ATAR Unit 1 v4
Week
1-2
Module
1
Syllabus Content
 The relationship
between important
life events and the
questions people
ask about meaning
and purpose in
their lives
Assessment Task 1
3-4
2
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The concept of
religion and being
religious
Assessment Task 2
REL Year 11 ATAR, Unit 1: Outline
Key Teaching Points
Searching for meaning
 The focus of the unit, the syllabus and course
documents
 Define key terms in the syllabus dot point
 Examples of people searching for meaning and
purpose in their life
 The relationship between life events, questions
people ask, how they search for answers, how
and where they find meaning
 How Catholics understand the process of
searching for meaning and why this search is
important
 Key terms: search for meaning and purpose
The concept of religion and being religious
 Define key terms in the syllabus dot point
 Different definitions of ‘religion’
 Develop a working definition of key terms such
as religion and spirituality
 Ways of describing religion
 Characteristics most religions share in common
and examples of these characteristics in some of
the different world religions
 Describing religiosity, for instance: identity,
participation, affiliation, adherence
Page |1
Focus Questions
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What are some significant life events?
What questions do these events prompt people
to ask about the meaning and purpose of life?
What answers do people find to their questions?
How do people find these answers?
What role do religions play in this process?
(events, questions, searching, finding meaning)
How do religions see and respond to this
process?
What is meant by the concept ‘religion’?
What are examples of some world religions?
How do we know someone is ‘religious’?
What are some indicators of being religious?
Dec 2014
Week
5-7
Module
3
Syllabus Content
 The nature of
religious belief

the key features of
one religious belief
or teaching
Assessment Task 3
REL Year 11 ATAR, Unit 1: Outline
Key Teaching Points
Religious belief
 Key terms in the syllabus dot point
 Identify concepts relevant for understanding
beliefs, including:
o Creeds
o Doctrine
 Identify appropriate examples of religious
beliefs from a range of different religions
 Explore examples of religious belief:
o The way in which the belief is expressed
and finds expression
o The origins of the belief
o Related beliefs and practices
o Examples of where this belief finds
expression in a religious way of life
 Relate particular beliefs to a broader system of
religious belief
A religious belief
 Key terms in the syllabus dot point
 Explore and define key concepts
 Develop skills for identifying and describing
religious belief
 Apply these skills to a study of one religious
belief
 Outline the relationship between religious
beliefs and teachings
Page |2
Focus Questions
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What is meant by the concepts ‘religious belief’
and ‘religious teaching’?
What are some examples of religious beliefs?
What are the key features of this religious
belief?
What informs this belief or where does it come
from?
How does this belief find expression in a
religion?
Dec 2014
Week
8
Module
4
Syllabus Content
 the characteristics
of the major
divisions or
denominations
within a world
religion
Assessment Task 4
REL Year 11 ATAR, Unit 1: Outline
Key Teaching Points
Christian Denominations
 Key terms in the syllabus dot point
 Naming the major divisions or denominations of
the main religions in the world today
 Define the concept of ‘Religious denominations’
 The main areas of difference between the major
divisions or denominations within a world
religion (Christianity):
o beliefs
o practices
o leadership
o history
o culture
o rules
o interpretation
 Overview the factors that contribute to a
particular religious division:
o origins of the division
o the main reasons/factors that shape this
division
Page |3
Focus Questions
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What are the major divisions or denominations
within a world religion?
Why do these divisions exist?
What characterises these different divisions or
denominations?
How do religions respond to these divisions or
denominations?
Dec 2014
Week
9-12
Module
5
Syllabus Content
 one important
person, event, or
issue in the history
of a religion in
Australia
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the place of
religion in
Australian society
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the nature of one
current issue in
society to which a
religion seeks to
respond
 the response of a
religion to one
current issue in
society
Assessment Task 5
REL Year 11 ATAR, Unit 1: Outline
Key Teaching Points
The history of religion in Australia
 Key terms in the syllabus dot point
 A brief overview of the history of religion in
Australia
 A brief overview of the history of one religion in
Australia
 Identify a suitable person, event or issue to
focus upon
 Locate this person, event or issue within a
historical context
 Explore the importance of this person, event or
issue for a religion in Australia
Religion in Australia
 Key terms in the syllabus dot point
 Sources that describe the place of religion in
Australian society
 Factors that shape the place of religion in
Australian society
Focus Questions
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Religion and current issues in Australian society
 Key terms in the syllabus dot point
 Examples of current social issues
 Issues a religion responds to
 The main characteristics of one current issue
 The response of a religion to this issue
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Page |4
What has religion looked like in Australia’s
history?
What is a suitable person, event or issue in the
history of a religion in Australia to focus on?
What is known about this person, event or
issue?
What makes this person, event or issue
important?
What makes this person, event or issue
important in the history of a religion in
Australia?
What does religion look like in Australia?
What is the ‘profile’ of religion in Australia?
What role does religion have in Australian
society?
What accounts for this?
Do different religions and/or aspects of religion
differ in their place in Australian society?
What accounts for this?
What is meant by the term ‘nature’?
What are some examples of current social
issues?
What are some current issues in society that a
religion responds to?
What is the nature of one of these issues?
What is the response of a religion to this current
issue?
Dec 2014
Week
13-14
Module
6
Syllabus Content
 the key features of
one religious ritual
or practice
Key Teaching Points
Religious ritual
 Key terms in the syllabus dot point
 The key features of one religious ritual or
practice
 The relationship between religious ritual or
practice and belief
Focus Questions
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Assessment Task 6
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Assessment Task 7
REL Year 11 ATAR, Unit 1: Outline
Page |5
What is an example of a religious ritual and/or
practice?
What are the features of this ritual and/or
practice?
What informs this ritual and/or practice or
where does it come from?
How does this ritual and/or practice find
expression in a religion?
Dec 2014