Celebrating Mary

Curriculum Area

Religious Education
Level: Level 2 of the New Zealand Curriculum — Social Sciences: “Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience to understand how people make decisions about access to and use of resources.”

Religious Education draws connection to the Special Character Curriculum of Catholic and Integrated Schools in New Zealand. This plan supports Catholic Faith formation and aligns with practices around reflection, prayer, and spiritual growth in young learners.

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Theme

Mary, the Month of May
Focus: Exploring different forms of prayer in honour of Mary

Class Level: Year 4
Class Size: 27 students
Time per day: 15 minutes
Duration: 5 Days

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Overview

This 5-day prayer journey introduces Year 4 students to five different types of Christian prayer — Praise, Petition, Thanksgiving, Intercession, and Meditative — with a focus on Mary, Mother of God, during the month of May. Each session is short, reflective, student-centered, and integrates movement, creativity, and differentiated tools for diverse learners.

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Key Competencies

• Thinking: Understanding different forms of prayer and their meaning.
• Relating to others: Participating respectfully in shared prayer experiences.
• Participating and contributing: Engaging in class-led prayers and group discussions.
• Using language, symbols and texts: Expressing prayer through words, symbols, gesture, and visual art.

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WALT & Success Criteria

Day	WALT (We Are Learning To)	Success Criteria
Monday	Understand praise prayer through honouring Mary	I can say or show why Mary is special and join in a prayer of praise
Tuesday	Pray using petition by asking Mary to intercede for us	I can write or say a short prayer asking for help through Mary
Wednesday	Show gratitude to Mary using thanksgiving prayer	I can name something I am thankful for and express it to Mary
Thursday	Offer intercessions for others through Mary	I can offer a prayer for someone else with Mary’s help
Friday	Use meditative prayer to reflect quietly with Mary	I can sit quietly and experience calmness in prayer with Mary

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Differentiation Strategies

• Visual and verbal prompts for ELL (English Language Learners) and younger/developing readers.
• Symbol card matching for non-verbal or neurodiverse learners.
• Prayer prompts with sentence starters for scaffolding writing/speaking.
• Use of audio prayer recordings and soft background music for auditory learners.
• Visual timetable, clear icons and simplified instructions displayed on the board.
• Dyslexia-friendly font (e.g. Comic Sans or Open Dyslexic) for handouts and slides.

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Day-by-Day Plan

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📅 Day 1: Praise - Celebrating Mary’s Role

Time: 15 minutes
Type of Prayer: Praise

Activities:

• Hook (2 min): Show an image or icon of Mary. Ask, “Why might Mary be special?”
• Mini-Lesson (3 min): Explain ‘praise’ as celebrating how good or holy someone is. Mary is called the “Queen of Heaven” and is full of grace.
• Action (5 min): Sing “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman” as a prayer of praise (students stand in a circle).
• Connection (3 min): Give each student a downloadable praise card to draw or write one thing they love about Mary. Display on a classroom prayer wall.
• Closure (2 min): Sign of the Cross & “Hail Mary” together.

Extension:

• Create a “Mary Praise Poem” using acrostics with “M-A-R-Y”.

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📅 Day 2: Petition - Asking Through Mary

Time: 15 minutes
Type of Prayer: Petition

Activities:

• Hook (2 min): Share: “What’s one good thing you’ve asked someone for this week?”
• Mini-Lesson (3 min): Explain ‘petition’ as asking God (or Mary to pass on our message) for our needs.
• Action (5 min): Each student draws or writes a short prayer request on a paper flower.
• Connection (3 min): Add flowers to a paper statue of Mary on class display.
• Closure (2 min): Prayer circle — “Dear Mary, please pray for us…” (students speak or think silently).

Extension:

• Write a short petition prayer to read at assembly during the month of May.

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📅 Day 3: Thanksgiving - Giving Thanks with Mary

Time: 15 minutes
Type of Prayer: Thanksgiving

Activities:

• Hook (2 min): Pass around a “Thankful Heart” pillow — students say something they’re thankful for.
• Mini-Lesson (3 min): Mary was thankful to serve God. In the Magnificat, she sings her praise.
• Action (5 min): Students decorate leaf cut-outs with something thankful related to Mary or faith (e.g. “I am thankful for Mary saying yes to Jesus.”)
• Connection (3 min): Attach leaves to “Tree of Thanks” on wall.
• Closure (2 min): Group sings short refrain “Thank you, Mary” with percussion.

Extension:

• Older students write a letter to Mary thanking her for her example of courage and faith.

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📅 Day 4: Intercession - Praying for Others

Time: 15 minutes
Type of Prayer: Intercession

Activities:

• Hook (2 min): Ask “Who in your life needs a little love or help right now?”
• Mini-Lesson (3 min): Mary cares for others and prays with us. We can ask her to help pray for those who need support.
• Action (5 min): Place a candle in the centre. Children write or draw prayer intentions on strips of blue ribbon.
• Connection (3 min): Tie ribbons onto a large “Mary Star Cape” cloak on display to symbolise her protection.
• Closure (2 min): One-minute silence while soft instrumental Marian hymn plays.

Extension:

• Collaboratively create a short class intercession prayer for the school newsletter.

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📅 Day 5: Meditative Prayer - Quiet with Mary

Time: 15 minutes
Type of Prayer: Meditation

Activities:

• Hook (2 min): Dim lights, soft music, introduce space: the “Blue Blanket Circle” (quiet prayer space).
• Mini-Lesson (3 min): Mary often listened in her heart. Meditative prayer means being still and listening to God.
• Action (5 min): Teacher leads 3-minute guided reflection: “Imagine you’re walking with Mary in a garden...”
• Connection (3 min): Students gently colour a Marian mandala (enlarged for easier vision).
• Closure (2 min): “Hail Mary” and light a candle to end the 5-day journey.

Extension:

• Provide students with individual take-home meditative mandalas and guided prayer script to share with their whānau.

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Assessment and Reflection

Formative assessment through:

• Observations during participation
• Completion of prayer artefacts (flowers, ribbons, leaves, etc.)
• Oral contributions

Reflection prompts for teacher journal:

• Which students engaged deeply in silent prayer?
• Did visuals & music support deeper connection for neurodiverse students?
• Were there moments of awe or personal connection among ākonga?

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Teacher Notes

• Include waiata (songs) or simple karakia to bridge te ao Māori with Catholic spirituality.
• Use Te Reo Māori for simple phrases (e.g. “Tēnā koe e Maria” – Hail Mary)
• Consider pairing with Art or Music to reinforce the prayer concepts across curriculum.

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Let this gentle 5-day journey open wonder, reverence, and connection in your classroom — through the quiet strength of prayer and the compassion of Mary.