Over the past two weeks, the children have been deepening their understanding of Christian beliefs and teachings through our RE unit focused on the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
We began by exploring the Ten Commandments, discussing what each one means and then ordering them by importance based on personal opinions. This led to some fascinating conversations about values, fairness, and moral choices. The children then considered moral dilemmas and discussed how a Christian might respond to these situations using the Ten Commandments as guidance.
Next, we learned about the Eight Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Through role-play activities, the children acted out real-life scenarios, and their classmates had to guess which Beatitude was being shown. The children showed great empathy and understanding in exploring how these teachings encourage kindness, humility, and compassion.
We also looked at the concept of “almsgiving” and what it means to give to those in need. The children compared wants and needs, linking this to the idea of generosity and helping others. A lively debate followed when the class discussed whether a pet is a want or a need, with some very passionate and well-reasoned arguments on both sides!
To bring all their learning together, the children reflected on how Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount continue to shape the choices and actions of Christians today. It has been a thoughtful and meaningful unit, full of reflection, discussion, and personal insight.
