Collective Worship Resource


All Change (2): Changing through learning

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AGE: Infants and Juniors

THEME: All Change (2): Our lives change as we learn to do different things. Once we have learned to do something we can't unlearn it - we are transformed by the experience.

BACKGROUND:
For Christians, there is a conviction that God is actively involved in changing and transforming the world. Creation is not an event from the past; it is a continuing process. As human beings we change and develop all the time. The process of change can be very slow and gradual - almost unnoticed. On the other hand, change can be very obvious, transforming our lives and the lives of those around us. In this act of collective worship the focus is on the way in which learning can make a big difference in our lives.

PREPARATION:
Ask a child and an adult to prepare a brief description or, if practical, a very short demonstration, of something they have been learning to do recently, for example, it could be learning to ride a bike, to swim, to count in tens, to use the internet, to play a musical instrument.

SUGGESTED APPROACH:
Discuss with the pupils some of the joys and challenges of learning new skills. Ask them to think of some of the skills they have learned, or are continuing to learn, over the last few months.

Ask the child and adult (see Preparation) to present their demonstration of the new skill they have recently acquired. Then discuss how learning changes us, for example, you could use some of these questions.
  • What difference do new skills make to pupils' lives?
  • Do pupils enjoy learning new skills?
  • Is it easy?
  • What is the most difficult skill the pupils have learned?
The great religions of the world, and their teachers, remind us that throughout our lives we continue to learn and change and we should always be ready both to teach and to learn. Can the pupils remember a time when they have been able to teach their teachers? Encourage the pupils to consider some of the ways in which we are all teachers and some of the ways in which we are all learners.

Christians recognise Jesus as the greatest teacher and try to follow his example by remembering that throughout our lives, we all teach and we all learn.

PRAYER:
God of wisdom and grace
Give us all
Ears which are eager to listen
Eyes which are quick to see
Hands which are sure to do
And hearts that are always open to learn more of your love
Amen

READING:
In the final section of his letter to the Philippians, St Paul encourages them to set a good example in the way they lead their lives so that others can learn from this. Philippians 4: 8 - 9

MUSIC:
Mother Teresa taught her followers to use The Peace Prayer daily. The words, adapted from The Upanishads by Satish Kumar, and made into a song, can be found in Come and Praise 2, pub. BBC Education, number 140. This can be sung in two groups with one group echoing the tune and words of the other.

OTHER RESOURCES:
Encounter Christianity is a series of books for pupils to use in RE lessons at Key Stage 1 and 2 and is published by the National Society. The Key Stage 2 Big Book explores many different ideas about change and transformation and places these within a Christian context. There is an accompanying website with support materials for teachers including lesson plans for every page in each of the books.
www.encounterchristianity.co.uk

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Copyright © Culham Institute 2000-2012