YEAR 8 SYLLABUS
4. CHRISTIANITY - LIFE AND TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST
Aims:
To appreciate the background out of which Christianity grew and to explore what Christians believe about Jesus Christ.
'Implicit' Ideas:
Value of each individual life; being human; love and self-sacrifice; authority of teaching and example; appeal to and use of natural phenomena to illustrate the spiritual; examples and consequences of faith; teachings of good/evil, right/wrong; vicarious suffering; parables and teachings have much to say about purpose, origins, destiny, human nature and identity; story, parable, allegory.
Concepts:
Implicit: authority; humanity; inspiration; worth; wonder; conscience; evil; goodness; temptation; disobedience; purpose; interpretation; symbolism; freedom; justice; sacrifice
Explicit: Kingdom of God; sacredness; Son of man; incarnation; Son of God; virgin birth; worship; devil; baptism; sin; the Beatitudes; sermon; parable; miracle; salvation; atonement; blasphemy; resurrection.
Content and Suggestions:
- Pupils to research and produce 'Tourist Information' pamphlets to provide insight into the Jewish and Roman background of Palestine at the time of the birth of Jesus - people, soldiers, customs, religion, money, buildings, writing, languages, places of interest and so on.
- The birth of Jesus. Two Gospel accounts. Design a 'Congratulations card' setting out some of the events of the first Christmas - according to the Gospels. Sort out traditional stories from what is actually in the Gospels.
- Prepare for next lesson - bring in any old Christmas cards.
- Christmas today - excellent radio programme to introduce topic. Examine the variety of non-Christian symbols and practices that are now part of the Christmas festivities. How have they been 'Christianised' by adapting the symbolism to Christian beliefs. Use Christmas cards to cut out and illustrate written work.
- John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus - significance of the act. Baptism today - refer back to 'Rites of Passage'.
- Beginning ministry. Kingdom of God. Discuss.
- The temptations. Nature of temptation - discuss from pupils' own experience. Is it wrong to be tempted? Giving in to temptation and resisting temptation. Why would it have been wrong for Jesus to have done the things He was tempted to do?
- Miracles - definition.
If video film 'Jesus' used, identify some - healings and other miracles.
Miracles and the Kingdom of God... significance.
Pupil task: "If you could perform three miracles what would you do and why? Compare your answers with the temptations of Jesus." Basis for group discussion and report.
- Parables. (from Greek for 'comparisons') Imagine - how to explain and describe colour to a blind man. What is the problem? Problems of conveying ideas about the Kingdom of God and associated ideas.
- Find out which parables pupils already know - Primary school, church etc. Discuss and research some parables from the NT. Investigate meanings. Compare with fables. Bear in mind that some parables are only a few words.
- Devise own parable about something relevant to us.
- Use investigative journalism style to research and report on the events in the last week of Jesus - from Palm Sunday to Easter. Provide
- framework of events and people (including the 12 disciples) on the blackboard/OHP.
- books, tapes, materials for research.
Report with Headlines, columns, 'photographs', witness accounts, opinions, viewpoints of various parties (particularly on the issue of the Resurrection).
The Radio News tapes can provide a useful example of how to go about reporting.
- The last 50 minutes of the 'Jesus' video is about the Last Week in the life of Jesus.
- Could have a class debate on 'The Resurrection'.
- Evaluation of the Christian belief and Biblical account of the Life of Jesus Christ. Importance of Easter for Christians.
Time:
About 7 weeks
Resources:
Jesus (Doney) Books
Jesus (Aylett) Books
Jesus the Nazarene (tatty but useful) Books
The Man from Nazareth Book
Founder of Christianity Tape/filmstrip
Christmas Cassette tape
Steps Towards Christmas Cassette tape
Is Christianity True? Cassette tape
The Man From Nazareth - Jewish b/gr Cassette tape
The Man From Nazareth - Roman b/gr Cassette tape
The Man From Nazareth - The Twelve Cassette tape
Temptations of Jesus Cassette tape
Parables of Jesus Cassette tape
Miracles of Jesus the Healer Cassette tape
Beatitudes (Frank Topping) Cassette tape
Gospel Road (Musical) Cassette tape
Jesus of Nazareth - Vocation Cassette tape
Jesus of Nazareth - Conflict Cassette tape
The Jesus Programmes - 10 Radio News Cassette tape
People in the Gospels 1 Cassette tape
People in the Gospels 2 Cassette tape
How the Gospels were Written Cassette tape
Christmas (Pagan and other customs) Cassette tape
Jesus in His Time Tape/filmstrip
Christianity 57 slides
Jesus of Nazareth 144 slides
Jesus' Temptation OHP slide
Jesus (based on Luke) VHS
Jesus of Nazareth (Part 4) (Zeffirelli) VHS
Jesus (David Watson - 12 progs) VHS
The Passion of Christ VHS
Jesus (Animated story) VHS
Christmas Customs Poster
The Story of Jesus Posters
Bibles NEB & NIV
Resource Box of Books Various
Investigating Christianity CD-ROM
Sources of Faith CD-ROM
Sources of Faith CD-ROM
Assessment:
- Knowledge of outline of life of Jesus as presented by the Gospels, particularly birth, last week, death, resurrection and ascension. Some aspects from teaching and ministry.
- Understanding of Christmas and Easter celebrations and importance to Christians.
- Knowledge of some parables and teachings of Jesus
- Understanding the influence the life of Jesus has had, especially for this country.
- Evaluation of the significance of some of His teaching.
- Understanding what Christians believe about Jesus and what He has done.
Variety of project-type and written tasks involving research, use of Bibles, videos, tapes, discussion etc.
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