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The Good Shepherd
Catholic Primary School
“I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me”. John 10:14"
Branch 2 Prophecy & Promise
This half term, Year 3 are focusing on two key themes: the Mass and Prophecy & Promise.
In the first half, children are learning about the significance of the Mass. Pupils are discussing the importance of Sunday as a holy day, connecting it to the Creation story in Genesis. They are exploring how Catholics celebrate the Mass, learning about its structure—from the Introductory Rites, to the Liturgy of the Word, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist—and becoming familiar with the special prayers, symbols, and actions that mark the service.
In the second half of the term, the focus will be Prophecy and Promise. Pupils are exploring Joseph’s trust in God and learning about the messages brought by angels in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, linking these to the prophecies of Isaiah. They are considering how the themes of Advent and Christmas represent hope and faith for Christians.
Our Catholic Social Teaching principle for this term will be the Preferential Option for the Poor. During Advent, children will learn how they can make a difference by helping others in need. Through this theme, they will explore ways to support and uplift those who are less fortunate, reflecting the spirit of compassion and generosity that Advent calls us to embrace.
Understanding the Significance of Sunday, Rest, and Worship in the Church
Year 3 have been learning about the significance of Sunday for Christians, focusing on how it is a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, rest, and to gather as a community for worship. They linked this to the teachings of Genesis, where God rested on the seventh day, setting an example for Christians. This week, they explored the key objects, people, and symbols in the church that help Christians pray. These include the altar lectern, pulpit and tabernacle, as well as the important roles of the priest and the congregation. They identified these people, objects and symbols in our parish church.
A Visit from Father Mark
The children were lucky to have Fr. Mark visit their class to talk about the Mass. He helped them understand the different parts of the Mass more deeply, explaining what each part means and why it’s important. From the opening prayers to the final blessing, Fr. Mark showed them how every part of the Mass helps them feel closer to God and to each other. He also told them about the first Mass at the Last Supper, when Jesus gave us the Eucharist. Fr. Mark explained the special role of the Holy Spirit, especially during the consecration.
Travelling Crib at Lambeth Palace
Year 3 had a visit to the Travelling Crib at Lambeth Palace, where they engaged with the nativity story in a hands-on, memorable way. The journey began with Mary, as the children learned about her deep faith and trust in God as she prepared for the birth of her son, Jesus. They met Elizabeth, who, with the angel’s message, shared in the joy of her son John’s miraculous birth. The children were fascinated by the traveler and his loyal donkey, symbolising Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. They then encountered the shepherds, faithfully watching over their sheep when they heard the good news, reminding us of the humble beginnings of Jesus’ story. Finally, the wise man following the star helped the children understand the significance of Jesus’ birth for people near and far. This visit brought the nativity to life, helping students connect with the Christmas story in a meaningful way that deepens their understanding of faith and the joy of Jesus’ arrival into our world.
Lectio Divina: Lamb of God
Linking to their learning about the Mass, the children participated in a Lectio Divina focused on the "Lamb of God" from John 1:29, where John the Baptist declares:
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
During the session, the children reflected on the significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God, understanding how this title connects to the Mass and the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. They took time to listen, reflect, pray, and share their thoughts, deepening their understanding.
Mass Booklets
Children have been creating their own Mass booklets, learning about the different parts of the Mass and their importance in our faith.
- Entering the Church: They focused on the importance of genuflecting toward the tabernacle, making the Sign of the Cross, and preparing their hearts to meet Jesus.
- Introductory Rites: This includes the Sign of the Cross, the Penitential Act, and the Gloria, helping us come together as a community and prepare for worship.
- Liturgy of the Word: The children explored the first and second readings, Psalm, and Gospel, learning how God speaks to us through His Word and how we respond in faith.
- Liturgy of the Eucharist: They reflected on the offertory, the consecration, and Holy Communion, understanding the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
- Concluding Rites: This final part reminds us to go forth and share God’s love in our daily lives.
Secret Messages
In today's lesson, the children received secret messages! They were overjoyed and thought about how it must feel to receive an important message meant just for you.
This experience led us into their learning about the Annunciation from Luke's Gospel. We explored how God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary with a special message about His plan. The children reflected on Mary's courage and her trust in God, even when His plan might have seemed difficult to understand. Children considered how we can have faith in God’s plans in our own lives.
Celebration of the Word: Matthew 1:18-25
Children reflected on the Gospel of Matthew, which tells the story of Joseph’s trust in God during a time of uncertainty. Joseph listened to God’s message and courageously accepted his role in God’s plan by taking Mary as his wife.
The children engaged deeply with the story, thinking about how Joseph might have felt and how we too can trust in God’s plan for us. Together, we thought about ways we could trust in God in our own lives, such as helping others, showing kindness, or listening for God’s voice in challenging moments. This became our mission for the week: to show, through our actions, that we trust in Him.
Advent Symbols Hunt
As part of their learning about how Christians prepare for Christmas, the children explored the significance of Advent through an interactive playground hunt. They searched for important signs and symbols of the season, including stars, Advent wreaths, evergreen leaves, nativity scenes, Jesse trees, and purple garments. Working in teams, they matched each symbol with its meaning, deepening their understanding of how these traditions help us prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. This activity brought the themes of Advent to life and reminded the children of its special message of hope and anticipation.
Preferential Option for the Poor
This term, our Catholic Social Teaching focus is on the preferential option for the poor. The children have been putting their faith into action by working with Timegivers to create thoughtful stars with messages of hope and kindness for the homeless. These stars, along with baked goods prepared by Reception, were delivered to The Upper Room.
The children also designed colourful bunting to brighten the children’s hospital, spreading joy and love to young patients. These meaningful activities helped the children understand how they can live out Jesus’ call to care for the poor and vulnerable in their own lives.
Our scripture focus for the week was Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus declares:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour."
Isaiah's Prophecy
The children have been learning about Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, which speaks of Immanuel being born as a sign of hope. They explored how this prophecy was fulfilled by matching symbols with explanations to show their meanings. The symbols included stars, which represent the guidance of the Magi; the cross, symbolising Jesus' sacrifice; angels, who announced Jesus’ birth; and the crown, representing Jesus as King. They also looked at gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, brought by the Wise Men to honour Jesus.
After these activities, the children created posters that connected these symbols to the prophecy and its fulfilment, helping them understand the deep connections between Isaiah’s words and the birth of Jesus.