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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 5 To the end of the Earth
In this unit, Year 3 will explore key teachings about the Holy Trinity, the Mass, and the early Church. By the end of the unit, pupils will be able to connect Scripture passages (such as the stories of Emmaus and the Great Commission) to parts of the Mass, deepening their understanding of how the liturgy reflects biblical events. They will use religious language to describe the mystery of the Trinity and recognise symbols of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, such as the sign of the cross, which serves as a reminder of their baptism and connection to the Christian community. Students will learn prayers expressing belief in the Trinity, including the Glory Be and Come Holy Spirit, and recognise Mary’s role in prayer, linking this with the Catholic tradition of asking for her intercession.
The unit will also help pupils connect the life of Jesus in the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul’s letters, understanding the various forms of writing used in Scripture to communicate God’s message. Through critical reflection, pupils will consider the meaning of events such as the recognition of Jesus on the road to Emmaus and the feelings of the disciples after the Ascension. They will explore symbols of the Trinity and discuss their significance, potentially visiting a local church to observe these symbols in context. In response to their learning, pupils will reflect on how the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples and consider how they, too, can be guided by the Spirit in their lives.
Our Catholic Social Teaching focus will be on the Common Good. Children will investigate the impact of Mary’s Meals, discussing how ensuring every child has access to food and education reflects the values of the common good and Mary’s nurturing love for all.
The Road to Emmaus
Children listened to the Scripture story of the Supper at Emmaus, reflecting on the moment when Jesus revealed Himself in the breaking of the bread.
They made links to the Mass, such as:
- Jesus joining the disciples on the road to Emmaus (The Gathering)
- When Jesus explained the scriptures to the disciples (Liturgy of the Word)
- Jesus breaking the bread (Liturgy of the Eucharist)
- The disciples ran to share the Good News (Dismissal)
Children then explored famous artistic representations of this scene, including 'Supper at Emmaus' by Caravaggio. Inspired by these paintings, they created their own paintings, capturing the wonder and recognition of Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
Pentecost
Children have been learning about Pentecost. They explored how the disciples, along with Mary, prayed together in the upper room, waiting in hope for the gift God had promised them. Each child created a flame, describing how the disciples might have felt, such as hopeful, or wrote a prayer based on hope. They then 'huddled together' to listen to the scripture (Acts 2:1-13), just as the disciples had done. Finally, we discussed how we can still ask for Mary's prayers today and how she supports us, just as she supported the disciples, as our Mother in Heaven.