Christianity - Special Places – The Church
Why is the church an important place for Christians? What places are special to me?
Year 1 or Year1/2 on a two year rolling programme
Background Story/ Information
Christian churches can be very ancient or modern but they all display key features and symbols. The church is used for worship on Sunday but may also
be used for a range of activities during the week. Although the church building is important to Christians as a place where they come to worship God,
Christians regard the church as the body of all Christian people who follow the way of Jesus.
Cross Curricular Links
Art
Literacy
Science
Key Vocabulary
Church, worship, Christian, family, font, baptistery, lectern, altar, dove,
stained glass, Bible, sacred, holy.
Skills
Investigation, Interpretation, Communication
Attitudes
Respect, Appreciation, Wonder
Key Questions
Why is the church a holy building for Christians?
How does the church help people to know about Jesus and worship God?
What helps Christians feel they belong to the church?
Where do I belong?
Learning Objectives
Children will learn about
significant buildings and
their use in the local area.
Learn about the uses of the
church.
Possible Teaching/Learning Activities
Walk around your local area, ask the children to identify
significant buildings and their use. Take photographs, make
class book or display.
Look at some pictures or photographs of your local church
[either ones you have taken yourself or on a website]. Ask
children what they think the building is and what it is used
for?
Ask the children if/when they have visited a similar building
and about their experiences there. Make a display with
photographs e.g. Mark went to ‘a church when….’ From this
identify some different uses of the church building e.g.
weddings, baptism, playgroup, concert, etc…
Learning Outcomes
I can say why some
buildings are important in
our community.
I can say how people use
the church for different
purposes.
Resources
Visit www.saled.org for RE
links
www.request.org.uk
www.rexs.ucsm.ac.uk/re.places
Children will learn about the
church building.
Children will reflect on how
they feel in the church and
respond to the ideas of
others.
Children will learn about
some objects, symbols in
the Church that are
significant to Christians.
Prepare for a church visit or use a virtual tour. Before the
visit ask the church to provide some photographs of people
who help there and their role. ( might include photographs
of a child who attends the church)
Introduce a specific child, either real (as a member of the
congregation) or imagined (use persona doll or pictures, or
‘Sarah’s bag’ approach) and talk about the church as a
place where the child and their family belong.
Ask children to think of good questions to ask when they
visit the church and arrange for the vicar or a guide to be
present.
When in the church ask children to notice: - Smell, sound,
etc…
Special objects, symbols-Link these to Christian belief e.g.:
Cross- the sign of Jesus
Dove- the sign of God’s spirit
Font- where babies are welcomed into the church family
Baptistery- where adults receive baptism as Jesus did
Altar- Where bread and wine are shared (holy table)
Candles- symbol of Jesus, the “light of the world”
Lectern- Holds the big Bible that is read to the people.
I can ask and respond
sensitively to questions
about what happens in the
church.
CD rom – Mark’s Family
available from Gloucester
Diocese
01452 385217
I can talk about how I feel in
the church and listen to the
ideas of others.
I can recognise objects,
symbols in the church and
talk about their importance.
Use sense grid to indicate
what they can see, hear,
smell, touch in the church
and to draw a face
expressing what they feel
[with helper in groups]
Ask the children what helps the people in this church to
worship God?
Take some photographs and on return to school give pairs
of children some photographs to discuss ‘why is this an
important part of the church’ 
Children will talk about
special places and about
how people feel in these
places
Look back on comments children made about their feelings
in the Church. In what other places have they felt like this?
Draw a picture of a place that makes you feel as if you are
in a special place. Choose appropriate colours for the
drawing/mounting.
Discuss why the church building might be an important
place for Christians.
Photographs of the church
I can talk about special
places and draw my own
special place
Children will learn about
ways in which the church is
significant to Christians.
Children will consider the
communities to which they
belong
Explain that Christians feel they belong to the church family
when they meet. Where do you think you belong [family,
class, school, leisure group, worshipping community?]
How do Christians help others to feel welcome in the
church? How do we make others feel welcome in homes,
class, school, worshipping community?
I can talk about why the
church is a special place for
Christians
Children will make a model
showing key features of a
church
Create a model, using big construction sets or a big chalk
drawing to make the outline of a church. Fill
in with appropriate furniture, photos, etc…
I can talk about how I belong
to particular communities
I can talk about my own
experience of making others
welcome
I can identify some key
features of a church
Assessment Opportunities
AT 1. Recognise and name symbols and features in a church, and their importance for Christians.
AT 2. Talk about a place that is special to me. Talk about why the church is a special place for Christians.