News from the World of RE

From RE Today (www.retoday.org.uk)

16/05/2012
RE Today publications - by religion

Teachers often ask us to tell them what we publish on a particular religion or topic. The current Opening up Primary RE series includes four overviews of our publications on Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. These pages are available for free download below. We hope you find them helpful.

Christianity_-_primary_classroom_activities_in_RE_Today_publications_.pdf Hinduism_-_primary_classroom_activities_in_RE_Today_publications.pdf Islam_-_primary_classroom_activities_in_RE_Today_publications.pdf Judaism_-_primary_classroom_activities_in_RE_Today_publications.pdf

If you wish to purchase any of the publications mentioned, they are available from our webshop.

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15/05/2012
Sikh Concepts - new DVD resource!

Sikh Concepts is a brand new resource - six short videos presenting and explaining concepts at the heart of Sikhism in ways that are easy to understand, engaging, and stimulating of questions and discussion.

Ideal for 11 - 14s, each video is presented by Roop Singh of the Sikh Educational Advisory Service. Roop is well-known and widely experienced in working with young people in the school context. His understanding of what students need to know and understand and how this might be effectively communicated shines through, as does his profound commitment to his religion.

Whichever syllabus you are teaching, this resource is a 'must have' if you are teaching Sikhism.

Series 1 (out now) The 5 Ks ~ Saint Soldier ~ Guru Granth Sahib Ji Price: £12.99 each or £30 for the series

Series 2 (coming soon) Gurdwara ~ Seva - Simran ~ Sikh Artefacts and Symbols Price: £12.99 each or £30 for the series

To place an order, email Bow Media.

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10/05/2012
Science & Religion - conference for teachers

Creativity, Creation, and a Big Bang is a one-day conference on science and religion in the school curriculum. The conference, held by The Faraday Institute, offers an intensive and exciting programme for those with an interest in the teaching and learning of science and religion.

The conference is being held on Saturday 19 May 2012 at St Edmunds College Cambridge and costs just £20 including lunch (£15 trainees/HE students).

The keynote speaker is Professor John Hedley Brooke: ‘Newton, Science and Religion’. Research and Resource sessions are from the LASAR team (Learning about science and religion).

To register for the conference, visit the conference page of The Faraday Institute. See also the Conference flyer below. LASAR_Conference_2012_flier.pdf

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08/05/2012
9/11 National Schools Competition

9/11 National Schools Competition entries - deadline approaches!

The 9/11 National Schools Competition - a unique competition offering six UK pupils the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New York - is releasing a final call for entries today.

The six competition finalists, whose trip will coincide with the 2012 anniversary of the September 11th attacks, will be among some of the first UK school pupils to visit 9/11 memorial site in New York.

In order to enter, school pupils need to submit an essay or original video content tackling the question, 'How did 9/11 change the world?'

The competition has already attracted support from leading figures in film, broadcast and education. Celebrated British film producer Lord David Puttnam and British historian and broadcaster Simon Schama CBE have signed up to the competition judging panel.

Lee Ielpi, a former fire-fighter and President of the September 11th Families' Association has also pledged his support for the competition. Having played an integral role in organising the prize winners' New York schedule, Ielpi says:

“The six winners will have a wonderful and unique experience in New York City, where they will participate in 9/11 anniversary events in New York, meet with people deeply impacted by the events including New York Firefighters, and attend a local school ceremony acknowledging the anniversary."

"The winners will also be taken on a guided tour of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center at Ground Zero and the Memorial Plaza."

The competition is being launched to raise awareness for the 9/11 Education Programme, which was launched in September 2011 to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

The new education programme, developed by the 9 11 London Project in partnership with the world-renowned Institute of Education (IOE), provides UK school pupils with a better understanding of the events surrounding 9/11. The programme has been well-received by schools around the UK, with many schools utilising the interactive resources available on the education programme's website.

