Experiencing God’s Presence

Overview

This 5-day Religious Education unit is designed for Year 5 students in a Catholic school in New Zealand. It focuses on Learning Objective AO4: Recognize that we can experience the presence of God in unexpected places, people, and things and reflect in our own lives. The lessons use explicit teaching methods, incorporate a variety of activities, and provide reflective opportunities aligned with New Zealand Curriculum Values, Principles, and Key Competencies. Each lesson is 40 minutes, optimal for a class of about 20 students.

Curriculum Alignment

• NZ Curriculum Learning Area: Religious Education (Catholic special character)
• Achievement Objective: AO4 (Recognize God’s presence in unexpected ways)
• Key Competencies: Managing self, Relating to others, Participating and contributing, Thinking
• Values: Respect, Integrity, Community and Participation
• Principles: Treaty of Waitangi, Inclusion, Learning to Learn
• Pedagogy: Explicit teaching, scaffolding, reflection, collaborative learning

---

Unit Learning Intentions

Students will:

• Understand that God can be present in surprising and everyday places
• Develop skills to recognize God’s presence in people, actions, and creation
• Reflect on their personal experiences of God’s presence
• Share insights respectfully with classmates

---

Daily Lesson Plan Details (40 minutes each)

---

Day 1: Introduction to God’s Presence

Learning Objectives

• Introduce the concept that God’s presence can be found in unexpected places, people, and things.

Teaching and Content

• Explicitly teach the Christian understanding of God’s omnipresence, focusing on the idea of God being with us in everyday life and in surprises.
• Teacher models examples from Bible stories where God appears unexpectedly (e.g., Moses and the burning bush, the Good Samaritan story).

Activities

1. Think-Pair-Share (10 mins):
   Students think of a time they felt someone was looking out for them or when something surprising made them feel cared for. Share in pairs, then as a class.

2. Worksheet 1: "Where have you seen God?" (15 mins)
   Students write or draw examples of unexpected places, people, or things where they might experience God’s presence.

3. Group Discussion (10 mins):
   Share worksheet ideas. Teacher summarises key themes and links back to teaching.

4. Reflection Journal Starter (5 mins):
   Students write one sentence reflecting on what surprised them about today’s lesson.

Resources

• Bible story extracts
• Worksheet 1 (scaffolded template with spots for drawing/writing)
• Reflection journals/notebooks

---

Day 2: Recognising God in People

Learning Objectives

• Identify ways God’s presence shows in people’s actions and caring behaviours.

Teaching and Content

• Explicit teaching on Christian values of charity, kindness, and how Jesus shows God in human actions.

Activities

1. Storytelling (10 mins):
   Read/listen to a story about someone showing unexpected kindness (e.g., modern-day Good Samaritan). Use think-aloud to highlight God’s presence.

2. Role-play (15 mins):
   In small groups, students act out scenarios showing kindness or care in unexpected ways. Class discusses how these actions reveal God’s presence.

3. Worksheet 2: "Faces of God in our lives" (10 mins)
   Students list or draw people they know who show God’s love through actions.

4. Class sharing (5 mins):
   Students volunteer to share their work.

Resources

• Story text/script
• Worksheet 2
• Props for role-play

---

Day 3: God in Creation and Everyday Things

Learning Objectives

• Explore how God’s presence is evident in nature and ordinary things.

Teaching and Content

• Explicit teaching on the beauty and wonder of creation as a sign of God’s presence (Psalm 104 or another age-appropriate scripture).

Activities

1. Guided Outdoor Reflection (15 mins):
   Take students outside or look through pictures of nature. Teacher guides reflection on how creation can reveal God’s presence.

2. Creative Response (15 mins):
   Students create an "I Spy God’s Presence" collage/poster using magazine cutouts or drawings inspired by natural and everyday objects.

3. Sharing (10 mins):
   Students present their creations, explaining how it shows God’s presence.

Resources

• Outdoors or images of nature
• Paper, magazines, glue, scissors for collage
• Worksheet 3: “God in Creation” (optional prompt sheet)

---

Day 4: Reflecting on Personal Experiences

Learning Objectives

• Reflect on own experiences of God’s presence in life.

Teaching and Content

• Explicit teaching about prayer as a way to notice and respond to God’s presence.

Activities

1. Guided Prayer and Meditation (10 mins):
   Lead a simple prayer reflecting on presence of God throughout the day/week.

2. Reflection Worksheet 4: "My moments with God" (15 mins)
   Students write about or draw a moment when they felt connected to God unexpectedly.

3. Pair-share (10 mins):
   Share reflective responses in pairs, practicing listening and respect.

4. Class summary/discussion (5 mins):
   Teacher highlights themes in reflections, normalising different experiences.

Resources

• Guided prayer script
• Worksheet 4
• Quiet reflection space

---

Day 5: Sharing and Celebrating God’s Presence

Learning Objectives

• Consolidate learning through sharing insights about God’s presence.
• Celebrate learning through collaborative reflection.

Teaching and Content

• Teacher summarises AO4 learning outcomes.

Activities

1. Preparation of Group Sharing (15 mins):
   Students work in small groups to prepare a short presentation/creative piece (e.g., poem, skit, poster) about how God is present in unexpected ways.

2. Group Presentations (15 mins):
   Groups share their work with the class.

3. Whole-Class Reflection (5 mins):
   Discuss how recognising God’s presence impacts their daily lives and their relationships.

4. End with a Prayer of Thanksgiving (5 mins)

Resources

• Materials for presentations (paper, markers, props)
• Prayer card

---

Assessment and Evaluation

• Formative assessment through observation during discussions, role plays, and reflections.
• Use reflection journals/worksheets to gauge individual understanding of AO4.
• End of unit self-assessment: students complete a simple checklist on their ability to recognize God in unexpected places, people, and things.

---

Notes on Explicit Teaching Approach

• Teacher models thinking processes and reflection aloud (Think Aloud)
• Scaffold activities with prompts, sentence starters on worksheets
• Regular questioning and guided discussion check understanding
• Use varied texts, visual and kinesthetic activities to engage different learners
• Reinforce connections to Catholic faith and scripture

---

This unit plan intentionally integrates New Zealand curriculum principles by encouraging respect for diverse experiences, inclusive sharing, and critical reflection, while strengthening students' religious identity and knowledge about God’s presence in everyday life.