For several years now, our Catholic community has been working together to update the way we share our faith with children and young people. An updated version of the Draft New Curriculum for Religious Education with references to the relevant sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is now available on the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta website, together with a guide to help community members learn more.
Where should I start reading?
Start with the Guide to Understanding the Draft New Curriculum. Then, to understand the intention of the curriculum, go first to reading about the dispositions - the head, heart and hand paradigm we have explained in our recent videos. This is central to the curriculum. This then flows into the rationale; the "why" for the curriculum. Both of these then shape the learning cycles that your students engage in in the classroom.
What is my child learning this term?
The public sharing of the curriculum gives you an opportunity to see the learning cycle explained in greater detail. This is the same documentation that teachers use to guide the learning. The learning cycles each grade are engaged in this term are listed below:
| Kindergarten | Early Stage 1, Cycle 2 | Who is my neighbour? |
| Year 1 | Stage 1, Cycle 2 | What is prayer? |
| Year 2 | Stage 1, Cycle 8 | What is Sacred Scripture? |
| Year 3 | Stage 2, Cycle 1 | What is a Sacrament? |
| Year 4 | Stage 2, Cycle 3 | Who are our heroes? |
| Year 5 | Stage 3, Cycle 5 | What does it mean to think about my thinking? |
| Year 6 | Stage 3, Cycle 6 | What is human dignity? |
