Resources for Junior Cycle Religious Education - New Specification

The new 'specification' for Junior Cycle Religious Education is available here.

This developing page will gradually build up relevant resources - esp for 1st year level for study from Sept 2019. Hopefully you'll find plenty of useful material on Faitharts.ie esp in the film (here and here) music (here and here) and poetry sections (here, here and here) . However some of this material will apply mainly to senior classes, so this page will be focussed specifically on junior level, 1st year primarily for now.

****See below for resources in Film, Music, Art and Literature.

From the Specification Document:

Links with Junior Cycle Framework – Statements of Learning (SOL)
 ‘Students will engage with a wide range of texts in narrative and aesthetic forms and explore the meaning that people assign to certain religious texts’.
‘Students will research different communities of faith within Ireland today and also examine how Christianity has contributed to Irish culture and heritage.’

Key Skills:
‘Students will imagine ways that they can be a force for good in the world and take inspiration from sharing stories of people of courage, conviction and imagination.
‘Students will access and engage with oral, written and multi-modal texts to explore a variety of religious beliefs and traditions and develop religious literacy.’

Strands:
‘The specification for Junior Cycle Religious Education is built around three inter-connected strands:
Exploring questions, Expressing beliefs, and Living our Values’.
Strand 1: (Expressing beliefs) – Learning Outcomes
Students should be able to:  ‘investigate how Christianity has contributed to Irish culture and heritage’ (LO 1.4)
Students should be able to: ‘explore the presence of religious themes in contemporary culture through an examination of art, music, literature or film’. (LO 1.5)
Strand 2 (Exploring Questions) Learning Outcome
Students should be able to:  ‘research artistic, architectural or archaeological evidence that shows ways in which people have searched for meaning and purpose in life'. (LO 2.1)
Students should be able to:  ‘explore how different narratives/stories, religious and non-religious, express an understanding of creation/the natural world, and consider their meaning and relevance for today'.  (LO 2.3)

*LO = Learning Outcome

Assessment
2 Classroom based assessments (CBAs) and an ‘Assessment Task’.
Arts relevance - Classroom Based Assessment 2: The Human Search for Meaning:
‘Students will, over a specified time, explore artistic or architectural or archaeological evidence that shows ways that people have engaged in religious belief/the human search for meaning and purpose of life.’

From Glossary of Terms
Architectural evidence: For the purpose of the specification, the term ‘architectural evidence’ refers to buildings and physical structures.
Artistic evidence: For the purpose of the specification, the term ‘artistic evidence’ can be taken to mean work produced by an artist/craftsperson/musician.
Analyse – study or examine something in detail, break down in order to bring out the essential elements or structure; identify parts and relationships, and to interpret information to reach conclusions.
Appreciate - acknowledge and reflect upon the value or merit of something.
Explore -  systematically look into something closely for the purpose of discovery; to scrutinise or probe

Learning Outcome
‘explore the presence of religious themes in contemporary culture through an examination of art, music, literature or film’. (LO 1.5)

Download worksheets for classroom use on this topic.

Question that needs clarification: What are the time parameters for ‘contemporary’? 21st Century? Lifetime of students? Vague?

Film
Issues: relevance to specification, suitability (PG or 12-rated films?) ‘contemporary’, full films or clips (recommended),
Useful websites/sources
Wingclips – ready made clips on a wide variety of themes... stream, free downloads, paid downloads.
www.wingclips.com
IMDB –Internet Movie Database – huge range of information on most films ever made.
www.imbd.com
Decent Films – perceptive reviews of many relevant films
www.decentfilms.com
Plugged In - Movie guide from Focus on the Family
https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/
Catholic News Service – movie reviews, with any eye to moral and spiritual content.
https://www.catholicnews.com/movie-reviews

Suggested Films - (ratings in brackets, where available)

All or Nothing: Sr Clare Crockett (2018) – documentary film, story of inspiring religious sister.
Amazing Grace (2006): story of William Wilberforce, anti-slavery campaigner, themes of justice, forgiveness, vocation. (PG)
Amish Grace (2010): aftermath of school shooting themes/conflicts relating to forgiveness, not graphic. (PG)
Angela’s Christmas (2017) – Short animation from Brown Bag, based on Frank McCourt story.
Bella (2006): two troubled people sharing problems. Themes of crisis, hope, belief in life. !Abortion theme. (PG)
The Blind Side (2009): - Christian family takes in homeless boy who excels at sport, themes of hospitality, acceptance, self-esteem. (12)
Evan Almighty (2007): modern take on the Noah story. Themes of image of God, damage to environment. (PG)
Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017): Positive view of prayer in life of young child. (PG)
Gravity (2013): adrift in space, character reflects on prayer. (12)
Les Miserables (2012): Musical version, themes of forgiveness, redemption, esp early scene where Bishop helps Valjean. !prostitution theme later.  (12)
The Miracle Maker (2000) – animated version of life of Jesus. (G)
Risen (2016) – Roman soldier is tasked with finding the body of the risen Jesus. (12)
Sophie Scholl, The Final Days (2005): young girl campaigns peacefully against the Nazis. Themes of courage, conscience, discrimination. (12)
Selma (2014): Story of Martin Luther King and march at Selma. Religious motivation of King. Themes of racism, discrimination. ! Language(12)
Soul Surfer (2011): young girl loses arm in shark attack, but keeps her faith in God and rebuilds her life. Themes of faith and courage. (12)
The Star (2017) – animated version of the Christmas story. (PG)
13th Day (2009): Modern version of the story of Fatima. Theme of hope, religious experience.
Tree of Life (2011): Difficult, non-linear film, themes of nature and grace. Striking creation scene. Childhood prayers. (12)
Up (2009): animation, opening sequence a fine exploration of the ups and downs of marriage. (G)
The Way (2010): Pilgrims on the Camino. Themes of wonder, regret, pilgrimage, ritual. ! Some drug use. (12)

