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Developing ideas for RE - possible approaches

Most items in this section have references to further sources of information, many with links to web sites. Go to a highlighted site simply by clicking on the link.

This list is not exhaustive - it is offered as a bank of ideas; any could be adapted and used by students working on an RE assignment in a variety of contexts.

The precise task set - perhaps with guidance on approach - is crucial to the level of expectation;
the phrasing of the assignment can be the means by which pupils will work on aspects of both AT1 and AT2 and produce work which reflects the appropriate national expectations for their age and ability.

In each of the sections we have suggested media appropriate for the type of presentation.

1) RETELL A STORY

Staffordshire Learning Net – www.sln.org.uk/storyboard has an archive of short stories with religious themes which is well worth looking at for useful ideas.

The Miracle Maker is also a good current example of this technique. The web site tells more about how the film was made - www.themiraclemaker.com

Careful thought needs to be given to the choice of story; it may be appropriate to select part of a longer story.
Suitable media: Video, CD ROM, presentation (e.g. PowerPoint), web pages, digital camera

2) UPDATE A STORY

Bethlehem 2001 / 2002 (the TV series) is a good example of this technique; the chosen story is brought right into the 21st century both in terms of how it is told and the scope of the message.

Examples of stories to use can found at:

Making a cartoon-style presentation can also be considered.
Suitable media: Video, CD ROM, presentation (e.g. PowerPoint), web pages (internet or intranet), Clicker 4 / Textease, digital camera

3) APPLY AN ASPECT OF RELIGIOUS TEACHING TO A CURRENT SITUATION

A major news story could provide a starting point here. For example, what does the teaching of Jesus have to say on the issues relating to these events?

The following charities' websites, for example, help believers see how religious faith can be put into action:

Links to more Christian charities can be found at: www.request.org.uk/main/action/action.htm

Suitable media: Video, CD ROM, presentation (e.g. PowerPoint), web pages (internet or intranet), Clicker 4 / Textease, digital camera

4) USING THE NEWS – NEWSPAPER REPORTING, RADIO / TELEVISION PRESENTATION

When pupils are set tasks which involve adopting the role of a reporter or presenter it is vital to remember the purpose of the activity; i.e. what is the RE purpose? The activity is the 'vehicle'. It not only offers pupils the opportunity to work on a different type of presentation but should also involve some of the discipline of good media work by focusing on the heart of the story, using a different approach (story line) but presenting it with clarity, integrity and balance.

Useful links can be found at:
News web sites especially

also worth looking at is:
  • www.religioustolerance.org - an extensive directory of links dealing 'with a wide range of spiritual, religious, human rights, medical, ethics and other topics'.

5) PRODUCE A PLAY

Pupils could write, perform and record a play in which a key aspect of religious teaching is presented. This format gives very wide scope and is ideal for group presentation as many skills and talents are needed.

Religious drama has a long history – for example, pupils could check out details of Miracle Plays, a style which always included up-to-date topical issues in the context of the biblical story.
www.newadvent.org/cathen/10348a.htm

Look also at: www.jesusfortoday.com
This multimedia resource features a Passion Play produced on the streets of Cheltenham, by the local churches. 'Jesus for Tomorrow' is of particular relevance for KS 3 - What does the Resurrection of Jesus mean for Christians today?
(A video is also available.)

Suitable media: Video, CD ROM, web pages (internet or intranet), digital camera, Clicker 4 / Textease.

6) PRODUCE A DOCUMENTARY

This is an excellent way of exploring people’s religious views and understanding today.

It can encourage questions being asked about the relevance of religion and the posing of hard questions of a moral and ethical nature.

A recent TV series called Soul of Britain adopted a similar approach regarding religious and moral attitudes in 2001. The programme's web site: www.facingthechallenge.org/soul.htm contains plenty of statistical evidence.

The documentary might include recorded interviews and discussions with a peer group, adults, those with specialist knowledge and those without, as well as statistical evidence.

A database of children and young people's responses to the big questions of existence has been assembled by the Professional Council for RE - www.pcfre.org.uk/db

Interviews with a few young and adult Christians can be also found on the RE:Quest website - www.request.org.uk/main/dowhat/heads/heads.htm

Pupils would need to be aware of the context of the presentation and understand the importance of a well argued presentation rather than a series of loosely connected 'events' or stories.

Suitable media: Video - recording interviews and discussions, digital camera, packages such as Excel or Pinpoint used to help structure and analyse interview questions

7) PRODUCE A GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF A STORY OR TEACHING

This might be, for example, the Stations of the Cross or a series of stained glass windows, using carefully selected images.
Works of art tend to be an under used resource in RE. Art exhibitions can be a valuable starting point in providing ideas, not only on presentation but also on content selection and interpretation.

Examples worth referring to in this visually rich area are:

Seeing Salvation: The Image of Christ - www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/past/salvation.htm
(also video and teachers' notes)

National Gallery (Microsoft CD ROM)
(The complete illustrated catalogue with images and the entire text of the National Gallery's printed catalogue.)

