RE in Year 1

[Enilec21]

Hi there, wondering if you can chill me out about this!

We’ve just been told our Y1 kiddos are “going to be learning about the symbolism of bread and wine in Christianity. For this, we'd like the children to share some white bread and blackcurrant squash”.

Is it horrendously horrible that I don’t like this?! I don’t know if 5yo’s should know this much about it and its made me uncomfortable. How much detail will the teacher go into? It seems unlikely the teacher can skirt around the fact bread and red wine represents the broken body and blood of Jesus Christ.

We don’t have older children so this is all new to us.

I sometimes think experiencing something, which this is, allows dc to consider the validity of what it represents and accept or reject it on a personal level. Knowing some Christians do this is worthwhile. Knowing plenty don’t is also worthwhile. I don’t get it but I made up
my own mind. They might have something else in mind for the other religions they will study. Why don’t you ask for the RE curriculum overview at the school?

DDs class went to a mosque. Some dc didn’t go (church types and atheists) but the visit was there to promote understanding of others. It’s not about changing your beliefs.

@Needmorelego "No @CurlewKate - because they will do age appropriate activities in RE at this age (5 year olds remember!)"

To be honest, I can't think of an age appropriate explanation of Holy Communion for 5 year olds.....

Since most people in the U.K. subscribe to a faith and many more works of art and culture connect with faith traditions, religious literacy is incredibly important. This is perhaps even more true for children from a non religious background so they can understand the significant role it plays in many peoples lives in modern Britain.

Learning about the Eucharist is just one aspect of this. But since it’s the major Christian ritual is probably not a bad place to start.

@CurlewKate I dunno...... maybe something like - "as part of the service the members of the church eat a small piece of bread and drink a mouthful of wine as a way of remembering Jesus".
They don't need to go into details at age 5.
I always thought Holy Communion was just a Catholic thing and only in the last few years (I'm 49) l learned other Christian churches do it. I don't understand the actual meaning because I'm not Christian.

Unless they are learning about consubstantiation and transubstantiation then I'm not interested

@Needmorelego That is the whole point of the RE curriculum. It helps dc understand but they don’t have to agree with it. I think it’s a good way to approach RE teaching.

@TizerorFizz exactly.
It's "Religious Education" not "Religious Instruction".
Some parents seem to not realise that.