Unit Overview

This unit presents Mark’s account of ‘Jesus and the Children’. Through this story children can experience Jesus as one who welcomes, loves and includes them. In this story children are valued. They are people who enjoy a relationship with Jesus as part of God’s family. The concepts of welcome and belonging are explored, as the children are welcomed into and belong to many groups. Most importantly, they belong to God’s family. The unit introduces Baptism as the sacrament, whereby we are initiated and welcomed into the Church community. The unit presents the key symbols and rituals used in the Rite of Baptism. The unit finally explores how the Holy Spirit, given to us at Baptism, helps us to live as baptised members of the Church.

Download Support Document

Enduring Understanding

Through Baptism, we are initiated and welcomed into God’s family.

Objectives

A student will

value and appreciate and become aware of their religious identity and their spiritual heritage; appreciate the richness of the tradition and the need for community; be open to participation in the mission of the Church
develop an understanding of the nature and mission of the Church, both local and universal, and its history and teachings from its beginning to the present
analyse and communicate informed viewpoints on the nature and mission of the Church; review their experience in the light of its teachings; evaluate their participation in its undertakings

Outcomes

A student

appreciates that through Baptism, we are initiated and welcomed into God’s family. (RECVB1)
identifies key symbols and rituals of the Sacrament of Baptism. (RECKB1)
identifies Catholic Organisations that help those in need. (RECSB1)

Essential Questions

How do we know we are welcomed and that we belong?
How are we welcomed into the Church community through the Sacrament of Baptism?
How do we live as baptised members of the Church?

Learning Focus, Statements of Learning & Course Content

Students recognise how Jesus’ love welcomes them into the Church community by

- exploring groups they belong to.
- Recognise how we all belong to different groups:
  ○ family
  ○ Parish
  ○ school
  ○ other
- Define the terms ‘welcome’ and ‘belong’ and describe the characteristics associated with the different groups we belong to.
- Explore the concepts of welcoming and belonging and identify feelings associated with each.
- exploring Scripture.
- Explore Mark 10:13-16 Jesus and the Children (Storytelling approach).
- Read KWL Book 1 Chapter 10 p74-77 Jesus and the Children and identify how Jesus welcomed the children.

Students explore Baptism by

- understanding that receiving the sacrament is the way we become part of the Church family.
- Define Baptism as the sacrament whereby we become children of God and when we are initiated and welcomed into the Church family
- Understand that Christians belong to God’s family through Baptism.
- Explore Baptism (Storytelling approach).
- Explore the symbols used in the Sacrament of Baptism:
  ○ water
  ○ Oils of Catechumens and Chrism
  ○ white garment
  ○ Paschal candle
  ○ Baptismal candle
- Explore the rituals used in the Sacrament of Baptism:
  ○ welcomed by the Priest
  ○ listen to the Word of God
  ○ Oil of Catechumens is signed with a cross on the chest
  ○ pouring water from the font onto the forehead as the words of the Priest are spoken “(Name)………… I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
  ○ lighting of the Baptism candle from the Paschal Candle
- Explore the role of parents and Godparents in Baptism.
- Recognise how anyone at any age can be baptised.
- Explore Isaiah 43:1 I have called you by name, you are mine and recognise that when we are baptised, we are called and claimed by God.

Students recognise what it means to live as baptised members of the Church by

- recognising that the Holy Spirit lives in us.
- Explore KWL Baptism posters and identify when we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit during the Sacrament of Baptism.
- Recognise that the Holy Spirit lives in us and helps us to nurture our relationship with God and others.
- exploring how we build our parish community.
- Explore how we pray together as a community for a variety of reasons.
- Explore how we attend Mass as a parish community and give praise and thanks to God through the gift of the Eucharist.
- Explore how people connect in the parish community by helping and caring for others.
- exploring Catholic organisations that help people in need.
- Recognise Caritas Australia and the St Vincent de Paul Society as organisations that work to support people who are in need both locally and globally.
- Celebrate a prayer service using KWL Book1 Chapter 10 Jesus and the Children and Isaiah 43:1, reflecting on how through Baptism, we are called and claimed by God; to live with the Holy Spirit in us, as baptised members of the Church.

Compulsory Scripture

Unit Content 1:
Mark 10:13-16 Jesus and the Children
Unit Content 2:
Isaiah 43:1 I have called you by name, you are mine

Storytelling

Unit Content 1
Mark 10:13-16 Jesus and the Children

Unit Content 2
Baptism

Church Documents

Catechism of the Catholic Church

543 – Everyone is called to enter the kingdom. First announced to the children of Israel, this messianic kingdom is intended to accept people of all nations. To enter it, one must first accept Jesus’ word:
The word of the Lord is compared to a seed which is sown in a field; those who hear it with faith and are numbered among the little flock of Christ have truly received the kingdom. Then, by its own power, the seed sprouts and grows until the harvest. (Lumen Gentium 5)
1267 – Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: ‘Therefore … we are members of one another.’ Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: “For by one Spirit we have all been baptised into one body.”
1278 – The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
1282 – Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptised in the faith of the Church. Entry into Christian life gives access to true freedom.

Australian Curriculum
Cross Curriculum Priorities		The General Capabilities
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures		Critical and creative thinking
	Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia		Ethical understanding
	Sustainability		Information and communication technology capability
Other important learning identified by the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA):			Intercultural understanding
	Civics and citizenship		Literacy
	Difference and diversity		Numeracy
	Work and enterprise		Personal and social capability

B1 – Baptised into the Church Community