16
visitchurches.org.uk Age Range EYFS Key Stage 1 Curriculum Links RE Number of Lessons One Location Church Precious Things Teachers’ Resource © CCT
visitchurches.org.uk
Age Range
EYFS
Key Stage 1
Curriculum Links
RE
Number of Lessons
One
Location
Church
Precious Things
Teachers’ Resource
© C
CT
visitchurches.org.uk
Lesson Aims
• To introduce students to key features within Christian churches
• To help students understand the term ‘precious’ and why
churches and their key features may be considered ‘precious’
Description
‘Precious Things’ is a common and popular topic that is found on
several RE syllabuses currently being implemented in British
primary schools. This lesson provides students with the
opportunity to explore the topic within the unique and inspiring
setting of their local historic church. They will see and experience
the key features of a church in situ and consider for themselves
why these features, and the building itself, might be considered
precious.
Precious Things
Overview
1
Contents
Lesson Plan Pg 2-4
Finding the Inscriptions
Teachers’ Notes Pg 5-7
The Trail
Resources Pg 8-14
Trail stops, worksheets,
examples, and instructions
Information Pg 15
About this publication
visitchurches.org.uk
Suitable For
Churches with intact interiors.
Find your local CCT church at visitchurches.org.uk
If you wish to deliver this activity in a church cared for by
Churches Conservation Trust, please contact
[email protected] to confirm availability and book the
building.
If you wish to use a church not cared for by Churches
Conservation Trust, please contact the relevant parish or diocese
in advance.
Precious Things
Overview
2
visitchurches.org.uk
You Will Need
• Trail Stop sheets x 5
• Stained glass window
photo (if required)
• Precious Things recording
sheets
• Boards
• Pens / pencils
• Crayons / colouring pencils
• Watch or clock to time trail
stations
Introduction
Upon arrival at the church assemble the whole class together and
introduce the word ‘precious’. Ask the students what ‘precious’
means and if they would consider the church to be a ‘precious
thing’. Expected responses might include statements such as,
‘Yes because it is beautiful’, ‘Yes because it so big’, ‘Yes because
it is where people come to pray to God’, ‘Yes because it is very
old’. Discuss their responses and invite feedback from other
students.
Activity
Explain that within the church there are many objects that
themselves may be considered precious for different reasons. Tell
the students that they will now follow a trail around the church to
discover these objects and consider what makes each of them
special. Split the class into five small groups, each with an adult
supervisor, to undertake the trail.
(Trail instructions in Teachers’ Notes)
Precious Things
Lesson Plan
3
visitchurches.org.uk
Activity continued…
Students then each choose their favourite ‘precious thing’ from the
trail, draw a picture and write a sentence about it.
Plenary
Assemble the whole class back together and ask students to show
their drawings and share the sentences they wrote explaining
which feature they chose as their favourite and why they think
their object is a ‘precious thing’.
Extension Activities
Discuss ‘precious things’ that are found in other places (e.g.
school, home, community).
Instruct students to choose the thing that is most precious to them
in their personal lives and do a small projects or presentations
about their ‘most precious things’.
Precious Things
Lesson OneYou Will Need
• Camera(s)
• Paper and pens/pencils to
record names and
inscriptions on memorials
4
Precious Things
Teachers’ NotesA preliminary visit is strongly recommended to familiarise yourself
with the identification and layout of the key features that will be on
the trail and to ensure that the key features are all safe for the
students to approach/touch/access.
The Precious Things Trail
The key features are:
• Altar (sacred table where wine and bread are placed during
church service)
• Font (basin that holds holy water used for baptisms)
• Pews (benches that provide seating for the congregation)
• Pulpit (elevated platform from which vicar reads out sermons)
• Stained glass windows (colourful glass that tells stories through
pictures)
5
© C
CT
Precious Things
Teachers’ NotesUpon arrival, the trail sheets should be placed beside the key
feature it describes. The sheets will act as markers so that the
groups know where to stop as they are doing the trail and also
provide information and prompts for the adult supervisors to read
aloud to their groups at each trail stop.
Each group should spend about 10 minutes at each stop and rotate
around in a clockwise direction. One adult should keep watch of
the time and instruct the groups when to move on to the next stop.
As a follow up activity and depending on time, you may wish to
complete the recording sheet back at school as a follow up for your
church visit.
