YEARS 5 & 6
Learning
Intentions
1. To
prepare to
hear the
Word.
Key words
Pentecost
Holy Spirit
Tongues
Fire
Wind
TOPIC: COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (PENTECOST)
THEME: CHURCH/LITURGICAL DATES: 23/04/12 – 25/05/12 SUMMER 1 - 2012
Teaching
Teacher prep:
Read the passage carefully (http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Acts+2)
Do a close reading of this passage: ie identify any terms, places or roles
you are not familiar with and check their meaning on www.bibledoctor.com
Pupils’ activities, group differentiation
Assessment
Create a title page using key words, symbols, pictures
etc.
Resources
Prepare to hear the
Word ppt
Chn to record what they know already and what they
want to find out (to be revisited at the end of the topic).
Use the PowerPoint Acts 2: 1-13 Prepare to Hear the Word, to explain the
writing and genre of the book of Acts.
This passage has two settings:
 a physical, geographical setting: a ‘place’ in Jerusalem
 a ‘time’ setting: the story takes place immediately after the ascension,
during the Jewish festival of Shavu’ot (in Greek, ‘Pentecost’).
According to Luke the disciples are in Jerusalem. They have selected
Matthias as the replacement for Judas so ‘The 12’ are complete again.
Now, all the disciples are together in one place….
2. To hear
the Word
Shavu’ot
Retell the story to the class in your own words.
Use the Shavu’ot power point to further contextualise this Jewish feast
(use slides as appt).
3. To hear
the Word
Do a close reading of the passage.
(Use Acts 2:1-13 Encounter the Word LITERARY power point as a guide)
Have pupils learn the passage using some of the
following activities:
 Drama
 Retelling with concrete material
 And Then (teachscripture.com website)
 ‘Mind the Gap’
Shavu’ot ppt
Story props
Teachscripture.com
Select searching questions that arise from ppt.
Give one to each group, chn to produce a mind map on
sugar paper in response to given question.
Encounter the Word
LITERARY power
point
Create display in class.
4. To
encounter
the Word
Action
Use Black Fire White Fire to find what is missing from the passage.
What details has Luke not included?
Investigate three things we are left to wonder about.
Acts 2:1-13 has been depicted in art by people of all
nations. What does this say about belief in the Holy Spirit
now? (see Pentecost Resources document – RCDOW
website)
Luke does not tell us where the Spirit rests. Explore different places: head,
heart, hands, shoulders etc. Propose where the Spirit could have rested
and how this could have suggested the way it prompts action. Eg the Spirit
resting on someone’s hand might suggest that it prompts us to active work.
5. To
Bewildered
Revisit Verses 5-13:
AT 1 (i) L 3 – if chn
can express what we
believe about H/S
But…could be
AT1 (i) L 5 – if chn
can connect how
different beliefs in H/S
have been expressed
through art
Pentecost
Resources
document –
RCDOW website
Luke describes the crowd in verses 5-13 as bewildered,
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encounter
the Word
Amazed
Astonished
Ask the children to describe how Luke describes the crowd?
Look up the meanings of the words used in a dictionary, do these words
create the impact that Luke intends?
Explore each word individually relating the meaning to the passage.
e.g. Why are the crowd bewildered etc?...
(Luke describes the crowd as being bewildered, amazed and astonished.)
amazed and astonished.
What did they see and hear? Record what the disciples
told them. Needs drawings
6. To begin
to
understand
the nature
of the Holy
Spirit.
Ruach
Wind
Fire
Breath
The Jewish word for Spirit is ‘ruach’.
The Spirit is described using natural elements: wind, breath and fire.
Propose what other natural parts of creation tell us about the Spirit.
(Resource power point Ruach Ha Kodish and Worksheet 7)
Design a poster for your parent/s using elements of
creation to describe the Holy Spirit.
7. To
understand
the gifts of
the Holy
Spirit
8. To
show an
understand
ing of
different
liturgies.
Gifts
Confirmation
Introduce and discuss the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Wisdom, Counsel,
Piety, Fear of God, Knowledge, Understanding and Fortitude)
At confirmation you will receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians
Corinthians
Psalm
Old
Testament
New
Testament
Intercession
Pentecost Sunday is on May 27th this year.
