:

Living a Faith – Christian and Buddhist beliefs and practices

Ideas about God: One God, Many gods, no gods,
Easter
Pentecost

Year 7 and 8

Key Skills Include:

Relate the content of passages to contemporary issues
Express opinions about religious stories, beliefs and practices
Use religious texts to help to answer ultimate questions
Consider and discuss the influence of religious beliefs, values and traditions

Discuss and consider religious and other responses to moral questions
Use specialist religious vocabulary in discussion and argument
Describe, analyse and explain the relevance and application of religious ideas and practices, and issues arising from the study of religion and foundational texts;
Be able to give a written argument that reflects an understanding of different opinions and leads to a conclusion
Give reasons and examples, including religious ones, for opinions expressed

Year 7 Topics Include:

God's Relationship with the World 
Human Responses to God
Christian Practices and Ceremonies

Year 8 Topics Include:

Philosophy
Ethics
The New Testament
Theology – God’s relationship with the world