YEAR 7 SYLLABUS
5. THE BIBLE
Aims:
To give basic understanding of the nature of the book which is holy for Christians, noting especially the difference between Old and New Testaments. Knowledge of these things on the part of pupils cannot be assumed. To gain an outline idea of some of the more well known authors and what they wrote about and an understanding of its importance for Christians.
'Implicit' Ideas:
Source of authority; account of origins and purpose of life; revelation; moral values and code of behaviour; special types of literature, varying according to purpose.
Libraries - nature and purpose.
Could refer to special records of importance to individuals and within the experience of pupils: e.g. diaries; family records, including informal items such as family photograph albums, grandma's boasting book. Significance for now and later.
Translation and interpretation: cf. Work in E.U. politics.
Concepts:
Implicit: Inspiration, revelation, interpretation, truth, authority, wisdom, symbolism, communicating.
Explicit: scripture; parable, gospel, God, Word of God.
Content and Suggestions:
- The Bible Library - illustrated work. Different types of literature by different authors over a long time scale. Basic division into Old and New Testaments. Languages: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Show or give examples of each. Interesting aside may be to compile a quick blackboard list of English words which derive from Greek. Give a prefix such as mono- or micro- or a suffix such as -logy or -graph for starters. Other words include, of course, Bible, and those things which are all Greek to many pupils - history, geography, geology, economics, physics, biology, mathematics, drama, electronics, music and typing.
- Investigation of some of the more well-known writers of the Bible, what they wrote (quick survey to see how many Bible stories are known), and the materials they used. Could refer to special records of importance to individuals and within the experience of pupils: e.g. diaries; family records, including informal items such as family photograph albums, grandma's boasting book.
- How the Bible came to us in its present form:
- Jewish scrolls of the Law, Prophets and Writings. Letters of Paul and others; the Gospels etc. Inspiration of Bible... God's Word. Verse search game to familiarise with using Bible.
- Communicating the Bible - pictures, stained glass, story telling, plays - opportunity to perform? Two volumes of 10-minute "Miracle Plays" to use.
- Brief outline of work of Bible translating and reasons for it. Latin to modern versions in English, to versions in languages of all the world.
- Could produce an 'imaginative' piece of writing based on the "adventures" of Tyndale or similar.
- Importance and relevance of Bible for Christians .. e.g. Mary Jones, Corrie ten Boom, Lisa Vins.
Time:
6 weeks
Resources:
Founders of the Jews Books
How the Bible Came to Us Books
Ten-minute Miracle Plays Teachers' book
Ten-minute Miracle Plays for Easter Teachers' book
How the Bible Came to Us Radio Filmslides
Is the Bible True? Cassette Tape
The Bible Library Cassette Tape
Discovering the Bible Cassette Tape
Corrie ten Boom Cassette Tape
Mary Jones/ Sam Crowther Cassette Tape
World's Best Seller (Lisa Vins at end) Video (dated)
God's Outlaw (Tyndale) Video
John Wycliffe Video
Messages from the Message Banks Video (be selective)
Discovering the Bible (Parts 1 and 2) Video
Sacred Writings Video
Assessment:
- Knowledge of the divisions and origins of the Bible
- Awareness of some of its writers and what they wrote
- Knowledge of how, and understanding why, the Bible was transmitted to us in English and some of the problems associated with this.
- Understanding of the importance of the Bible for Christians and how they perceive its relevance.
- Beginning to form own opinion about the Bible.
Variety of research and information gathering tasks.
Model making... scrolls with ancient writing.
"Imagination" exercises.
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