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A specialist Religious Education and Art Teacher - I retired a few years ago. Now I am an Entrepreneur. I have created a Programme called The Seven Steps to Happiness. It is all about Reducing Stress, Building Resilience and Increasing Happiness. Before Coronavirus came along I gave Workshops and Retreats from my home. Now I am moving my work online. I share resources on TES to support my wonderful Teacher-Colleagues. Most are free but I spend hours on these so I charge for some of them. Enjoy.

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A specialist Religious Education and Art Teacher - I retired a few years ago. Now I am an Entrepreneur. I have created a Programme called The Seven Steps to Happiness. It is all about Reducing Stress, Building Resilience and Increasing Happiness. Before Coronavirus came along I gave Workshops and Retreats from my home. Now I am moving my work online. I share resources on TES to support my wonderful Teacher-Colleagues. Most are free but I spend hours on these so I charge for some of them. Enjoy.
Reflection on Tolerance and Belief, British Values, Similarity and Difference
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Reflection on Tolerance and Belief, British Values, Similarity and Difference

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For KS 3 Religious Education A Power Point of images and questions explores similarity difference and change using leaves. Then reflecting on similarity and difference in people - not just physical similarities and differences but also in thoughts and beliefs. Exploration of prejudice, bullying and intolerance in the lives of the pupils present and in wider society. Moving on to reflect on the question 'What is the Purpose of life?' - with some food for thought taken from the six major religions.
Poems4 Crtive Imagn Wrdswth's Daffs + youtube vids
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Poems4 Crtive Imagn Wrdswth's Daffs + youtube vids

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Links to 23 different youtube videos of Wordsworth's poem Daffodils. Then many other poems by Wordsworth. A few videos for his poem 'Rainbow.&' Other poems which stimulate creative imagination - including Tiger Tiger. A friend took his Early Years class out to sit among daffodils and listen to a reading of Wordsworth&';s poem. He prepared them well, but once he started to read Daffodils, one just said, 'Boring.&' I seek good ways to develop more Creative Imagination. I include the thread about this and will update + add poems / ideas which you suggest.
The Geography Weather Song
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The Geography Weather Song

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A resource prepared for year 7 Geography, learning about climate and weather - this song or rap is designed to introduce or revise the topic using musical intelligence. See if you can improve on it. Give me a pm if you would liike to turn it into a youtube video. Enjoy and learn, learn and enjoy!
Village Community - based on a Bengali village
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Village Community - based on a Bengali village

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The slide show is in the process of development - to support a family member who is studying Early Years Childcare in Kolkata, Having been to Bengali villages I googled things that I remember seeing there and this is a complete jumble of images. I suggest you edit it, arrange the images you wish to use and add text as required. I googled India Village and found some very interesting bits of contemporary news which may be useful in citizenship and international studies. The Stories may be good for drama and to give insight into village life and characters past and present.
Lots of quotations from Native American sources
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Lots of quotations from Native American sources

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In preparing the Reflections on Life Slide Shows I researched quotations from many different sources. This is a great collection of Native American ones. I pasted onto this file from many sites and will, when time, try to include references to the original websites. There is a lot of material here including part of an autobiography by Chief Black Hawk, dictated to a government interpreter in the region, and edited by John B. Patterson, an Illinois journalist, who published it in 1833. As always, any rating and comments would be appreciated.
Belief in God, Spirtual Experience, science/Spirit
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Belief in God, Spirtual Experience, science/Spirit

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A range of resources including personal anecdotes of some miracles and spiritual experiences in my life. I work as a free-lance RE consultant and will happily come in and talk about my own spiritual life or make a presentation on any aspect of RE (free - expences only)
'Is it fair?' - questions of justice and rights
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'Is it fair?' - questions of justice and rights

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A range of resources to use when planning a unit on questions of human rights justice, suffering and the age old issue of 'Is it Fair?&' The oxfam unit is excellent and I have made a worksheet for our students to create cards inspired by the ones created by the students at the school in South Africa which is featured in the Oxfam resources.
Reports / Articles relating to RE and the Eng Bacc
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Reports / Articles relating to RE and the Eng Bacc

