R.E. Engagement & Sensory Curriculum - Introduction
Lesson Intent
Lessons stimulate student learning by accessing elements of Religious Education through a multi-sensory experience and approach. Suitable for learners working Step1-7, it can also be used with learners working at Step * as a bridge to more formal learning and engagement.
Lessons should encourage early independence skills, in particular choice making, supporting learners to develop their ability to communicate preferences. Learners should also be developing early cognition skills.
Lesson Implementation
The nature of the Engagement Curriculum means that students are delivered the same lesson over a 5 or 6 week period, with only minor alterations in delivery or presentation of resources, in response to student learning. It is expected that students will demonstrate learning through anticipation, consistent responses and through communicating choices. In order to monitor this and allow students to develop these skills lessons follow the format below;
- Week 1 – Introduction | Assessment
- Week 2/3 – Familiarisation
- Weeks 3/4-5 -Consolidation and Extension
- Week 6 – Assessment
Lesson - Worship
All learners will need adult support to access this lesson. Each section will have a explanation of the sorts of resources you can use and how to support your learner to access them. Keeping a note of how your learner responds to each stimuli will help you to understand how they communicate their likes and dislikes, it will also show if they are consistent with their responses and engagements.
To cue learners into our RE lessons we use the music track below (Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy) whilst handing around a lit candle (we also dim the lights and display a lit candle on our IWB)
This term we are exploring Religious Festivals, we are using our auditory, visual and tactile senses to do this.
W.A.L.T. To experience different auditory, visual and tactile stimuli that are associated with religious worship
Call to Worship - Bells
Some Christian churches use bells to call the local community to worship. Different tunes are played to represent different occassions such as morning prayers, services and weddings. Listen to the church bells in the video below.
Explore a bell (any hand bell, jingle bell will do) using your sense of touch – explore it’s shape, texture and weight.
Call to Worship - Adhan
In many faiths a song can be used as a call to worship. The adhan is an Islamic call to prayer which is recited by the muezzin at different times during the day. Listen to the adhan on the video below.
Can you vocalise like the muezzin?
Songs
In many religions songs are used to reflect thoughts and feelings about their God or as praise. These can be sung as collective worship (lots of peopple), a choir or an indivdual. Often instruments are used. The video below show some examples of different types of worship using instruments and songs. Which is your favourite?
If you have a musical instrument such as a guitar, banjo or drum explore it through touch. Feel it’s shape and weight. Can you produce your own sounds using the instrument?
Prayer & Meditation
Prayer and meditation are important aspects of worship for a number of different religions. Hindus believe meditation helps them connect with the devine on a spiritual level. Meditation can include chanting verses or prayers, it can also include breath control or body postures.
Some people use particular sounds to help them meditate – these can include natural sounds and sounds utiling natural elements such as wind, for example wind chimes. Listen to the chimes in the video below
Explore a wind chime through touch – explore its shape and texture and explore how it moves. Run you fingers through the windchime and see if you can create sounds.
Choice Making | Independent Learning
Students are offered the opportunity to choose and explore their favourite resources further.
Concluding the lesson
What have you done well
This is an opportunity to share successes and celebrate progress made during the lesson. This can be in the form of staff or peer communication or by showing video of learners achievements recorded during the lesson
The lesson then ends with another song (Eva Cassidy, Autumn Leaves) during which students are given time to independently reflect or rest