This week, we recapped our RE learning about the Church and how it began through Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The children learned how the Holy Spirit gave people the courage and strength to spread God’s word and teach others how to live as followers of Jesus. We also explored how everyone is welcomed into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism and how the Church community supports us in our faith journey.
As part of our discussions, the children thoughtfully reflected on the people in our own community who help and support others. They shared wonderful ideas including firefighters, paramedics, supermarket staff, Rudy our long-serving lollipop man, road sweepers and police officers. We talked about why these roles are so important in our everyday lives and how these people show care and kindness to others, linking this to our learning about belonging to God’s family and helping those around us.
Inspired by our conversations about community helpers, the children enjoyed taking part in imaginative firefighter role-play. We discussed how, in an emergency, we can call 999 and the police, firefighters or ambulance service will come to help us. The children dressed up in firefighter uniforms, used the ‘hoses’ and worked together to put out the flames with water sprays. This exciting activity helped the children understand the important role firefighters play in caring for people and keeping our community safe, while also linking to our RE learning about helping and supporting others.
The children also enjoyed role-playing in our restaurant and café areas. We talked about the important jobs people have within cafés and restaurants and how they help to care for others by preparing and serving food. The children named their cafés after the chefs and took on different roles including chefs, waiters and waitresses, customers and delivery workers. They practised greeting customers politely, taking orders, preparing meals and even warming baby bottles. The children also answered phone calls for takeaway deliveries and made sure customers left with “full tummies” and happy smiles!
Through this role-play, the children developed their understanding of how hard people work in restaurants and cafés and why it is important to always be polite, respectful and thankful for the care and service others provide.
