Spirituality across the Curriculum

Reading

 At Stoke Canon C of E Primary School, we inspire spiritual development in reading by encouraging our children to read diverse, thought-provoking texts which develop their ability to respectfully discuss, question and comprehend our world. In providing books to appeal to all interests and to reflect (and sometimes challenge) our values, we are broadening our children’s perspectives of the world, their empathy and understanding of each other, and their ability to respect different views, faiths and cultures. We have a special wellbeing section which we have developed to support pupils who are struggling and to help them make sense of challenging emotions. We give our children the opportunity to go on exciting journeys of discovery through literature which helps our children reflect upon their place in our world: spiritually, emotionally and socially. It gives children the opportunity to discuss human values, empathy, and ethical dilemmas which spark discussions about inner growth and relationships.

 Writing

 At Stoke Canon C of E Primary School allows the children to develop their spirituality by seeking a connection to an abstract concept in poetry, non-fiction or through stories. It also allows them to share their personal thoughts or empathise with others through writing, role play and debating. Writing allows the children to be creative and use their imagination and to appreciate the beauty of language in a range of texts.

Maths

 In Maths we promote spiritual development by promoting a mastery approach using the White Rose scheme, enabling all children to learn and enjoy maths and deepen their understanding of key ideas needed to underpin future learning. Learning is supported and scaffolded through discussion, questioning and tasks. Collaboration is encouraged when exploring new concepts, where children support and value each other’s ideas to build stem sentences as an aid to learning. Noticing the positive and encouraging children to share misconceptions is encouraged.

RE

Spiritual development is an important part of our RE curriculum at Stoke Canon C of E Primary School. Through the Early Years RE curriculum, children are encouraged to marvel at the natural world around them through being introduced to the story of creation; thus leading to an ever increasing awe and wonder which will stay with them through their childhood. In Key Stage 1, Spiritual development is promoted through developing natural curiosity and increased understanding of different religions such as Judaism and Islam. In Lower Key Stage 2, children are encouraged to use questioning skills as they come across other religions, as well as comparing the similarities and differences between religions already studied. In Upper Key Stage 2, children are taught the skills to debate and question within RE lessons, developing their own unique worldview, as well as understanding and respecting that of others around them. We have also included new units looking at racism and looking after our environment to support children to develop a deeper understanding of the issues that surround them.

Science

At Stoke Canon C of E Primary School, we believe it's important to make links between spirituality and science education. Science naturally engenders a sense of awe and wonder from observing animals in their natural habitats to being amazed by the results of a chemical reaction. We capitalise on this by providing opportunities for children to marvel at the natural world which promotes observational skills.  These experiences open the doors for children to see how scientists observe, reflect and change their approaches during investigations. This naturally generates curiosity, and the children ask questions about the beauty of the world around them. We nurture children to ask those big questions and find their own answers through science. As educators, we not only teach the facts but also aim for those WOW moments in and out of the classroom.

History

At Stoke Canon C of E Primary School we study history to learn about and learn from the past, being able to notice the differences and challenges faced by people in different periods of history. This fosters spiritual development by encouraging the children to be grateful for all freedoms and possibilities we enjoy today, in addition to learning big lessons from the highs and lows of our human history. We try to put ourselves in the other’s shoes as we step back in time and try to understand what life was like for people back then. Teaching history gives us the opportunity to celebrate the great achievements in our world and those amazing moments when something significant happened such as the moon landing. Children will have the opportunity to develop their own opinions from these lessons as we deepen our understanding of the world around us through human history. We can encourage spiritual development by inviting children to reflect and be proud of the part they can play in today’s history.

Geography

Geography is key in helping children to make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It is about how the world is formed and how it is changing. Our school vision is ‘Nurture and Grow together' and we encourage our pupils to develop a responsible and caring approach to supporting the school. We encourage them to marvel at the world which God has made for us to live in. Our geography topics cover both physical and human geography. Our vision is underpinned by the parable of the Sower, we seek to help children to think about their place in the world. We want them to understand their responsibility to people and the environment whilst at the same time developing a sense of awe and wonder Over recent years, we have also sought to introduce children to the challenges of environmental geography and the responsibility that we all have to protect our planet. We go on lots of trips, so our children get the first-hand experience of the beautiful environment we live in. We visit local areas such as Killerton and Ashclyst Forest as well as places that are further afield such as Dartmoor.

Art

Our art curriculum at Stoke Canon C of E Primary School supports spirituality of the world in many ways. The children look closely at the world around them and explore the closer details and natural beauty of the world through observational drawing. When using a variety of media, the children look closely at the properties of colours and how they resemble the world around them. We support the children to reflect on theirs and others work in art, responding respectfully to others. The children are encouraged to explore the styles of art and media that they enjoy.