​Religious Education at Holy Family consists of two distinct but complementary dimensions, namely an educational dimension and a faith formation dimension. The first dimension, most commonly referred to as the classroom teaching and learning of religion, is focused on Religious Education. The content of formal Religious Education lessons is guided by the Archdiocesan Religious Education Curriculum. The second dimension, Faith Formation, is reflected in the Religious Life of the School, family and parish. The Religious Education Curriculum for the Archdiocese of Brisbane acknowledges that the educational dimension and the faith formation dimension are inextricably linked. The classroom teaching of religion is one element in a complex web of experiences that have the potential to nurture the faith life of young people.

At Holy Family Religious Education aims to ‘develop students’ religious literacy in the light of the Catholic tradition, so that they may participate critically and effectively in the life of their faith communities and wider society. This aim promotes the development of knowledge, skills and values which students need to participate as active lifelong learners within church and community contexts. Students are actively involved in constructing understandings of the Catholic tradition as well as acknowledging other religious traditions, the nature of religion and its place in life and Australian society. This learning area has been organised into four strands: 

Through these strands students engage in learning which describes the understandings of the knowledge, skills, technologies and processes specific to Religious Education.

The following topics or content areas are explored and developed within each year level. Further information regarding classroom content is distributed to parents via class letters each term.

In Prep, students learn about some Old Testament and New Testament stories that tell of a God of love, the creator of all, the goodness of God’s creation, God’s special relationship with all of creation and God’s plan that people help each other to live safely and happily together, for the good of all.

 

Students listen to, read and view stories of and about Jesus in the Gospels that tell of Jesus’ life as a Jew, his mother Mary, his friends and family; of Jesus praying and teaching others to pray; of his teachings about love, compassion and forgiveness that challenged people about the way they were living; and of his suffering, death and resurrection. They learn that Christians believe God created people with the freedom to choose between good and bad, right and wrong. They explore examples of times, from familiar texts and their personal experience, when people make these choices.

 

Students understand that prayer helps believers follow the teachings of Jesus; to live according to God’s plan. They learn about ways in which believers pray, either alone or with others, including the Sign of the Cross and Amen. They observe ways in which believers pray together during special celebrations and rituals that mark important times in the life of believers and in the Church year. They learn about the Church building as a sacred place for believers and the Bible as a sacred book for believers.

 

In Year 1, students explore the Christian teaching that all people are created in God’s own image, with dignity and natural rights. They learn about living in accordance with God’s plan for all creation: living safely and happily in community and in loving relationship with God, with a responsibility to care for all creation and using God’s gift of freedom to make choices responsibly. They engage with a variety of Old Testament texts to learn about God’s presence in the lives of individuals and communities and make connections to their own experiences. They explore the words, actions and symbols used in the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist to communicate God’s presence and action. They learn about the different roles in the local parish community.

 

Students learn about the nature of Jesus’ mission and ministry. They explore aspects of Jewish daily life at the time of Jesus. They listen to, view and read accounts from different Gospels of key events, places and characters in the life of Jesus and explore similarities and differences in these accounts. They explore the many ways in which Mary, Mother of Jesus, is honoured by Christians past and present and develop their understanding of the Hail Mary, a Catholic prayer honouring Mary. Students understand that prayer was an important part of Jesus’ life and is important in the lives of believers. They continue to learn about ways in which believers pray, either alone or with others.

 

In Year 2, students learn about aspects of God’s nature and God’s relationship with people, as they engage with a variety of New Testament texts depicting the teachings and actions of Jesus and Old Testament texts that describe God’s relationship with the Jewish people. They explore contextual information about the first century Mediterranean world, to better appreciate the life and times of Jesus. They learn about Jesus’ mission and ministry and explore ways in which Jesus’ teachings and actions continue to guide the life of the Church community today. They explore, recognise and appreciate the history of a parish community as it is revealed in many ways.

 

Students learn about the sacredness of all creation, especially human life; the call to be co-creators and stewards of God’s creation; and the responsibility to pursue peace and justice out of respect for human life and all creation. They develop their understanding of the loving relationship God unconditionally offers to people; and their understanding of sin, as evident in the free choices that harm the individual and their loving relationships with God, with others and with all creation. They explore ways in which believers seek to heal these relationships through reconciliation and prayer. They investigate ways in which believers celebrate reconciliation with God and with others in the Sacrament of Penance.