6
© C
CT
Precious Things
Teachers’ NotesPlease Note
• Some churches do not have pulpits but do have lecterns. If this is
the case in the church you are visiting you may wish to substitute
the lectern for the pulpit on the trail as they serve similar purposes
in the church.
• If the stained glass has been removed from the church you are
visiting you can print out a copy of the stained glass window photo
to imagine what the windows would have looked like in the past.
7
© C
CT
Th
e A
ltar,
or
Co
mm
un
ion
Tab
leA
dults P
lease R
ead
:
The a
ltar
is a
specia
l ta
ble
in a
churc
h m
ade f
rom
wood o
r sto
ne.
The s
pecia
l cups that
hold
the b
read a
nd w
ine that
are
used d
uri
ng
a c
hu
rch
se
rvic
e a
re s
et
on
to
p o
f th
e a
lta
r. O
the
r th
ing
s t
ha
t a
re
often s
et
on the a
ltar
inclu
de a
Bib
le, candle
s a
nd a
cro
ss.
Christians b
elie
ve that
the a
ltar
and the a
rea a
round it is
the p
art
of
the c
hurc
h w
here
you a
re c
losest to
God. T
his
is o
ne o
f th
e
reason
s w
hy t
he a
ltar
is s
o p
recio
us to C
hristians.
In m
any c
hurc
he
s t
he a
ltar
are
a is the m
ost
beautifu
lly d
ecora
ted
pa
rt o
f th
e c
hu
rch
. F
an
cy m
ate
ria
ls lik
e m
arb
le a
nd
ala
ba
ste
r sto
ne
an
d b
ea
utifu
l ca
rvin
gs a
nd
pa
intin
gs a
re o
fte
n f
ou
nd
on
or
aro
un
d
the a
ltar.
This
beauty
is m
eant
to r
eflect
the g
lory
of
God a
nd is
anoth
er
reason
why t
he a
ltar
mig
ht
be c
alle
d p
recio
us.
You m
ay n
ow
have a
clo
ser
look a
t th
e a
ltar.
What
is it m
ade
out
of?
Is it decora
ted?
Does it have o
bje
cts
on it?
What
are
they?
How
do y
ou f
eel know
ing that
you a
re in m
ost
specia
l or
sacre
d
part
of
the c
hurc
h?
*Adults p
lease a
dvis
e s
tudents
to t
ake c
are
when they a
re
inte
racting w
ith the f
eatu
res o
f th
e c
hurc
h a
nd b
e m
indfu
l of
ste
ps
or
uneven s
urf
ace.
Pre
cio
us T
hin
gs
Tra
il S
top O
ne
8
Th
e F
on
tA
dults P
lease R
ead:
Th
e f
on
t is
use
d for
ba
ptism
or
chri
ste
nin
g c
ere
mon
ies. M
ost fo
nts
are
ma
de o
ut
of sto
ne
. T
he
to
p is c
arv
ed
lik
e a
sin
k to
ho
ld h
oly
wate
r th
at
has b
ee
n b
lesse
db
y a
pri
est. T
his
wa
ter
isp
ou
red
ove
r
a b
ab
y’s
he
ad
wh
en
itis
ba
ptise
d o
r chri
ste
ne
d.
Th
e f
on
t in
most
churc
he
s is found n
ea
rth
e b
ack o
f th
e b
uild
ing
,
clo
se to t
he m
ain
do
orw
ay in
to t
he
ch
urc
h. T
his
loca
tio
n
sym
bo
lise
s that, just as p
eo
ple
are
we
lcom
ed
in
to t
he
churc
h
thro
ug
h t
he m
ain
do
orw
ay,
ne
w C
hri
stia
ns
are
we
lcom
ed
in
to t
he
relig
ion thro
ug
h b
ap
tism
or
chri
ste
nin
gat
the f
ont.
All
fonts
are
pre
cio
us b
ecause th
ey a
re t
he p
lace in the c
hurc
h
wh
ere
ba
bie
s a
re w
elc
om
ed
in
to t
he
Ch
ristian r
elig
ion
. In
ma
ny
churc
he
s the f
onts
are
als
o v
ery
old
or
ve
ry b
ea
utifu
lly d
ecora
ted
.
Th
ese a
re o
the
r re
asons w
hy a
font
mig
ht
be c
onsid
ere
d a
pre
cio
us th
ing
.
You m
ay n
ow
have a
clo
ser
look a
tth
e f
on
t.
How
do
es it
fee
l w
he
n y
ou t
ouch it?