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Here are some reports and articles which relate to the danger RE is facing. This is relevant to everyone who has a voice in managing a school or planning the curriculum. If RE is undermined then the quality of spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is under threat. Without good RE, our whole society becomes more intolerant, prejudiced, divided and dangerous. RE must keep its position as a core Humanities subject with Geography and History. We all need to work together to defend the position of RE. Contact me (PM) if you have related articles/reports and I will attach them.
Malala Yousafzai  - a source of inspiration
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Malala Yousafzai - a source of inspiration

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includes speech Malala gave at the UN on 12th July 2013 Videos of M's recovery more vids inc reports and interviews from July - Nov 2013 some of M&'s blog + it inspires others wksheets 1 bckgnd to start of her speech Worksheet with 20 questions plus 2 - in process - on the substance of the speech. (yr 9 upwards needs adaption and differentiation.) Worksheet on UN and Human Rights Taliban 1 full text of letter from T with background Taliban 2 about T from a contrasting perspective Women&';s experiences of T rule. Buddhist statues destroyed by T. Drone attacks. feedback please
The Sermon on the Mount - Christianity in action
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The Sermon on the Mount - Christianity in action

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what Jesus says about Love. Where might a Christian start when reading the Bible - Students can have little idea about how Christians seek guidance, through prayer and Bible reading. This starts with a post from a conversation with an atheist. I've added a bit which reflects on Jesus in an inter-faith way. The Sunday School experience story is in italics. Use with exam classes - to give students insight into what it is like to practise a religion Other resources which relate to this passage and to text-analysis and understanding the Bible are added
missionaries + faith challenged by experience
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missionaries + faith challenged by experience

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Yr 9 experience a good place to start. Readings / examples of missionaries. Success - eg Bruce Olson (from Wikki), \nfaith challenged - remaining Christian but no longer exclusivist fundamentalist - more liberal - eg blog by Lana Hope in Missions from an unfundamentalist Christian\nsome put Christianity to aside and became atheist in response to their experiences eg Daniel Everett - in the articles about his book 'Don&'t Sleep, There are Snakes.&';\nI hope to add more examples - please suggest some and give your comments.
Sermon on the Mount - quote in context?
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Sermon on the Mount - quote in context?

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This is a Facebook Live I recorded relating to my thoughts around a quote from the Sermon on the Mount which I felt was out of context. In Religious Education the one thing we all focus on is the quest for Truth. Truth is elusive - a bit like Life or Reality - impossible to define - but we do have the capacity to aim for it. As a Religious Education Specialist, when anyone uses a quote from any scripture to reinforce their argument, it rings alarm bells because it is possible to justify almost anything with the judicious use of quotations. In this video I refer to the US elections and Mr Trump as an example of some of the things we value and need to protect.
2020 and The Seven Steps to Happiness
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2020 and The Seven Steps to Happiness

