Religion Curriculum P 12
Overview
This provides how the Religion Curriculum P-12 has been constructed. The principles, approach and the structure of this curriculum are outlined with an understanding of teaching and learning in the religion classroom.
A Catholic view about learning and teaching
Schools intentionally develop their Religious education program on the foundation of a Catholic theology and philosophy of curriculum. Four core themes are central: anthropology, epistemology, cosmology and the Catholic Christian tradition.
A Catholic view about learning and teaching
A reconceptualist approach
The classroom learning and teaching of religion in the Archdiocese of Brisbane has been characterised by a reconceptualist approach. It operates from an educational framework and Brisbane Catholic Education's Model for Religious Education. Classroom religion becomes a place for dealing with the critical religious issues and concerns of life. There are three key considerations for teachers using this approach: the Avoidance of Presumptive Language, Teaching ‘about’ the Tradition and Powerful Pedagogies.
A reconceptualist approach to the religion curriculum P-12
Teaching scripture in the classroom
The study of Scripture in a classroom context takes the reader into the world of Jewish and Christian believers. Teachers need to develop reading and interpretation skills to appreciate the understandings of God and religious experience that are presented in biblical texts.
Teaching scripture in the classroom
Learners and learning in the religion classroom
Foundational to the shared work of teachers are the beliefs they have of the learners they serve. The BCE Learning and Teaching Framework (2012) explicitly articulates the beliefs and the responses that flow from these beliefs within schools in the Archdiocese. All students are entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning programs in religion, drawn from the Religion Curriculum P-12, that address their individual learning needs.
Learners and learning in the religion classroom
Design principles for the religious curriculum P-12
The Religious Curriculum P-12 has been developed around four design principles: embracing a Catholic Christian worldview; modelling a seamless curriculum; setting a clear pedagogical direction; and strengthening alignment.
Design principles for the Religion Curriculum P-12
Structure of the religion curriculum P-12
The content of the Religion Curriculum P-12 is organised into four interrelated strands: Sacred texts, Beliefs, Church and Christian life. Each strand has its own distinctive body of knowledge. Planning for the classroom learning and teaching of Religion should balance and integrate all four strands.
Structure of the Religion Curriculum P-12
Senior secondary religion
The senior secondary religion curriculum builds on the prior learning in Prep to Year 10, allowing students to use, consolidate and expand on what they have learned. The four interrelated strands of Sacred Texts, Beliefs, Church and Christian Life also underpin the senior secondary curriculum, identifying core content that is to be taught and that students should learn.
Archbishop Coleridge's message on the entitlement of learning is that "in all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, students in Years 11 and 12 must study an accredited course in Religious Education....Catholic educators, hold in sacred trust the Church's mission to ensure that all students have access to inclusive, excellent Religious Education from Prep to Year 12" (2013 & 2020 Eds).
Senior secondary religion offerings
Appendices
Explicit teaching about prayer - Appendix A
This is a resource that supports the Religion Curriculum P-12. It depicts the particular prayers and meditative prayer practices that are explicitly taught, as identified in the content descriptions of the prayer and spirituality sub strand. Further information and teaching ideas can be found on this website.
Explicit teaching about prayer - Appendix A
Core and complementary scripture texts - Appendix B
Core texts are prescribed scripture texts that need to be taught at each year level. The texts can be presented in different ways: as an in-depth study; to examine biblical themes; and as a source of communal prayer.
Complementary texts do not need to be taught or in the same depth. It supplies additional information to the enrich the engagement with the core text.
Core and complementary scripture texts - Appendix B
Connections with Church documents - Appendix C
Some connections have been made between the core content of the Religion Curriculum P-12 and significant Church documents, notably the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Vatican documents on education and Catholic schooling. These supporting documents have been categorised and linked to the four key strands of the religion curriculum.
Connections with Church documents - Appendix C