These exemplar narratives follow the core learning chosen by the Holy Cross cluster group/working group and contained in the diocesan planning exemplars:
P6 November short version (click to open)
P6 November long version (click to open)

Exemplar narrative 1:

Throughout November in Term 2, the children will explore the feast days of All Saints, All Souls and St Andrew.  In particular the children will explore the concept of death and will recognise the meaning of Eternal Life and living forever with God in heaven.  They will be able to confidently recite the Prayer for the Dead (Eternal rest...) and will understand that we pray for those who have died in the hope that they will share in heaven.  The children will consider the concept of Purgatory, and the meaning of Faith as our pathway to heaven.

The children will also study the life of St Andrew, our patron, saint, through the Gospel of Matthew.

Exemplar narrative 1:

St. Mark’s Primary School, Hamilton:

Planned activities: 

- Investigation about the Catholic meaning of eternal life and Purgatory.

- Study the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus from Bible passages e.g. Matthew 27 1-50, 28 1-10.

- Children recreate resurrection scene through drama, narrating the story to the class.

- Learn the traditional Prayer to the Holy Spirit (Come Holy Spirit), De Profundis (Out of the Depths) and Memorare.

- Create a personal prayer for the Holy Souls.

- Discuss Armistice Day and the significance of the poppy. Also observe whole school two minutes silence in open area.

- Create a personal commemorative November cross.

- Take part in a whole school assembly for the Faithful Departed.

- Attend Mass on November 1st as whole school.

We had a class discussion about the meaning of eternal life and how we can live forever with the risen Jesus. We also discussed the meaning of Purgatory and why it is important that we help the souls on their journey to heaven through prayer. We held a class prayer service in honour of the people in Purgatory and those in heaven. We studied and discussed the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ through class discussion, looking at famous artist’s impressions and Bible passages. We read Matthew 28 1-10 and carried out a drama depicting Christ’s resurrection in groups. On November 1st the whole school attended mass to celebrate our Faithful Departed. 

The children learned the traditional Prayer to the Holy Spirit (Come Holy Spirit), De Profundis (Out of the Depths) and Memorare. The children discussed the deep meaning of the prayers and created their own personal prayer dedicated to their loved ones in heaven. The children also discussed Armistice Day and what the poppy represents. We held a whole school two minutes silence in the school open area in the Holy Souls honour. The children were very interested learning about Armistice Day and researched this as part of their homework, presenting their work to the class.

The children created a November cross decorating it with the names of their family members and friends in heaven. We then discussed where we could display our work and had a prayer service singing ‘O bread of heaven’ from the TIOF suggested hymns. Primary 3 held a school assembly on the Faithful Departed. All classes attended and participated in the prayer service. 

(Editor's note:  these activities would take longer than the suggested timescale in the planning exemplars envisages)