RE Reception & KS1

The national curriculum states the legal requirement that: 'Every state-funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, and which:

  • promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils;
  • and prepares pupils at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

All state schools ... must teach religious education ...

"The RE curriculum is determined by the local Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), which is responsible for producing the locally agreed syllabus for RE. Agreed Syllabuses used in schools (maintained or academy), which are not designated with a religious character must ‘reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain’. Schools with a religious designation may prioritise one religion in their RE curriculum, but all schools must recognise diverse religions and systems of belief in the UK both locally and nationally." Copyright NATRE.

National Curriculum Framework for RE.

Our RE pages are designed to support the curriculum in non-faith schools. The curriculum varies according to the locally agreed syllabus and Faith schools will follow their own curriculum, so please check with your school. Additional RE resources can be found through the Worksheet Finder, including some resources on religions not covered in the curriculum. The worksheets on this page include outlines of the teaching and supporting activities to extend knowledge, understanding and interest. The layout follows the pre-2014 curriculum.

Reception

Unit RA What are harvest festivals?
Harvest Festival is a celebration of the food grown on the land during the year.

Harvest festival
Shavuot
The little red hen rebus story

Unit RB Who were the friends of Jesus?
Jesus had twelve special friends who travelled with him and helped spread the good news.

Disciples of Jesus
Zacchaeus
Mary and Martha
12 apostles quiz

Unit RC Who was Noah?
Noah obeyed what God told him to do and got busy building the Ark.

Noah's Ark story
Noah's ark activities
The story of Noah
The animals went in two by two

Key stage 1

Unit 1A What does it mean to belong? - Generic
We all belong to groups- our family, our class, our school and our church.

Belonging website
Belonging
Belonging to a religion
Belonging - people who care for me

Unit 1B What does it mean to belong in Christianity?
Baptism symbolises admission to the Christian Church.

Joining a religion
Dottie and Buzz - belonging
Belonging as Christians
Christian belonging

Unit 1C Celebrations - why do Christians give gifts at Christmas?
The Wise men giving gifts to the Infant Jesus are probably the source of our present day customs.

Saint Nicholas

Unit 1D Beliefs and practice - generic
There are many religious leaders. including Jesus Christ, the Pope, Buddha, and the Dalai Lama.

Religious artefacts
Leaders
Things you might find in a church
Church and chapel

Unit 1E How do Jewish people express their beliefs in practice?
Passover is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish year.

Hanukkah
Passover
Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah

Unit 1F What can we learn from visiting a church?
You might find a font, a pulpit, an altar pews and a bell tower.

Things you might find in a church
Church and chapel
Inside a church
Visiting a Catholic church

Unit 2A What is the Torah and why is it important to Jewish people?
The sacred writing of  the Jews is called Torah.

The Torah
Making a Torah scroll
Visiting a synagogue
Virtual tour of a synagogue

Unit 2B Why did Jesus tell stories?
Parables are stories Jesus told to his listeners.

The parables Jesus told
The Prodigal Son
Parables of Jesus
The stories Jesus told

Unit 2C Celebrations - generic
Harvest Festival, Halloween, Chinese New year are all celebrations.

Celebrations
Wedding service
My celebrations
Celebration

Unit 2D Visiting a place of worship - generic
Places of worship can be elaborate or ornate. Mosques, Cathedrals, Shrines, Temples or Chapels are all buildings where people worship.

Virtual tours of places of worship
Places of worship
Three places of worship
Places of worship - website

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