Carlo Acutis: Introduction

1. Lesson Overview

Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 29 students
Unit: Carlo Acutis: Faith in Action (Lesson 1 of 4)
Theme: Introduction to Carlo Acutis: A Modern Saint
Subject: Religious Education
Key Focus: Understanding the life, faith, and beatification of Carlo Acutis within the context of sainthood

2. Curriculum Links

This lesson aligns with the Northern Ireland Curriculum (Primary) Religious Education requirements, focusing primarily on the Learning for Life and Work: Religious Studies area, under Level 5-6 (Year 6).

Relevant Curriculum Objectives

Understanding Beliefs and Practices
- Explore Catholic Christian understanding of sainthood and the lives of notable figures of faith (Levels 5-6).
Investigating Religious and Moral Questions
- Reflect on what qualities make someone a role model in faith and life.
Expressing Ideas and Insight
- Develop communication skills by discussing and reflecting ideas creatively.

Refer to:

Learning for Life and Work RE syllabus: Strand 1 – Beliefs and Practices; Strand 2 – Religious and Moral Questions and Answers
Cross-Curricular Skills: Communication, Using ICT responsibly, and exploring Personal Development in the context of spirituality and values.

3. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Recall key facts about Carlo Acutis’ life, background, and beatification.
Explain the significance of sainthood in the Catholic Church today.
Discuss what qualities make someone worthy of being called a saint.
Reflect on how Carlo’s actions demonstrate living faith through modern means.

4. Resources Needed

Presentation slides with images and key facts about Carlo Acutis (including photos, timeline).
Short, age-appropriate video clip about Carlo Acutis (3-5 minutes).
Whiteboard/Interactive board and markers.
“Qualities of a Saint” worksheet (blank table for student input).
Pens, paper.
Projector or TV screen for video.

5. Lesson Structure

a) Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Objective: Engage prior knowledge and spark curiosity.

Begin by asking the class: "What is a saint? Who do you know that is considered a saint?"
Write answers on the board, highlighting qualities such as kindness, bravery, faith, etc.
Show a brief quote: “A saint is someone who lets God show through them.”
This primes children for the lesson focus on sainthood.

b) Introduction to Carlo Acutis (10 minutes)

Objective: Introduce Carlo Acutis and explain his significance.

Present a clear timeline summarising key life events of Carlo Acutis: birth in 1991, interest in computer programming, deep Catholic faith, death in 2006, beatification in 2020.
Play the selected short video about Carlo Acutis’ life, emphasizing his use of technology to share faith – a “modern saint.”
Discuss briefly his beatification and what it means (Blessed vs Saint). Use simple words to explain the process of recognising someone as holy in the Catholic Church.

c) Group Discussion: What Makes a Saint? (15 minutes)

Objective: Explore the qualities and actions linked to sainthood and how Carlo fits them.

Divide students into small groups of 5-6.
Distribute the worksheet titled “Qualities of a Saint” with two columns: Qualities/Actions and Examples from Carlo Acutis’ Life.
Task: Discuss and fill in the worksheet collaboratively. Examples to guide: kindness, faith, helping others, use of talents, devotion to prayer, modern contribution.
Circulate and encourage deeper thinking by asking questions like: “Why do you think helping others is important? How did Carlo use technology for faith?”

d) Class Sharing and Reflection (10 minutes)

Objective: Share group findings and encourage personal connection.

Each group shares 2-3 qualities they identified and examples from Carlo’s life.
Teacher summarises the common themes, reinforcing the idea that saints demonstrate faith through actions relevant to their time.
Ask students to reflect silently and write a short sentence or draw a symbol representing what they admire most about Carlo Acutis in their workbooks.

e) Plenary: Modern Saints Today (5 minutes)

Objective: Consolidate learning and relate to personal faith journey.

Recap: What have we learned about Carlo Acutis and sainthood?
Prompt with a reflective question: “If you could use your talents to help others like Carlo did, what would you do?”
If time permits, gather a few volunteers to share their ideas aloud.
End with a calming prayer or moment of silence thanking for role models of faith.

6. Differentiation

For learners needing support:
- Provide a simplified fact sheet or timeline with pictures.
- Allow paired discussion rather than whole group.
For more able learners:
- Encourage connections between Carlo’s use of technology and modern ways of expressing faith.
- Challenge them to research one more detail about Carlo independently for next lesson.

7. Assessment Opportunities

Formative:
- Observe student participation in group discussion to assess understanding of sainthood qualities.
- Review completed “Qualities of a Saint” worksheet for insight into comprehension.
Reflective:
- Sentence or drawing created during reflection shows personal engagement and understanding.
Teacher notes:
- Use plenary responses to gauge overall lesson impact and inform next lesson planning.

8. Cross-Curricular Links and Skills Developed

Area	Details
Literacy	Listening, speaking, reading for meaning; writing sentences.
ICT	Use of digital video to enhance learning.
Personal Development	Reflection on values, role models, and faith.
Citizenship and Diversity	Respect for diverse expressions of faith in today’s world.

9. Ideas for Follow-Up Lessons

Lesson 2: Deep dive - Carlo’s Miracle & Beatification Process.
Lesson 3: Exploring How Faith is Shared in the Digital Age.
Lesson 4: Students create a digital or artistic tribute to Carlo Acutis.

10. Teacher Reflection Questions

Did the students engage with the concept of modern sainthood?
Were students able to link Carlo’s life and actions to their own experiences?
How effectively did the use of video and group work support understanding?
What adjustments could be made to extend understanding or enrich reflection next time?

This lesson outline combines active learning, reflection, and modern relevance within the guiding principles of the Northern Ireland Curriculum to captivate Year 6 pupils and embed deep understanding about Carlo Acutis as a contemporary example of faith in action.

Teaching Instructions