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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.
Exploring Religion - Introduction/Conversation
durgamatadurgamata

Exploring Religion - Introduction/Conversation

(11)
Begins by asking reception children 'What is Religion?' ‘conversation’ looks at personal identity, Awe and Wonder, the Dawn of Religion, Eternal Questions - including God, introduces the six Major Religions, leads to an exploration of Religious Identity. Ends with a reflective exercise on Loving Kindness. Aimed to engage yr 7 and give an overview of what Religion is all about, useful for KS4 &'the God Question&'; and the problem of generalisation. Will also give non-specialist teachers some insight into RE. see also other ppts in Exploring Religion Series (about 4 resources back)
A'level ethics from OCR outline and some key info
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A'level ethics from OCR outline and some key info

(2)
These are adapted from info on the OCR website. They give a basic outline which I hope to add to, when I have time to bring in info from other sites. Hope it is helpful. I would encourage students to turn this into mind-maps and spacial, or visual patterns which enable them to link common ideas and overlapping theories.
Sue Phillips and the Theatre of Learning
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Sue Phillips and the Theatre of Learning

(4)
Sue is an inspirational RE teacher who has found creative approaches to engage her students. Many of these are based on visualisation and role-play. They are all creative and deeply spiritual. I can not recommend them too highly. The attached information is just an introduction. If you can arrange to attend a workshop - or if you have done so in the past, you will know what I mean. BRILLIANT. Please add a comment if you have experience of Sue's work
Workshop - the meaning of religion + Stone-Age Art
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Workshop - the meaning of religion + Stone-Age Art

(2)
An initial assembly explores the question 'What is Religion' using many 'models' and questions. Moving on to Art-based activity, we look at Rock and Cave-Art thinking about what the Stone-Age people may have believed in / how they may have made sense of their world. Then using 'Stone-Age materials, create our own 'Cave-Art.'. Lots of opportunity for thinking about what we believe and why, asking questions, developing empathy and greater self-understanding.
Hindu Festivals
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Hindu Festivals

(0)
This is the calendar from different sources with some words of caution and information about Navaratri, often called DurgaPuja. I will add to this resource when I get time and then prepare some similar overviews of festivals for the other religions. This is in response to a request for information so my aim here is to offer enough to give the enquirer a start with Hinduism and then they can use it as a 'pattern to follow' when researching the other festivals.
Five Pillars of Islam - especially Zakat
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Five Pillars of Islam - especially Zakat

(2)
The Five Pillars file is from Wikki but I have added some comments relating to supporting Muslim students who are fasting during Ramadan. Also how to respond if a Muslim student claims that s/he can’t attend a detention because of fasting. I am including good contributions from the thread here too.
Christianity - sources and ideas including texts
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Christianity - sources and ideas including texts

(0)
Here are some files relating to The Sermon on the Mount, The Golden Rule and the Parable of the Good Samaritan, just to start this section. I will add to it - and please contact me with PMs to share the passages and other resources which you find useful. I can either include them here or add to a page of references. also - as always, please give comments and feedback. This is a resource for you. i want to know how to improve it.
Nick Gibb MP -  education-guy's letter + My reply
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Nick Gibb MP - education-guy's letter + My reply

(1)
just the latest - sent yesterday. I typed out his letter replying to mine forwarded from my mP - and answer it point by point. It took most of the day and is a bit of a rant - but I hope sufficiently polite and accurate. We need to keep the pressure up so if you want to use this as a bais for something please do. All the best to everyone for a happy summer DurgaMata
How To Meditate - exercises to de-stress
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How To Meditate - exercises to de-stress

(1)
An introduction to meditation with a great breathing exercise which helps de-stress and prepare for difficult encounters. Very versatile - and a link to find out more Give some feedback - then I can improve the resources and others can more easily find things that help. I will try to add more exercises to this resource.. Hope it is helpful. Meditation certainly helps me. I've been learning since 1973 but am still a real beginner.
Bullying, Peer-Pressure, Faith in Action, Courage
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Bullying, Peer-Pressure, Faith in Action, Courage

(1)
This is something I wrote years ago, in the voice of my son, telling the story of what he went through when we moved to London. I think that there are many aspects of the story which could inspire or provoke useful discussion in both primary and secondary PSHE and RE classes.
A Moment's Peace Invitation to an event for 2012
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A Moment's Peace Invitation to an event for 2012