Have pupils look at the readings for Pentecost Sunday. (See Resources
Worksheet 8). Note that only the First Testament reading is the Psalm –
all the other readings are from the Second (New) Testament.
What new information do we gather from the early communities
(Galatians/Corinthians) about the Spirit or about how people act (or should
act) after receiving the Spirit?
Homework Link: (AT 1 (i) L 3/4
Take poster home and discuss with a parent, write a
short paragraph explaining how these elements tell us
about the Holy Spirit.
AT 1 (i) L 3 or 4
depending on what
pupils say
Resource power
point Ruach Ha
Kodish and
Worksheet 7
Poster paper
Drawing equipment
Collage materials
Children to imagine that they are instructing a young
adult about one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Explain the
meaning of this gift and how it might transform their lives
after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Match the prayers to the readings – which prayer links to
which reading?
Could be AT 1 (i) L 4
if chn can connect 2
sources: tradition &
reading
Resources
worksheets 8 & 9
Look at the prayers of Intercession for Pentecost Sunday. (see Resources
Worksheet 9)
9. To know
the
customs
and
traditions
of major
Liturgical
feasts
10. To
know how
we
celebrate
Pentecost
today
Vestments
Chasuble
Stole
On Pentecost Sunday our Clergy will wear red Vestments and place red
cloths on the altar. How does the colour link to what this day celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit?
Children to change the class prayer table focus to a red cloth.
Denomination
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH:
Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit – the birth of the church.
It is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter Sunday. The Liturgy remains
the same, but the hymns, vestments and symbols all reflect the season.
Compare this celebration with one other Christian denomination as
relevant to your school community.
Children to design own prayer tables - what would you
include and why?
Children to create prayers, possible prayer starters Dear
Holy Spirit I bring the gift of …
Pupils to choose one denomination and compare what
this denomination does and believes with what Catholics
do and believe.
Children to use these questions to scaffold their answer:
Why is it important to celebrate Pentecost?
Does it matter that not all Christians celebrate Pentecost
Discussion on: Does it
matter that not all
Christians celebrate
Pentecost in the same
way?
Could be Level 5 if chn
express level of
knowledge about
Pentecost in the
Christian Church
document
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11. To
respond to
the Word
See Pentecost in the Christian Church document.
in the same way?
How could Pentecost be used to promote Christian unity?
different denominations
and Pentecost.
Pentecost is sometimes referred to as the birthday of the Church. Is it a
good title? Discuss.
Argue the case by writing an argumentative essay which
parallels the Pentecost Liturgy with a Birthday party. (See
Worksheet 12 for structure and outline of essay)
This activity could be
used to assess both
AT 1 (i) and (ii)
content.
Use the Opening Prayer for Pentecost Sunday as your class prayer.
Have pupils make bookmarks of the prayer using
symbols of Pentecost taken from Scripture and the
Tradition, e.g. globe, Bible, gifts of the Holy Spirit etc.
Worksheet 12
Assessment
Piece
12. To
respond to
the Word
O God, who by the mystery of today’s great feast sanctify your whole
Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy
Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at
work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts
of believers.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
End with a suitable hymn, e.g. Go Tell Everyone
Card for book mark
templates
Lyrics for hymns
Links to Curriculum Directory:
REVELATION
 Hear, read and explore the Gospel accounts of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the transformation of the disciples.
 That the Holy Spirit, the helper, is the gift that Jesus promised
 That the coming of the Holy Spirit transformed Jesus’ disciples and was the beginning of the life of the Christian Church.
CHURCH
 The gifts of the Holy Spirit which are given to individuals and groups for the service of the whole community.
 Of how the Church spread through the first Christian communities.
 That the Church is world-wide and multicultural.
 That the love and service of God and others are universal human values and signs of God’s Spirit in the world.
CELEBRATION
 Signs and symbols and their significance in liturgy.
 Of the customs and traditions of major liturgical feasts.
LIFE IN CHRIST
 Of diversity as a source of blessing and strength as well as a challenge.
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