Can y
ou s
ee a
nd f
ee
lhow
the top is c
arv
ed o
ut
like
a b
ow
lto
hold
the h
oly
wa
ter?
*Ad
ults
ple
ase
ad
vis
estu
de
nts
to t
ake
ca
rew
he
nth
ey a
re
inte
racting w
ith
the
fea
ture
so
fth
echu
rch
an
db
em
indfu
lo
fste
ps
or
un
eve
n s
urf
ace
.
Pre
cio
us T
hin
gs
Tra
il S
top T
wo
9
Th
e P
ew
sA
dults P
lease R
ead:
Pew
s a
re w
ooden b
enches that
are
found in m
ost
old
churc
he
s
an
d t
he
y a
re t
he
se
ats
wh
ere
th
e p
eo
ple
att
en
din
g c
hu
rch
se
rvic
es
sat.
Som
e o
ld c
hurc
he
s h
ave long p
ew
s s
et out
in n
eat
row
s a
ll fa
cin
g
the f
ront
of
the c
hurc
h.
Oth
er
old
churc
he
s h
ave s
hort
er
pew
s s
et
out
in s
quare
s w
ith w
ooden w
alls
aro
und t
hem
. T
hese w
ere
calle
d
‘box p
ew
s’ a
nd t
he w
alls
help
ed to k
eep the p
eople
sitting insid
e
them
warm
during s
erv
ices in d
rafty
old
churc
he
s long a
go.
Pew
s m
ay b
e c
onsid
ere
d p
recio
us thin
gs b
ecause they a
re t
he
pla
ce w
here
people
sit s
ide b
y s
ide to s
ay t
heir
pra
yers
and
wors
hip
God t
ogeth
er.
Som
e p
ew
s m
ight
als
o b
e p
recio
us to
people
because they a
re v
ery
beautifu
lly c
arv
ed a
nd d
ecora
ted.
And o
ther
pew
s m
ight be c
onsid
ere
d p
recio
us b
ecause they a
re
very
old
and h
isto
ric.
Sit w
ith y
our
gro
up in a
pew
. Is
the p
ew
decora
ted?
Is it old
?
Is it com
fort
able
?
Do y
ou lik
e s
itting in the p
ew
with a
ll of
your
cla
ssm
ate
s s
ide b
y
sid
e? *A
du
lts p
lea
se a
dvis
e s
tud
en
ts t
o t
ake c
are
wh
en
the
y a
re
inte
racting w
ith the f
eatu
res o
f th
e c
hurc
h a
nd b
e m
indfu
l of
ste
ps
or
uneven s
urf
ace.
Pre
cio
us T
hin
gs
Tra
il S
top T
hre
e
10
Th
e P
ulp
itA
dults P
lease R
ead:
The p
ulp
it is w
here
the v
icar
sta
nds to r
ead h
is o
r her
serm
on
during a
churc
h s
erv
ice. S
erm
ons a
re lik
e lessons w
here
the v
icar
uses s
tories fro
m t
he B
ible
to t
each p
eople
how
to b
ehave in a
Christian w
ay.
Because the p
ulp
it is the p
lace in the c
hurc
h w
here
the w
ord
of
God a
nd s
tories fro
m t
he B
ible
are
share
d it is
consid
ere
d p
recio
us.
The p
ulp
it is u
sually
found a
t th
e f
ront
or
in the m
iddle
of
the
churc
h a
nd is r
ais
ed u
p a
bove flo
or
level, lik
e a
little s
tage,
so y
ou
have to c
limb u
p s
tair
s t
o g
et in
to it. T
his
heig
ht help
s the v
icar’
s
voic
e c
arr
y a
ll aro
und t
he c
hurc
h a
nd s
o that
their
im
port
ant
word
s
can b
e h
ea
rd b
y e
very
one.
Pulp
its a
re u
sually
made o
ut of
wood o
r sto
ne a
nd a
re o
ften
beautifu
lly d
ecora
ted. T
heir b
eauty
may b
e a
noth
er
reason
why
they a
re c
onsid
ere
d p
recio
us.
You m
ay n
ow
clim
b u
p into
the p
ulp
it.
How
does it fe
el to
sta
nd u
p h
igh a
nd look o
ut over
the r
est
of
the
churc
h?
Does it fe
el specia
l?