Culham Institute - 'They call it Easter...'
www.refuel.org.uk/curric/festivals/easter

Birmingham Grid for Learning KS2 'Face of God' project: www.bgfl.org/bgfl/7.cfm?s=7&m=136&p=111,resource_list_16> 'Face of God Project'

CLEO Cumbria Lancashire Education Online - Draw the Buddha's Face - www.cleo.net.uk/subject.cfm?subject=11

Staffordshire Learning Net - RE -
www.sln.org.uk/re/Picture%20Gallery%20home.htm
- picture gallery - useful illustrations

Diocese of Ely - IT in RE -
www.ely.anglican.org/education/schools/pdf/ict_09.pdf
'Sources of Clipart for RE Worksheets and Displays'

University of Strathclyde - Religious and Moral Education
Support for Implementing 5-14 - www.strath.ac.uk/Departments/SocialStudies/RE/Database
(includes line drawings and photographs of artefacts)

www.rejesus.co.uk/expressions/
Jesus through art

The RE site AV/IT Directory - www.reonline.org.uk/itre

Search for sights and sounds for different religions at: www.reonline.org.uk/sight_sound/index.php

Suitable media: Presentation (e.g. PowerPoint), desk top publishing package (DTP), digital camera, web site (intranet or internet), CD ROM, video

8) COMPOSE A SONG

Lyrics might be written, and music composed, illustrating a chosen theme or subject, for example of Jesus' teaching. Software packages are available to help write, perform and record the work.

'The Use of Music and Video Resources in Religious Education' by Philip Grice, Autumn 1997 (Farmington Fellows' Reports - TT09) available at: www.farmington.ac.uk/documents/reports/framed/teaching_training.html

Suitable media: CD ROM, video, software for writing music (e.g. Sibelius)

9) INVESTIGATE THE LIFE OF A FAMOUS RELIGIOUS LEADER /PERSONALITY LIVING OR FROM HISTORY.

For example pupils can be expected to be aware of key figures in recent Christian history whose lives reflect their attempt to follow Jesus' teachings, often in most extraordinary circumstances. Whilst work on the lives of Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King is perennially popular there are many others to choose from. The internet can be a rich source of reference, here are just a few:

James Mawdsley (see groups.yahoo.com/group/freeburma9999/message/406)
Janani Luwum (see justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/101.html)
Terry Waite
Diane Modahl
Oscar Romero
Jonathan Edwards
Desmond Tutu
Bob Geldof
- or someone personally known to pupils.

Biographical sketches of memorable Christians of the past are at: justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/

Useful CD-ROM/ Video resources are:

Exploring World Religions (Granada CD)
Aspects of Religion (Granada CD)
Belief File (BBC): Christianity in Britain (video; web resources -
www.refuel.org.uk/curric/belief_file/p1.html
Belief File: Hinduism / Judaism (video)
Belief File: Judaism (video)
Belief File: Sikhism / Buddhism (video)

Details can be found at:
www.refuel.org.uk/curric/belief_file.html

Having chosen a person, there is then a variety of ways to present their life and its relevance. Remember that it is better to go beyond a straight biography of the person, however worthy their life, and for pupils to take a particular story line in illustrating the importance /relevance of the life lived.

Suitable media: Video, presentation (e.g. PowerPoint), CD ROM, digital camera, web pages (intranet or internet), Clicker 4 / Textease

10) PREPARING RESEARCH - USE OF DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

Documentary evidence can be used as a basis for presentation using a range of mediums – written work, video , web site – here the emphasis can be put on the range and quality of evidence available to support an argument being made in the presentation. The evidence used can be contrasted, its selection justified and reliability evaluated – good work will involve far more than simply presenting unsupported examples of documentary evidence.

Web sites which are a useful source of information include:

Soul of Britain - www.facingthechallenge.org/soul.htm (this site is still live & being updated - although the original programmes were screened in 2000).

www.religioustolerance.org
An extensive directory of links dealing 'with a wide range of spiritual, religious, human rights, medical, ethics and other topics'.

www.hmd.org.uk - Holocaust Memorial Day material, including educational resources.

re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk - Ethical and Moral Issues

News web sites especially - news.bbc.co.uk

The Faith Zone videos and activities - www.thefaithzone.org.uk

CD-ROMs are also a valuable format for good exemplar material – further details are at: www.reonline.org.uk/itre

Titles worth considering are:
Belief File: Issues (video & support resources)
Quest: Life Stories (video)
Taking Issue 1 & 2 (videos)
The Question Is...? (video)
Son of God (video)
President for a Day (interactive CD ROM)

Suitable media: Video, presentation (e.g. PowerPoint), CD ROM, digital camera, web pages (intranet or internet), Clicker 4 / Textease

11) DESIGN A REVISION AID

Interactive revision aids are increasingly popular and can be of great value to pupils and pupils at all stages. A revision aid could be devised using ICT to support their own course in RE/RS.
A preliminary study of some of those currently available is a useful guide; work could then be planned around an aspect of the syllabus. Examples worth exploring are:

The GCSE RE Site
re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/gcsere/index.html

BBC Schools - GCSE Bitesize Revision
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/re

Buxton Community School - RE revision (KS4)
www.religiousstudies.co.uk/ks4/ks4rev.htm

Suitable media: Interactive web site (intranet or internet), CD ROM, Clicker 4/ Textease.
A package such as Hot Potatoes can help with the design of simple multiple choice tests - hotpot.uvic.ca

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