Unit title	Year	Background notes
Why is a church building special for many Christians?	2	The title of the unit reflects the fact that the word ‘church’ really refers to a community of Christian believers. Some Christian communities have special buildings where they meet – church buildings. (Within the unit, a comparison is made with how people use the word ‘school’.) This unit is centred on a visit to a church building. Children are given opportunities to reflect on the atmosphere in a church and to explore the features of the building. The unit builds on the exploration of Christian baptism/christening in the Year 1 unit on Belonging. Teachers are advised to make a preliminary visit to the church building and, if possible, to arrange for members of the congregation to be there when the children visit. It is important to remember that there is great variety amongst church buildings: a Methodist church building will be much plainer than a Roman Catholic, for example. A Quaker meeting house will be very plain indeed. Link with QCA Unit 1F, What can we learn from visiting a church? and 2F, Visiting a place of worship. The BBC Eggshells and Thunderbolts video shows a teacher carrying out a reflection activity within a church building. For more about such ‘stilling’ exercises, see Don't Just do Something: Sit There by Mary Stone (1997, RMEP, ISBN 185175105X).

Key questions	Concept/s	Learning outcomes	Suggested activities	Resources
What is a church?	Special place Symbol Holy Community	To understand that a church is a special place for many Christians To be able to express their expectations of what a church might look like and its purpose To understand that the most important thing about a church is the people To be able to talk about how the church is part of the local community	· Each child draws their own first impression of what a church looks like on a folded piece of A4 paper. At the bottom, they can add any words that come into their head when they hear the word 'church' · Compare all the pictures and decide as a class if any common features have been shown eg cross on top, churchyard · Keep the pictures to refer back to at the end of the unit · Show different photographs of churches which may be different from pupils' expectations (eg new buildings, buildings in other parts of the world, Quaker meeting house, a hall, cathedral, chapel) and explore what links all these places · Introduce the idea that, in the same way as a school is made up of the people in it, so too the ‘church’ is made up of the people who are part of it and share special things in common · Drawing from the children’s own experiences when possible, talk about the different kinds of activities that take place in church buildings eg christenings, weddings, worship, harvest festivals, community events (Guides, fetes, meetings etc) · Find pictures of churches using ICT or resource books	Scholastic Curriculum Bank, Bk 1, pp88-90 My Christian Faith by Alan Brown (Evans Bros, ISBN 0237518953) Christian Church by Alan Brown & Alison Seaman (A & C Black, ISBN 071365497X)
How should we behave on a visit to a church?	Respect Rules Courtesy	To understand that visiting a building like a church requires certain behaviour To be able to link this behaviour with concepts like respect	· Discuss why it is important to behave especially well in a religious building · Find out if there are any places in the church that are especially holy for Christians and need special rules of behaviour (eg near the altar – if there is one) · Draw up some rules of conduct for visiting a church on a school trip, including do’s as well as don'ts and how to express thanks to people
What special features do we find in a church building?	Symbolism Care Respect Holy	To be able to recognise and describe some special features found inside a church building (For some) To be able to explain why those features are special for the people who go to the church	Note: This activity will be affected by the type of church building being visited · Show the children pictures of features which they can expect to see during their visit and talk about what they are used for eg altar, pulpit, lectern, stained glass windows, pews, font, organ, cross · Break class into letters, A-H. Each letter is told they have one of the key words eg A has altar. Play a game where the class moves around the room and when you say stop, they must explain their key word to the person closest to them · Alternatively, they could have a sheet with the key words shown in pictures and they have to find someone in the class who knows about the feature. When they find someone who can explain it to them, this person signs the part of the sheet with the feature on. The aim is to get as many features as possible ticked off. · During the trip to the church, children can identify these features, draw them and ask members of the congregation about them	BBC Pathways of Belief video: Christianity BBC Watch video: Beginnings
What thoughts and feelings come to me when I sit in a church building?	Reflection Spirituality Peace Feelings	To understand how the atmosphere in a church building can contribute to Christian worship To be able to reflect on their own feelings and senses in a church	· During the visit to the church, encourage pupils to use their senses to experience the atmosphere of the building, its smells, textures and colours. Photograph the children doing this · Children can quietly draw something that appeals to them in the church · They can sit in silence, taking in the atmosphere and then talk about their feelings and thoughts	Camera
What happens when Christians worship in a church building?	Worship Ritual God	To know some of the things that Christians might do when they worship	· Ask the priest/minister or member/s of the congregation to talk about what happens when Christians go to worship in the church building. This could include activities eg hearing the organ being played · Encourage the children to ask questions and to draw comparisons with their own experiences	Selection of Christian hymns and music Artefacts associated with worship (eg vestments)
What have we learnt from our visit?	Special	To know some of the ways in which a church building is special for Christians	· Children could produce a picture of a church based on their visit then compare it with their picture done at the start of the unit. This could lead to discussion about what makes the church building special to Christians · Children can make a class book or display of their visit or produce art work based on the features they have seen · They could draw a picture of something they were thinking about during reflection time in the church · They could write letters to the people who helped with the visit, thanking them and telling them what they learnt from it · The digital photos of their visit could be used to stimulate talk and written work

Glossary of Christian terms used in this planning grid

Altar	Many church buildings have an altar from which the priest leads worship. In some Christian groups, there is a far more simple communion table. Traditionally, the altar is at the eastern end of a church building.
Cathedral	A church building which is special because it is where a bishop is based. It contains his cathedra (Latin) – throne, special chair.
Chapel	A small Christian church building, or part of a larger church building (eg a chapel in a cathedral).
Cross	The traditional symbol of Christianity. There are many types of cross including the Maltese cross, Greek cross, Latin cross and crucifix
Crucifix	A cross with the figure of the crucified Christ upon it. This is the form of cross that will be found in Roman Catholic church buildings.
Font	A container on a stand which is used to hold water during baptisms/christenings. This will only be found in the church buildings of Christian communities that practise baptism.
Lectern	A stand for the Bible, the Christian holy book. Though very plain in some church buildings, in others it might be very ornate: a favourite symbol is of a golden eagle with wings outstretched and standing on a globe.
Methodist	A member of the group of Christians called the Methodist Church which began in the eighteenth century. Its founder was John Wesley (1703-1791).
Organ	Musical instrument which is played when Christians sing special songs, or for them to listen to during worship. In older churches, there might be a large organ with pipes. Cheaper, electronic organs are often found in newer buildings.
Pews	Seats where Christians sit when they meet for worship.
Priest	In some church groups, the person who is especially trained to lead worship and conduct church business. Whereas some Christian groups use the word priest (eg a Roman Catholic priest), in others the title minister is used instead (eg a Methodist minister). In other groups again, the title pastor (shepherd) is used.
Pulpit	A raised platform from which a priest or another person might give a sermon.
Quakers	Members of the ‘Religious Society of Friends’ which was founded by George Fox in the sixteenth century. There is no set order of Quaker worship and much of it takes place in silence.
Sermon	In many churches, a sermon – when a leader gives teaching, often based on the part of the Bible which has been read out – is an important part of worship.
Stained glass windows	Windows made from coloured glass which show scenes from stories that are special to Christians. In the days before most people could read, they were often used to help teach people about biblical and other stories.
Vestments	In some church communities, the special clothing that some people (eg the priest or minister, members of the choir) wear during worship. The shape and colour of vestments are often full of significance.