Evaluating creativity in the teaching of religion in Year 3

Abstract

In this dissertation, an attempt is made to make the Religion lesson as stimulating and effective as possible, by making use of creative techniques and methods, thus putting emphasis on a child-centred approach. In the first part of this dissertation, the word 'creativity' is defined in the educational context. It is then related to Religious Education, in order to show how important it is to implement creative activities in teaching Religion to 7-year-old children who are still in the concrete operational stage of learning. The second part includes observations and interviews, which were carried out amongst State primary school teachers of Year 3. The last part identifies the problems and consequently, offers suggestions for creative teaching in Religious Education. As a concrete contribution, a creative activity book for pupils and teachers has been drawn up, with the aim of producing long-term learning. It is hoped to create in Year 3 children an awareness of the person of Jesus, his life and his teachings. In this way, children get to know Jesus better, love him and look on him as their friend.