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From HOD in Religious Education to giving Mindfulness-Meditation and Empowerment Workshops for resilience, improved mental health and happiness. In this Ebook, DurgaMata shares some practical strategies for reducing stress and increasing happiness - both in your own life and when dealing with challenges in the classroom. DurgaMata gives a fascinating overview of her own ‘spiritual sadhana’ which has taken her from teaching in the classroom to offering an Online Programme to reduce stress, build resilience and increase happiness - which can span the world. DurgaMata writes - The spiritual side of life has always been important to me. In this account I look back at how circumstances moved me from joyful and devoted Head of Religious Education in a large Secondary School, through a challenging time of unemployment as the Ebacc changed the educational landscape - to developing increasing expertise in Health and Wellbeing - especially mental health. After retiring from teaching, I developed a unique and comprehensive program for Raising Consciousness - which I translate as Reducing Stress, Building Resilience and Increasing Happiness. In my small book The Seven Steps to Happiness, I share some of the experiences which have been significant and a mini-seven-step strategy to use in the classroom when a challenging situation occurs. Before 2020, my workshops were all face to face but corona-virus has turned that - on its head, forcing me to take my signature Program ‘The Seven Steps to Happiness’ online. Everyone is suffering from stress - but my particular concern is to support and empower teachers in every way I can, so I dedicate this little book to you. I hope my book will encourage you to see beyond the surface of events to the great, underlying inner principles of love, compassion and oneness which we can all engage with, whatever crazy things may be happening in the world outside - and remind you that if we are to achieve that ideal, we need to begin by taking care of our own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs and ring-fencing the time we need to look after ourselves. If we want to serve others - if we want to care for the children, pupils and students we teach - and if we want to have positive and happy relationships in the staffroom - then we have to ensure we are taking care of ourselves and we have an effective way of replenishing our own reservoir of inner peace and happiness. I hope this little book will give you some leads and encourage you to follow them. Love and Peace DurgaMata ps, hold fire on buying this. I have to edit all the quotes slides to ensure I’m not breaking copyright rules. I’ll let you know when it’s done.
Believing in God - Key-Word Crossword Puzzle (1 of 2) for GCSE Religious Studies - Unit 1.1
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Believing in God - Key-Word Crossword Puzzle (1 of 2) for GCSE Religious Studies - Unit 1.1

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This ten-word crossword-puzzle with Teacher's Notes and Helpful Hints is designed to reinforce or revise the main Key-Words for the GCSE Religious Studies topic 1.1 Believing in God. This resource includes 3 crosswords, Teacher's Notes which include answers and hints - and a Helpful Hints sheet to aid differentiation. Ideal for use as a Starter Activity, part of a lesson about the topic, extension activity, homework or revision, there is a second crossword to cover all the Key Words in this topic. In addition to the required Key-Words, a small number of additional words relating to this topic have been included. note - here you have an extra version of the crossword, as I was experimenting with different systems. I preferred the one which I then felt required enlarging, but have kept all the versions for you convenience.
Global Warming, UN Climate Conference
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Global Warming, UN Climate Conference

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This resource is to gather together articles and video links which relate to Global Warming and the UN Climate Conference. It relates to issues we explore in RE with GCSE and older students, stewardship etc. But it is also an important subject in Geography, Science, Citizenship, Politics and Economics etc. Do let me know if you have good resources which I can add here - and give reviews.
Science and Religion / The God Question and a lot more
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Science and Religion / The God Question and a lot more

20 Resources
This is a bundle of files which explore the God Question, matters relating to Science and Religion and also includes some great puzzles which reinforce important concepts and vocabulary relating to Religious Education Great Value for Money here.
'Who wrote the Bible?' and is it fiction?
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'Who wrote the Bible?' and is it fiction?

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Responding to a rather 'silly' comment on a thread, which suggests the Bible was a work of fiction written by Jesus&' mates, I have outlined the authors of Acts and the four Gospels here, using material copied from Wikki. This attitude and question is fairly typical of some of our young people when they come into year 7 so I hope that colleagues will find this outline useful. It may be good to use as revision with KS4, too, when beginning a unit of work on Christianity, since some of them can have a rather ignorant attitude. Do add your comments and ratings. Thanks
Jesus - a range of items from the media
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Jesus - a range of items from the media

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from websites and newspaper articles, a range of articles. These will be interesting to stimulate discussion with exam groups and engage G + T students at KS3 most relate to Christianity but some to Atheism and other world views. The one about the way that Americans change faith - but are basically looking for a faith they can follow, challenges the idea that 'faith is on the wane.' The traditional churches may be losing numbers but most people, find that they are looking for something to give them more of a sense of belonging and meaning than our Western Capitalism can offer.
Genesis 1  Creation Story Genre Stewardship
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Genesis 1 Creation Story Genre Stewardship

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Resources to use when exploring the story of Creation in the Bible, Genesis 1 An exploration of Genre and the different ways the Creation Story (Poem or Song) can be interpreted. Link this with some quotes from the Native American resource and environmental issues.