Learning Area: Religious Education

Subject Description

The Religious Education curriculum is developed from Coming to Know, Worship and Love A Religious Education Curriculum for Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Victorian Certificate of Education Study design. The curriculum is designed so that students can explore, understand and come to know the essential elements of the Christian tradition and its relationship to the wider society. Deep understanding and knowing often comes through experience so while students learn about prayer, reflection, sacramental and liturgical life opportunities to experience these are given through Reflection days, class and level liturgies, class prayer and outreach activities. Such experiences are an integral part of the Religious Education program. The positive commitment and respectful attitude to the religious education program of the College is a central part of the enrolment pledge agreed to by both student and parent.

The Dimensions of Religious Education

Religious Knowledge and Understanding

This dimension develops the knowledge and understanding of the key practices and beliefs of Christian communities both past and present.

Reasoning and Responding

This dimension focuses on the development of particular ways of thinking and acting that arise out of Christian knowledge and understanding. The combination of knowledge and reasoning will enable students to respond to Catholic tradition and its call to contribute to the building of the reign of God.

Personal and Communal Engagement

This dimension focuses on the nurturing of the spiritual life, the importance of belonging to the faith community and engagement in community service. It is within this dimension that the Religious Education curriculum extends beyond the classroom to include retreats, the sacramental life of the Church, community service, leadership formation and contribution to civic and faith communities

Areas of Study  – Semester 1

• The Eucharist in the Christian community
• Ancient and Indigenous Religions
• Personal Moral Responsibility
• Working for Justice in Australia (The Kingdom of God)

Assessment

Class Exercises
Extended researched responses
Essays
Semester Examination

Unit 1: Texts in traditions

In this unit students examine the place of texts and their literary forms within a religious tradition. Students explore the importance of texts at the source of a tradition and how their meaning for the earlier and continuing tradition might be found and described.

The study of VCE Texts and Traditions encourages independent and critical thinking in students that will assist them in work and study.

Satisfactory Completion

The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on a decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit. This decision will be based on the teacher’s assessment of the student’s performance on assessment tasks designated for the unit.

Outcome 1

On completion of this unit the student should be able to recognise and explain different literary forms and analyse their role within a tradition’s scriptures.

Outcome 2

On completion of this unit the student should be able to apply basic exegetical methods against the background in which the texts are located.

Outcome 3

On completion of this unit the student should be able to discuss a range of understandings and interpretations of sacred text.

Assessment

• Class Exercises
• Research exercises
• Exegesis of Mark
• Creative interpretation of scripture passages
• Semester Examination