Carnwath
Teaching RME in Nature – Some possibilities exploring prayer
Can an outdoor experience help the children to develop their understanding of prayer?
Session 1
Introduction: Using the Talking and Thinking mat to sit around – What do the children know about prayer? What are their experiences (if any) with prayer? Why do people pray? What would they like to find out about prayer? (Write down the children's responses to put in a Talking and Thinking Big Book about prayer)In the middle of the Talking and Thinking mat have photographs of people praying – individually and collectively. What things do the children notice/wonder about. Also have available some artefacts for the children to look at e.g. a prayer mat.
Session 2
Read book "Grandad's Prayers of the Earth" to the children. Discuss some of the things Grandad told the boy about prayer. Together record some of the things from nature that helped Grandad teach the boy about prayer. Can the children recall how they helped Grandad explain about prayer.
Session 3
Discuss making a visit to a place where we could have the opportunity to look at some of the things Grandad talked about. What kind of things would the place we visited have to have -e.g. trees, running water, stones etc.
Plan the visit together getting the children to contribute their ideas on what clothes would be suitable, what equipment we might take, what we might do, how we would stay safe etc.
During visit
Take 12 children in the morning (leave at 9:30 and return at 11:45 ) and 12 children in the afternoon (leave at 12:30 and return at 2:45) Divide children into 2 groups with rotating activities so they have the opportunity to reflect and discuss. Again take photographs/video and record children's responses so we can discuss these further when we are back in class.
These activities might include:
- An initial game to help the children see the fun of being in this place.
- Looking at the Bluebells and finding out about the life cycle of this plant which spends so much of it's time hidden underground as a bulb waiting for the right conditions for growth. (trying to help children see that endings and new beginnings are part of the natural order of all living things)
- A walk identifying and discussing some of the things Grandad talked about as well as responding to other discoveries the children make.
- A time to collect small "treasures" to display in a "Nature's showcase". e.g. small stones, feathers, cones etc
- Time to sit and listen to the sounds around us– noticing that when we take the time to be still and listen closely we find we hear much more. Some people say that as they are still and quiet in prayer they understand more about God.
- Focussing attention on the beauty around them by playing "Camera"
- And children recording the visit – again using video or the digital camera
- An opportunity to make a picture/model with some small items they find (or have already been provided) - this could be done back in class or as a temporary art activity with a photograph as a record.
- Collecting materials to make a "Woodland terrarium" back in class. Thinking about our responsibility to take care of the small creatures we might study.
- Find out more about the work people do to take care of the place we visit – What are some of the problems facing the animals, plants and how can people help?
- An opportunity towards the end of the visit for the children to come together for a "Circle Time". Have a small display in the middle of the circle which includes a lit candle. The children can share what they have done/noticed/enjoyed during the day. Each child can show the small items they have collected and say why they think they are special.
After the visit
We would want to spend more time reflecting on the experience and finding out more about prayer. We could listen to some of the prayers people have written about the world around them. The children could then have the opportunity to group write their own prayer. We could perhaps make a display to show what we have learned to the whole school – this could include our Big Book. We might also share our findings in a short assembly.