Music
Possible approaches –secular music, contemporary Christian music (CCM), contemporary liturgical music.

Useful websites/resources
Spotify: huge range of spiritual music, playlists, free version available.
www.spotify.com
YouTube: huge range of music, with videos, often with lyrics on screen.
www.youtube.com    https://www.youtube.com/musicpremium (paid streaming service)
Charts: - latest top 100 pop charts
https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/
Christian Charts: Billboard charts for latest Christian songs.
https://www.billboard.com/charts/christian-songs
Google: search ‘lyrics + name of song – often the lyrics appear straight away from Google rather than having to go to a specific lyrics site. Not all verses may be visible – look for discreet ‘more’ button/arrow at end.
www.google.com

7 Digital – site for buying individual tracks to download.
https://ie.7digital.com/
iTunes/Apple Music
Buy individual tracks or subscription service.
https://www.apple.com/ie/itunes/  https://www.apple.com/ie/music/ (sub)

Performers/Composers – Religious
John Michael Talbot – veteran singer-songwriter, still recording. Songs for reflection/liturgy
Ian Callanan – Irish composer/arranger of liturgical music
Liam Lawton – Irish composer/performer of liturgical and general spiritual music.
Marie Dunne CHF – Irish composer of liturgical/spiritual songs, incl in Irish language.
Matt Maher – contemporary Christian worship music
Audrey Assad – contemporary Christian reflective music
Amy Grant – contemporary Christian music rock/pop.
Matt Redman - contemporary Christian music rock/pop.
Phil Wickham - contemporary Christian music rock/pop.
The Maccabeats – Jewish acapella group.
Steve Warner – American Composer, albums with Notre Dame Folk Choir
Sal Solo – UK singer-songwriter now based in USA.  Teen orientated. Pop/rock.
Dublin Gospel Choir – gospel and popular secular.
John Angotti – US based singer-songwriter, light rock.

Performers/Composers – Secular, with religious themes at times
Mumford and Sons - folk/rock
Liam O Maonlaoi – Irish folk/Celtic
Beth Nielsen Chapman – Country/folk/pop/roots Nashville singer-songwriter
Yusuf Islam – formerly Cat Stevens, before conversion to Islam
Kirk Franklin – American Gospel
Jimmy McCarthy – Irish singer-songwriter, folk/roots, mystic
Johnny Duhan – Irish singer-songwriter, folk/roots, mystic
U2 - Irish rock group
Van Morrison – Irish singer-songwriter.
*Recommended – songs from Emmanuel concerts, mixed genres, aimed at young people. ‘Emmanuel 2019’
Search ‘Emmanuel 2019’ on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes

Literature
Poetry – short, convenient, accessible.
Explore performance/slam poetry
Students’ (or teacher’s!) own poems
Poems in students’ English texts?

Sources:
New Pilgrim Path – features poem of the week (not necessarily contemporary)
www.newpilgrimpath.ie
Malcolm Guite – modern poet, many sonnets with religious themes
https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/blog/
Gerard Kelly – modern Christian performance poetry. Sample:
https://www.facebook.com/ucbmedia/posts/we-love-this-poem-by-gerard-kelly-be-encouragedthis-godwho-watches-worldssees-my/10153213927428264/
Brendan O’Regan (!) – ironic, playful  poems with religious themes
http://www.faitharts.ie/ownpoetry.html

Art
Suggested – create slide shows with modern religious art. Follow up with appropriate/generic worksheet.
Use modern Stations of the Cross, art work conveying the Beatitudes, scenes from the lives of religious figures etc
Sources:
Elizabeth Wang – modern artist, recently deceased, site searchable by theme. Many works have commentary by artist.
http://radiantlight.org.uk/
Chris Gollon – UK artist, striking Stations of the Cross
https://www.chrisgollon.com/collection/stations-of-the-cross/
Longford Cathedral – Modern sacred art in Longford Cathedral
http://www.faitharts.ie/Downloads/May%202015-art%20in%20mels.pdf
Anne Murphy – Irish artist working in enamel.
http://www.eala-enamels.com/index.htm
J. D. FILIPE – Portuguese  painter – modern icons in traditional style
https://joaodfilipe.weebly.com/