Science and theCatholic Faith – Origins of the universe and Human Life

Lesson topic: AweTeacher DateYear No. of studentsSet/MA Support staff

Learning objectives • To explore • What is awe? • Why do we experience awe.• What is the impact of experiencing awe?

RECD: Revelation: the Church’s teaching about faith (e.g. gift, virtue) and the place of reason in the search for God.

Meeting the individual needs of the students (details of students with SEN/G&T etc…)Pre-supposed knowledge/ possible concepts/ misconceptions

The students will have encountered the word ‘awesome’ in popular speech, usually in relation to something that is merely ‘good’.

Resources: PowerPoint, work booklet IWB for clips/ pictures.

Sequence of learning activities

T& L activities Differentiation: (planned stretching / simplifying activitiesReference to: SEN; G&T; underachievers; relevant dept target groups (name students here)

Sign post for progress(when is progress going to be assessed and how? What alternative activities are planned if students do not understand?)

StarterDiscuss with the class when have the heard the tem Awe or Awesome – what does it mean. Share the definition and spend some time unpacking its meaning. Record the definition in their books.

Depending on their life experiences this is a difficult concept to grasp and relte to.

Development

(Break down the lesson into a variety of teaching activities that are both engaging and appropriate to the KS/level of the course.)

Watch the clips and show class the pictures and share the information on slides 3,4,5, and 6.

Class to make notes on why these things are awesome.

Discuss• Are humans are the only

creatures on earth to

More able – refer back to the definition – why do these meet the definition of being awesome?

Break down bigger

Notes on why they are awesome (Or perhaps not awesome to the pupils!).

Pupils verbally share responses.

experience some sense of awe and wonder? If so, why?

• Why would God give human beings a sense of awe and wonder about the world we live in?

Encourage discussion. Think -pair -share will help more reluctant participants and draw out discussion to class level.

Pupils read the article in their booklets:Using three different colour pens highlight information on • Why we feel Awe?• What is the impact of Awe? • How to have awesome

experiences?

Feedback and share their answers (and extension ideas) with the rest of the class.

Class write about their own experience of awe.

Use St Augustine’s quote to facilitate reflection.

questions into more manageable ones for less able.

Model for less able.

Extension: link to their lives once complete. Do they have opportunities for awe? How can they create opportunities to experience awe?

(The example can be updated to be one of the class teacher. Awe can be felt in less obscure places than the Inca trial – remind them of the e.g’s at the beginning of the lesson.)

Participation in discussion.

Highlighted article.

Own example

Assessment opportunities and homework

For more on Awe watch DACHER KELTNER on YouTube as a starting point.

Opportunities for SMSC

Opportunities to wonder and feel awe at creation and look for opportunities for finding awe in their lives.