*Adults p
lease c
heck in a
dvance that
the s
teps into
the p
ulp
it a
nd
the p
ulp
it p
latform
are
safe
for
child
ren to a
ccess. It is a
dvis
ed that
you s
end them
up o
ne o
r tw
o a
t a t
ime a
nd c
losely
superv
ise them
during t
his
activity.
Pre
cio
us T
hin
gs
Tra
il S
top F
our
11
Pre
cio
us T
hin
gs
Tra
il S
top F
ive
12
Sta
ined
Gla
ss W
ind
ow
sA
dults P
lease R
ead
:
You w
ill fin
d s
tain
ed g
lass w
indow
s in m
any o
ld c
hurc
he
s. T
hey
were
made f
rom
lots
of
sm
all
pie
ces o
f colo
ure
d a
nd p
ain
ted g
lass
all
put
togeth
er
to c
reate
a p
ictu
re.
Sta
ined g
lass w
indow
s w
ere
not
just used to d
ecora
te o
ld c
hurc
he
s, th
ey w
ere
als
o u
sed to t
ell
the s
tories o
f th
e C
hristian r
elig
ion thro
ugh t
heir
pic
ture
s.
In s
om
e o
ld c
hurc
he
s the s
tain
ed g
lass h
as b
een b
roken o
r
rem
oved a
nd r
epla
ced w
ith c
lear
gla
ss. S
o y
ou h
ave to u
se y
our
imagin
ation to p
ictu
re w
hat
the c
hurc
h u
sed too look lik
e w
ith
colo
urs
an
d p
ictu
res in e
very
win
dow
.
Sta
ine
d g
lass w
ind
ow
s a
re p
recio
us to
Ch
ristia
ns b
eca
use
th
ey t
ell
sto
ries fro
m t
heir
relig
ion. T
hey a
re a
lso p
recio
us b
ecause they a
re
beautifu
l w
ork
s o
f art
. M
any o
f th
e s
tain
ed g
lass w
indow
s y
ou s
ee
in c
hurc
he
s a
re v
ery
old
whic
h a
lso m
akes t
hem
specia
l.
Look c
losely
at
the
sta
ine
d g
lass w
ind
ow
s in th
is c
hu
rch:
What
colo
urs
an
d s
hapes c
an y
ou s
ee?
Are
there
people
in the s
tain
ed g
lass p
ictu
res?
Are
th
ere
an
ima
ls?
Do y
ou r
ecogn
ise a
ny o
f th
e s
tories b
ein
g told
by t
he p
ictu
res in
the w
indow
s?
If t
here
is n
o s
tain
ed g
lass left in this
churc
h,
can y
ou im
agin
e w
hat
it w
ould
have looked lik
e w
hen the w
indow
s w
ere
fill
ed w
ith
colo
urf
ul p
ictu
res?
*Adu
lts p
lea
se a
dvis
e s
tud
en
ts t
o t
ake c
are
wh
en
the
y a
re
inte
racting w
ith the f
eatu
res o
f th
e c
hurc
h a
nd b
e m
indfu
l of
ste
ps
or
uneven s
urf
ace.
Pre
cio
us T
hin
gs
Sta
ined G
lass E
xam
ple 13
14Precious ThingsName _______________________________ Date ____________
© C
CT
My favourite precious
thing in the church
is________________
I think it’s precious
because
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
visitchurches.org.uk
Precious Things
Learning at CCT
15
This resource was created by
CCT's Heritage Learning
Team. To book a workshop, or
if you have any feedback,
questions or notice any
problems with the resource,
please get in touch:
@TheCCT
@churchesconservationtrust
@churchesconservationtrust
#adventuresinchurches
visitchurches.org.uk
Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) is the national charity caring
for historic churches and their heritage. With over 350 beautiful
church buildings in its care, CCT’s collection includes irreplaceable
examples of art, architecture and archaeology from over 1,000
years of history.
Our churches are unique spaces that inspire creativity and learning
at every age and stage of life. For centuries, these special
buildings have witnessed personal moments and the collective
histories of the local community they sit in. Today, we work with
diverse communities across England to encourage the use,
enjoyment and appreciation of these important places; a
fundamental part of our shared heritage.
CCT’s Learning and Participation Team offers a range of inclusive
activities for schools, families and adults taking place in local
churches, within communities and online. We welcome people of
all faiths and none to engage with the stories and investigate the
questions contained in these historic places. Our churches are free
to access and open to all.
Registered Charity Number: 258612