(0)
This is a letter of invitation and a scan of the official invite to a great event happening in London on 28th July, at the university in Gower Street Street at 6pm. see www.amomentspeace.com The unavailing of a peace statue donated to London by several leading Olympians - and great celebrities - Carl Lewis, Martin Luther King's and Desmond Tutu&'s daughters. Music by Russian Grobenchikof and a choir of 100 children. take this opportunity to hold the peace torch and share a moment&';s peace. all free - Tell all your friends
Teilhard de Chardin - Hymn of Matter
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Teilhard de Chardin - Hymn of Matter

(0)
Something for your Gifted and Talented KS4 students to get their teeth into - poem by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin great material to reflect on, which links science and religion in a mystical way. 'An increase in consciousness is an increase in love&' If we reflect on ourselves as human beings we also reflect on ourselves as &';earthlings' with a genetic history and relationship with the entire universe.
Interfaith Slide-Show
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Interfaith Slide-Show

(9)
This is a ppt slide show which combines inspiring images and texts which share and celebrate the wisdom found in many different cultures and religions around the world. Texts explore and reflect on many aspects of life and look for common threads in the teachings of many different religions. There is a focus on peace and overcoming conflict - as well as a celebration of the beauty and wonder of life and the universe. thanks for comments. I will add the music I use if possible.
Tegla Loroupe Athlete / Humanitarian Peace Schools
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Tegla Loroupe Athlete / Humanitarian Peace Schools

(0)
a great and inspiring person who is doing much for peace and education in Africa. This is during the Olympics. I met her and her assistant stayed with me for a few days. Not overtly religious but profoundly spiritual. I will explore that side of her work in more depth and add another file regarding our conversation if I can. But a great resource to share and discuss when looking at issues of peace and conflict, inspiring people, real education, citizenship and sport
Proff John Hick - leading 20th Century Theologian
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Proff John Hick - leading 20th Century Theologian

(0)
looked on internet tonight to find the address of my friend Professor John Hick, to send him an invitation to A Moment's Peace although I know he may not be able to travel that far. When I saw him last - about a year ago, his back was bad and restricting his travelling. Instead of finding the address I found this obituary. It will be useful, interesting and inspiring to look at with G and T KS4 and with KS5 pupils. I also include an outline of a conversation we had with him when I took our A'level students to ask him about Death and the Afterlife in Christianity.
The Euro Crisis, Global Economies, Poverty+Wealth
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The Euro Crisis, Global Economies, Poverty+Wealth

(1)
The first article here is from Al Jazeera. It includes a reference to a video interview which you may use part of to shed light on this important issue. I am looking for any articles and videos which will help our students to understand what is happening and how it relates to them, to religious principles of fairness, justice, care for all, compassion and charity etc. I am looking for resources which will inform GCSE or older students and they will be useful for Citizenship and Economics subjects as much as for RE.
Similarity + difference in world religions (leaves
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Similarity + difference in world religions (leaves

(1)
This is a great way to introduce the world religions to KS3 pupils. Ideally set it in Autumn term so the observational drawing can stimulate some wonder-muscles. Cross curricular with science and art this approach gives a strong grounding for the world religions and is popular, improving attitudes to RE in the process.
Asian Jesus
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Asian Jesus

(0)
This is a series of 11 slides depicting Jesus as Asian, mostly Chinese or Indian. It is in process as many images are not the right shape for a ppt slide so I will have to adjust them in Adobe. But it does give a great idea of the way that Christians everywhere think of Jesus as their Brother, as their Friend, His divine aspect is beyond the confines of one time or place, one nation or race.
Life, Death + Funeral Rites experiential/spiritual
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Life, Death + Funeral Rites experiential/spiritual

(0)
Life, Death and Funeral Rites - an experiential - spiritual approach - arising from a question on Save RE forum, I have outlined an experiential/spiritual approach which you may like to adapt to your situation. I aim to add background info re some different religions and denominations, some 'order of service&' sheets from real funerals, poems and texts interesting obituaries, music and videos - suggestions welcome. this is such an important topic and not easy to engage with - so I hope this helps. Your comments and feedback welcome as always.
Blog for June 2015
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Blog for June 2015

(0)
My blogs are of interest as a commentary on life - from what is often a spiritual perspective. This one is mainly about a mixed-ability Group-Work project that my Yr 8 class enjoyed and although it was a History project on the Fire of London it's using an approach which can be used for almost any topic.