 

Students examine ways in which prayer and the wisdom of the saints help believers to nurture their loving relationships with God, with others and with all creation. They develop their understanding of prayer in the Christian tradition through an exploration of prayer for forgiveness (acts of contrition and Penitential Act) and meditative prayer.

 

In Year 3, students develop their understanding of God’s relationship with people as individuals and as community, and the presence and action of God in daily life experiences, as they engage with a variety of texts (including key stories from the Torah, images of God used in Old Testament texts, and the wisdom of prayers attributed to the saints). They develop an appreciation of the order and harmony of creation. They learn about the cultural contexts in which the Gospels were written and the text types used in the New Testament to develop their understanding of the life and teaching of Jesus and the Christian belief that Jesus is the Messiah. 

 

Students develop an appreciation of the Scriptures as a basis for Christian moral living, including respect for basic human rights and acknowledgement of responsibilities, in particular to the poor and disadvantaged. They develop an appreciation of the collaboration of clergy, religious and laity as they learn about significant features of a parish and diocese, past and present. They learn about the significance of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) for the Church community. They investigate prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of praise, including psalms and doxologies, to facilitate an appreciation of the significance of these forms of prayer for Christians. 

In Year 4, students develop their understanding of God’s Word in Scripture as they use the Bible’s referencing system to locate books, people, places and things in the Bible and engage with a variety of books and text types in the Old Testament and New Testament. They listen to, read, view and interpret Scriptural passages that express God as Father, as Son and as Holy Spirit, to learn about the Christian belief that God, as Trinity, is relational in nature.

 

Students begin to appreciate the significance of community for Christians: of living in loving relationship with God, others and all of creation. They develop their understanding of community through an exploration of different texts, including the Decalogue and the writings of St Paul, and the experiences of different communities, including Jewish communities in first century Palestine, early Church communities in Australia (c.1788 CE - c.1850 CE) and contemporary parishes and dioceses. They examine how free choices result in actions that affect the individual and their community. They broaden their understanding of the significance of the Sacraments for Church communities through an exploration of the Sacraments of Healing, including Anointing of the Sick and Penance. They examine prayers of blessing, petition and intercession to facilitate an appreciation of the significance of these forms of prayer for Christian communities.

 

In Year 5, students begin to appreciate the significance of community for sharing and strengthening the faith of believers, past and present, including the Church in the Australian colonies (c.1850 CE - c.1900 CE). Using a range of Biblical tools, they begin to see how the Gospel writers shaped their Gospels for particular communities. They learn about the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers as they engage with a variety of texts, including Scriptural references to the Holy Spirit and the Catholic Rite of Confirmation. They develop their understanding of Christian charity and informed moral choice through an exploration of the experiences of individuals and communities, past and present. They broaden their appreciation of the significance of personal and communal prayer and worship (including the Eucharist, the Psalms, Sabbath rituals and prayers); and the wisdom of the Saints (including St Mary of the Cross MacKillop) for communities of believers. They learn about the significance of Marian prayers (including the Hail Mary, the Rosary and the Litany of Mary of Nazareth) in which believers praise God and entrust cares and petitions to Mary as mother of Jesus and mother of the Church.

In Year 6, students are introduced to the Christian understanding of faith and the term ‘communion of saints’. They develop their understanding of the many ways in which faith is lived out and celebrated in the lives of believers past and present. They learn about the contexts and key messages of some Old Testament prophets and the contribution of some key people (laity, religious and clergy) to the shaping of the Church in Australia (c. 1900 CE to present). They understand the significance of Jesus’ New Law for the way believers live their faith, including an exploration of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. They develop their understanding of the role of celebrations in the faith life of believers, including the commemoration of High Holy Days by Jewish believers and the Church’s liturgical celebrations (including the Eucharist). They develop their understanding of prayer in the Christian tradition through an exploration of the Our Father, The Examen, and meditative prayer practices including prayer journaling.

 

They are introduced to the Church teaching that the Holy Spirit guided the formation of the New Testament. Using a range of Biblical tools, they engage with a variety of Scriptural texts that describe Jesus’ relationship with God the Father and with humanity and proclaim Jesus as fulfilling all of God’s promises in the Old Testament.