Belonging Together

Lesson Overview

Unit Title: Belonging in Community
Lesson Title: Belonging in Our Parish and School Community
Duration: 60 minutes
Grade/Year Level: Year 2
Curriculum Area: Religion (Catholic Education Curriculum - Connections to Personal and Social Capabilities)

This lesson will teach students about the importance of belonging to their Parish and school community, with special emphasis on Baptism as a symbol of entry into the Catholic Faith Community. Students will explore their connections to others, reflect on their responsibilities, and engage in cooperative, reflective discussions.

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Learning Intentions

Students will be able to:

• Understand the role of Baptism in welcoming individuals into the Catholic Faith community.
• Identify ways they belong to their Parish and school community.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how their roles and responsibilities help strengthen their community.

Success Criteria

Students will demonstrate their understanding by:

• Contributing to group discussions about community roles.
• Drawing and labelling a diagram illustrating how they belong and contribute to their community.
• Sharing a personal reflection on their connection to Baptism or a faith community.

Preparation and Materials

1. A whiteboard and markers.
2. Images of a Baptism ceremony (e.g., font, candle, people gathering).
3. “Belonging Tree” worksheet (a tree with spaces where children can add their roles in the community).
4. Blu-Tack or a large visual board for displaying completed Belonging Tree worksheets.
5. A candle (to symbolise Baptism).
6. Reflective music (optional, for quiet reflection moments).

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Lesson Steps

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

1.1 Welcome and Prior Knowledge Review (3 minutes)

• Welcome the students warmly and invite them to form a circle on the floor.
• Briefly review the key points from Lesson 1: “Belonging in Families”. Ask:
  • “Last time, we talked about our families and how we feel like we belong. Who can tell me one way they know they belong in their family?”

1.2 Hook/Engagement (7 minutes)

• Show students an image of a Baptism ceremony. Hold up a Baptism candle, explaining its meaning.
• Ask guiding questions:
  • “What do you see in this picture?”
  • “Do you think these people are part of the same family?”
  • “Why do you think Baptism is an important part of our faith journey?”
• Briefly explain that Baptism is the special moment where someone becomes part of the Catholic Faith Community and is welcomed by others, much like being welcomed into a family.

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2. Main Activity (35 minutes)

2.1 Brainstorm: What Makes Our Community? (10 minutes)

• Transition to the whiteboard. Write “Parish and School Community” in the middle and circle it.
• Together, brainstorm and map ideas about how we belong and what makes a community special. Examples:
  • “We pray together.”
  • “We help one another.”
  • “We celebrate Mass.”
  • “We play with friends.”
• For each idea, ask students guiding questions to connect with their personal experiences, e.g.:
  • “How do you feel when you see everyone coming together at church or school?”
  • “What role do you play when you’re with your class?”

2.2 Group Discussion: Our Roles and Responsibilities (10 minutes)

• Divide students into small groups (3-4 per group). Ask each group to discuss:
  1. “What roles or jobs do you have as part of school and church?” (e.g., “I am a friend; I help others; I take care of the environment”).
  2. “Why are these roles important?”
• Encourage one student per group to record or draw pictures of their ideas to share later.

2.3 Creative Response: Belonging Tree (10 minutes)

• Distribute the “Belonging Tree” worksheet to each student.
• Students will write or draw different ways they belong to their school and Parish. For example, they might draw themselves helping a friend, singing in Church, or participating in special celebrations like Mass.
• As they finish, help them add their work to a large display (e.g., a whole-class “Community Forest” using the Blu-Tack), creating a collaborative art piece.

2.4 Quiet Reflection: Our Gifts (5 minutes)

• Gather students back together in a circle.
• Light the Baptism candle and play soft reflective music (if desired).
• Ask students to close their eyes and think about one way they help others and one feeling they have when they belong to their community.
• Invite 3-4 volunteers to share their thoughts aloud.

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3. Conclusion (15 minutes)

3.1 Linking Back & Sharing (5 minutes)

• Revisit the brainstorm on the board. Ask:
  • “Did today help you discover something new about your role in our community?”
  • “In what ways does Baptism connect us to others in the Church and school?”
  • Summarise key learning points, ensuring all students understand how belonging to a community strengthens bonds and helps us grow.

3.2 Wrap-Up Game: “Belonging Ball Toss” (10 minutes)

• Using a soft foam ball, play a “Belonging Ball” gratitude game.
• Toss the ball to a student, prompting them to complete the sentence “I feel like I belong when… [e.g., someone plays with me at lunch].”

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide sentence starters for students who need speech/writing assistance (e.g., “I feel like I belong when…” “Helping others makes me feel…”).
• Pair visual learners with peers who excel at brainstorming or drawing.
• Offer an alternative verbal activity for students requiring extra support with writing/drawing, where they explain their ideas one-on-one with the teacher.

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Assessment

1. Observation of student participation in discussions and group activities.
2. Review completed Belonging Tree worksheets for understanding of roles and responsibilities.
3. Evaluate verbal contributions in both brainstorming and reflection.

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Reflection/Follow-up for Next Lesson

• Discuss how today's lesson connects to the next and final lesson in the unit: “Belonging in the Wider World Community.”
• Reflect with students: “What might belonging to our larger world community look like? What can we do to help beyond our school and Parish?”