Webinar Series 2015

Getting ready for Interfaith Week

2015 How to organise interfaith activities to

deepen learning in RE and citizenship during IFW

15th – 21st November 20154.00pm - 4.45pm

Thursday 22nd October 2015 http://www.interfaithexplorers.com/webinars

www.interfaithexplorers.com

• Supported by UNESCO• Helps pupils understand the world around them &

respect cultural and religious diversity• Offers high quality cross-curricula resources to use with

pupils at Key Stage 2 and those embarking on their Key Stage 3 transition

• Supports core personal and social skills development as well as self-directed, exploratory learning

• Promotes universal core values & the development of ethical thinking

• Designed to compliment RE and PSHE teaching, alongside citizenship education

Webinars• Support teachers in their work around

interfaith dialogue and RE; as well as PSHE and Citizenship learning in schools

• Offers a space for teachers to come together and think about issues arising from classroom practice in these areas

Webinar Presenter• Claire Clinton

o An experienced teacher within EYFS, Primary and Secondary education

o She has over 20 years of classroom experience, and 16 years of advisory work at a national and local level

o For the past 9-years has been the Religious Education Advisor for the London Borough of Newham

Session objectives• Share a range of ideas for Interfaith Week

(IFW): 15th – 21st November 2015

• Understand how IFW focused RE and citizenship lessons can: o Benefit your pupils when they engage with

interfaith activities; o Embed Fundamental British Values of tolerance

and mutual respect within your school.

IFW 2015: using stories (1)

• Stories allow us to find common messages shared by humanity, shared values;

• Keeping back the meaning of a story and allowing

children and young people to speculate on the meaning/s for themselves gives opportunity for high quality learning;

• Allows pupil’s to learn from one another’s cultural/religious heritage.

IFW 2015: using stories (2)

• Stories available via www.interfaithexplorers.com include:o Abrahamo The Rabbi and the Cowo The Good Samaritano The Famous Donkey Story

• Read the story to your pupils and ask them: o To find hidden meaning/s in the story (which you can

display as a list to the rest of the class)o What questions would be interesting to discuss from these

ideas

IFW 2015: using stories (3)

• Good Samaritan Story example: • Pupils might say the stories hidden meaning are:

o Help strangerso Always find time for otherso Don’t walk by & always get help

• Get pupils to think of a good discussion question from these ideas: o Why are we sometimes too busy to help? o What stops us from stopping? o Should we always help strangers?

• Then have a full classroom discussion

IFW 2015: foods and festivals (1)

• Main Religious festivals in November/December

• Hanukkah (Jewish)• Diwali (Hindu, Sikh and

Jain)• Advent & Christmas

(Christian)• Guru Nanak’s Birthday

(Sikh)• Prophet Muhammad’s

birthday (Muslim)

IFW 2015: foods and festivals (2)

• Use worksheets available via www.interfaithexplorers.com

e.g. ‘Same, Similar and Different’ worksheet

• Use a link between different festivals – e.g. light, birthday / significant dates

• Look at more than one as this helps aid discussions about what they share

• Offer a different way into RE: o Learn about a religious festival through the food

eaten o Make food with pupils and get them to taste it

IFW 2015: patterns and designs

• Use worksheets available via www.interfaithexplorers.com

• Think of the way in which patterns are used in different religions: o Repeated patterns o Calligraphy to form objects

• Ask pupils to: o Think about what the patterns seek to show that is

central to a religion’s beliefso Design a symbol to represent Interfaith Weeko Design a shared space used by two different religions

IFW 2015: Philosophical thinking (1)

• Playful Ponders: • Ask pupils to ponder whether they would prefer

one option or another: e.g. would you choose to have a day where you can spend £1000 or a day where everyone in your family, school community get on with one another?

• Get pupils to choose to stand on one side of the classroom or the other showing their choice

• Ask pupils to explain their choice • After a few explanations see if any want to

change sides…

IFW 2015: Philosophical thinking (2)

• Using a concept line to discuss the topic of peace:

More peaceful Less peaceful

Join up nationally

• Download their poster

• Use some of their suggestions to inspire you

• IFW: 15-22nd Nov

www.interfaithnetwork.org

Top Tips• Do one thing well if it is the first time you

are marking IFW this year - and then build on that next year

• Have clear outcomes for your activity!• Think about how can you share what you

will do with your wider school family (other teachers /pupils / parents): o Newsletter o Sharing items during assemblies o Can you invite local faith leaders to lead an

assembly?

Wrap up

Any questions?

Contact usFor further information about the webinar series and

how Interfaith Explorers can support you visit:

www.interfaithexplorers.com

or contact

Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Chief Executive

Maimonides Interfaith Foundation rokhsana@maimonides-foundation.org