Using sacred texts in the classroom

December 2022

Matthew Lane is RE Lead teacher in Norfolk and a Year 6 class teacher. In this presentation he introduces different ways to read sacred texts with Primary-age pupils to unlock varied and interesting layers of interpretation, personal knowledge and meaning.
All the activities, texts and questions Matt suggests are designed for Primary pupils. They represent forms of hermeneutics, or interpretation. If you have heard this word but are not sure what it means, you might be interested to see what it can bring to your classroom. If you have heard the word and assumed it was too complicated for younger pupils, think again! Matt presents reading through different ‘eyes’; reading as the writer, reading as a reader, and reading as a believer. Each way of reading allows you to explore different sorts of questions with pupils, and allows pupils to experience sacred texts form different perspectives.
Even if you don’t use the word ‘hermeneutics’ with your pupils, these ways of reading open up a rich understanding for your classroom.

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