The deadline for competition entries is June 1st 2012. There will be one winning video entry and one winning essay entry, along with two runners-up for each category.

Pupils can enter the competition via the following link: www.911educationprogramme.co.uk

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04/05/2012
2012 Olympics - in Primary RE

If you are looking for ideas for how to include something on the 2012 Olympics in RE lessons (primary) then do check out Issue 5 of Primary Subjects, published by the CfSA. This issue includes a four-page curriculum leaflet specifically on RE that was written by NATRE. Issue 5 also contains equivalent leaflets for other subjects in the primary curriculum.

For more information about Primary Subjects see the CfSA website or email NATRE if you can’t find what you are looking for. NATRE is a member organisation of the CfSA.

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28/04/2012
Report on inspection of ITE published

The evaluation report on the outcomes of Ofsted's consultation about the new inspection arrangements for initial teacher education (ITE) to be introduced in September 2012 is now available.

The report also evaluates the pilot ITE inspections that took place in the spring term 2012. It can be accessed here.

The outcomes from the 'A good education for all' consultation are not included within this evaluation. They will be published separately, at the end of May.

The framework for the inspection of initial teacher education from September 2012 will be published at the end of June.

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19/04/2012
Science & Belief - new video resource

Science & Belief : the Big Issues is the latest resource from Professor Russell Stannard, Emeritus Professor of Physics at the Open University and licensed lay minister in the Church of England.

The twelve videos are freely available on YouTube, and together provide 120 minutes of stimulus material. Nine of the episodes begin with young people expressing their views on a contentious topic: Creationism; Intelligent Design; The Galileo trial; Miracles; The Anthropic Principle; Freud; Jung; Memes and Extra-terrestrial intelligence.

The video presentations are supported by two sets of discussion notes. Lat Blaylock of RE Today Services has written a set of notes for teachers to assist discussion and follow on activity with exam level secondary school students. Click here.

Russell Stannard has written a set of notes for discussion leaders in church groups. These provide starters for discussion for each of the episodes along with general notes on using the videos with adult groups. Click here.

Copies of the package on a disc giving the video programmes and the notes are available for sale. Subscribers to REtoday Magazine and Roots (Adults and All Age) will receive a free copy of the disc with their April mailings.

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16/04/2012
Creativity - a new publication for primary RE

Opening Up: Creativity, edited by Fiona Moss, is the latest in the primary curriculum series.

Opening up Creativity provides excellent examples of innovative and inspiring teaching and learning suitable for teaching during discrete RE lessons and for those using a creative curriculum.

The unit for 4-6 year olds engages their tastebuds whilst embracing some real RE learning that connects to wider learning on food. The unit on prayer gives a purpose to the children’s work, as the learning about Christian prayer connects directly to the work of Reverend Lynne. Other units use creative teaching strategies such as a guided visualisation and innovative ways of encouraging young children to become enquirers into religion and belief.

ISBN: 978-1-905893-59-1 Price: £8.50 Available from: 0121 472 4242 and online from RE Today’s webshop.

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15/04/2012
Questions: Meaning, Purpose & Truth - a new publication for secondary RE

Questions: Meaning, Purpose & Truth, edited by Stephen Pett, is designed to help students aged 11 - 16 to explore questions of meaning, purpose and truth with a particular focus on Christian and secular responses.

It contains original source material and creative teaching ideas, enabling students to explore the place of prayer in helping people find meaning in life, the question of truth in religion and science, the challenge of finding purpose in ordinary existence and in thinking about ideas of happiness.

ISBN: 978-1-905893-60-7 Price: £9.50 Available from: 0121 472 4242 and RE Today’s webshop.

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09/04/2012
Archbishop speaks out against downgrading RE

The Archbishop of Canterury’s Easter sermon receives thorough coverage in the press. He makes clear statements against the downgrading of RE and refers to the data gathered in NATRE’s survey of schools carried out in June 2011.

Media coverage includes: Independent Telegraph Daily Mail

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