Ideas for classroom activities:

Books

Working in the fields

A time to listen, a time to pray

Possible questions:

Why was a bell rung? (It could be heard by all. There were no watches so this was the only way of attracting everyone’s attention at the same time).
Why walk in silence? (To prepare the mind for a special time, to concentrate)
What does the word ‘chant’ mean?
What songs do you think the monks would have sung? Psalms
Why did the monks kneel to pray? (As a sign of respect - humble in the sight of God, lowering themselves)

Rhigyfarch (who wrote about the Life of David) writes that the monks prayed all night, "until the appearance of the stars in the heavens should bring the day to a close."

Why is prayer so important monks? (The monks can talk to God)
Why is silence so important? (The monks can listen to God speak to them)
Why is it important for monks to go to church throughout the day and night? (They are constantly in God’s company)
To Christians Sunday is the most holy day of the week. Is Sunday a special day for us, or are we turning it into just an ordinary day, another working day?
Why did the monks keep Sunday a special day? (see Genesis 2:1-3)
"And so the whole universe was completed. By the seventh day God finished what he had been doing and stopped working. He blessed the seventh day, because by that day he had completed his creation and stopped working."

Becoming a monk

Monks have to give up all their personal possessions when they enter a monastery.
Which of our own possessions do we most value?
Why are these of importance to us?

Caring for the sick and needy

Who cares for us?
How do we help others in our community and the wider world?
e.g. helping elderly neighbours with gardening, raising money for charities such as Children in Need, supporting events such as Jeans for Genes Day.
Is there more that we can do?

Timetable

Compare the timetable of a monk with a timetable of what you do on a typical day.


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