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A colour coding system has been used in putting this portfolio together:
* White textboxes are Equip Journalling
* Blue textboxes are 'big picture' thoughts
* Purple textboxes document the 2019 Term 4 Inquiry journey
* Pink textboxes document the 2020 Term 2 Inquiry Journey
* Green textboxes document the 2020  Term 3 Inquiry journey
* Yellow textboxes document the creation inquiry process

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POINTS FOR GROWTH AND LEARNING DURING EQUIP ACCREDIDATION PROCESS

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POINTS FOR GROWTH AND LEARNING DURING EQUIP ACCREDIDATION PROCESS

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These are the Underlying Goals and Principles for Planning and Reflecting on our Christian Studies Curriculum at Calvary Kindergarten

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A statement summarising Calvary Kindergarten's core beliefs about learners, learning and the learning environment.

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Journaling : Inquiry Focus Wrestlings 31st May 2019

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Journaling : Inquiry Focus Wrestlings 31st May 2019

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Journaling : Reflection Questions 30th May 2019

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Journaling : Reflection Questions 30th May 2019

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How does the inquiry pedagogy influence/shape learning?
The inquiry process taps into a child’s instinctual desire to ask questions. Questions are how children can make sense of the world and their place in it. As educators, we can use these questions as a powerful tool to promote thinking and learning. By using children’s questions as a driving force for learning, we support their sense of ownership of their learning. As part of the learning process, we aim to develop problem-solving skills and drive action.

How can the inquiry approach be used to shape learning in Christian Studies?
Inquiry in The Christian Studies curriculum supports students in understanding concepts in a way that is personally meaningful and relevant to them, and to acquire understandings in their own time, in their own way.

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Creation Learning Experience Plan and Reflection

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Creation Learning Experience Plan and Reflection

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Christian studies Creation learning plan copy (Kylie Toogood)

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Documentation shared with families about ‘Creation’ 

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Documentation shared with families about ‘Creation’ 

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Term 4 2019 Inquiry: “Goodbye Kindy, Hello School” what to do with worries.

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Term 4 2019 Inquiry: “Goodbye Kindy, Hello School” what to do with worries.

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Children were invited to share their worries and questions about starting school. We reflected on these questions, sharing them with both our year 5/6 school buddies, and the principal, Mrs Branford. Many of our questions were answered. We then committed our worries to God through prayer, asking that He always give us people to share our worries with and who will help us (Christian Education). (CSCF Christian Living, 1.1: Children describe ways God cares for individual people - God gives individuals people they can trust and who care for them).

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Term 4 2019 Inquiry: Goodbye Kindy, Hello School (The Sacred Space)

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Term 4 2019 Inquiry: Goodbye Kindy, Hello School (The Sacred Space)

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The Sacred Space set up with provocations, information and strategies for dealing with worries. Our worry tree, where staff documented children’s questions and worries about leaving Kindy and starting school.

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Term 4 2019 Inquiry - “Goodbye Kindy, Hello School”

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Term 4 2019 Inquiry - “Goodbye Kindy, Hello School”

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It was amazing to see how much the children had to be thankful for as we reflected on our year at Kindy (as a way of preparing to say goodbye). This Sacred Space was designed to:
- encourage children to take quiet moments to reflect during play time on what they are thankful for and placing a rock in the bowl.
- provide a space to record children's comments in “our book of thanks” and introducing the concept of prayer as a way to say thank you to God.

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Critical reflection on 'SOAPS' as a method of biblical study:
This is quite a personal way of engaging with biblical text, more suited to Christian Education than Christian studies as it invites a personal response and application. If instead, we asked the question "What would this mean for a Christian?", it would be more suitable for Christian Studies.

This method could be suited to Early Childhood settings with some adaption. After sharing biblical text in whatever form (children's picture bible, Godly Play experience etc) children could be asked a familiar inquiry question such as "What did you see, what did you think, what did you wonder" and be given some time to consider their responses while listening to some reflective music before sharing with the group. Inviting this type of response falls under the umbrella of Christian Education, especially when followed with an invitation to engage in prayer.

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How has 'The Three Worlds of the Text' biblical study informed my learning about the nature of God?
In summary, this passage reveals much about the nature of Jesus as the Son of God. He is relational and values us all, regardless of social status, ethnicity, gender or religion. He knows us intimately, our secrets and our inner selves and loves us unconditionally. He is a loving and compassionate God. Please see attached document for in-depth analysis of learning.

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Reflecting the suitability of the Ignation Method/Picture It as a method of studying scripture in the Early Years

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Our Sacred Space

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Term 3 2020 Inquiry: Our Questions About God

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Term 3 2020 Inquiry: Our Questions About God

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Wall display documenting children's discussion and questions prompted by the Sacred Space song exploration of "My God Is So Big"

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Brainstorming session generated from thoughts on Equip 2 sessions

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REFERENCES

Berk, L 2014, Child development, 9th edition, Pearson International Edition, United States.

Department of Education, Employment and Workplaxe Relations (DEEWR) 2009, Belonging, being and becoming: The early years learning framework, Australian Government.

Grajczonek, J, Ryan, M 2007, Religious education in early childhood, Lumino Press, Australia.

Lutheran Education Australia 2015, Christian Studies Curriculum Framework, Openbook Howden, Adelaide.

Nye, R 2009, Children’s Spirituality and why it matters, Church House Publishing, London.

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Conversations About God 22/7

Our term three inquiry falls under the umbrella of ‘Global Citizenship’. Staff have decided to explore this theme through music, “Music is for everyone: Music brings us together”. I wondered what children might learn about the nature of God through song, and selected some songs to facilitate this line of inquiry, drawing on CSCF: Christian Beliefs Key Idea 1: Children explain their ideas about God and who God is.

The discussion with children documented on the attached file occurred during Morning Meeting On the 22/7. It was prompted by our Sacred Table display that supports children to explore themes connected to a song we have been learning, ‘My God is So Big’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDCTNhYqEKo

* See word document attachment for ideas about moving forward with this line of Inquiry.

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Planning: Using the Bible Commentary method of scriptural study to prepare a unit of work based on 1 Corinthians 12:14 - 22. This text was selected to support understandings that although we are all made differently, we come together to form our community here at Calvary Kindy. Just like different instruments look and sound different, we can come together and make beautiful music.

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After using the Bible Commentary method to study 1 Corinthians 12, I developed the following 'Godly Play' style script and arranged the Sacred Space.

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Inquiry is always interesting with young children: This documents a tangent we went on during our inquiry, prompted by discussion inspired by one of our Sacred Space song explorations of the song "My God is So Big".....

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Christian Studies man made vs God made lesson plan

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Thoughts from Equip 2