Hero image

Durgamata's Shop

Average Rating3.89
(based on 485 reviews)

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.

357Uploads

1072k+Views

1116k+Downloads

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.
The King James Bible - Old Testament
durgamatadurgamata

The King James Bible - Old Testament

(1)
This year is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. The BBC celebrated this event with a special day during which significant passages were read. I did my best to download them all as they can be used as a great resource when introducing the Bible or teaching Christianity - especially GCSE and A level These files relate to the Old Testament. Do make a comment or give some rating if you use any of my resources as it helps me to know what is useful and others to find the resources they need.
Pagan and Neo-Pagan perspectives - Imbolg, Tiw
durgamatadurgamata

Pagan and Neo-Pagan perspectives - Imbolg, Tiw

(2)
Imbolg is the first of many subjects I hope to explore under this heading. If there are others which you would like me to include, do send a PM. Imbolg is the festival which marks the beginning of spring, when the goddess Bride and her groom (the terms Bride and Groom originate here) get together and the year unfolds in all its glory. There are ceremonies to turn away winter and welcome spring - clear out the old and welcome the new ... It is celebrated around the 2nd February - which happens to be today, Happy Imbolg!
A boy is bullied + spirituality at work in school
durgamatadurgamata

A boy is bullied + spirituality at work in school

(1)
This is my account of what happened when we moved to London and my son (then aged 9) suffered some bullying. (He is now 31 and a professional actor. You may have seen him in the photos and video referred to on Siddhartha becomes the Buddha.) I wrote this years ago and found it when doing a computer search for Krishna - in relation to my recent Hinduism Day. I think it could encourage some good discussion on many aspects of RE, PSHE and Citizenship. I have now also uploaded the 'parent' file - Sunlight and Shadow parts 2 and 3
Heaven and Hell - a story - and more readings
durgamatadurgamata

Heaven and Hell - a story - and more readings

(0)
I've used this story in primary and secondary sectors. It's good if you want a story to adapt as a drama. It links with many aspects of the RE curriculum - good and evil, what happens when we die etc - it comes from 'the East' but has parallels with Christianity too. You may explore questions eg 'What's a saint' and 'Are angels real' - and thinking about what make heaven and hell in the lives and experiences of our students - at home, in the playground and in the classroom. inspired to explore this theme further, did a search on the CKG library and found the Akbar story and more.
chartere23  - Holy Quible Important texts for GCSE
durgamatadurgamata

chartere23 - Holy Quible Important texts for GCSE

(2)
this is an astonishingly brilliant collection of important quotations from Christian and Hindu sources for GCSE students. You will find it also at chartere23's site and I am not sharing it here to take any of the credit for it at all - simply because it is so good I want it to be seen by and used in class by as many of my colleagues in RE as possible. The only changes I have made to this version are - an introduction with thanks - and slight adjustments to formatting. Ideally I would then pdf it but no facility for that here. Thanks again chartere23
A Moonlit Night To Remember
durgamatadurgamata

A Moonlit Night To Remember

(0)
Hi guys, I have been working with the Duke of Edinburgh team for the past two weeks, no access to computer or internet but a lot of great experiences with our fantastic students. We had three groups of four to six in a group and all succeeded in passing Silver - tremendous transcendence and experiences of going beyond despair, The weakest group ended up the best! This essay is an account of what I did when the minibus left, taking the students back to London. Hopefully inspire some discussion and reflection, As always, do give feedback. And have a great Summer Holiday.
articles -  Villages in India -- progress + change
durgamatadurgamata

articles - Villages in India -- progress + change

(2)
These articles cover many aspects of village life - including local democracy, provision of water, education and opportunities for women, caste problems etc. Useful in any international work, citizenship, community cohesion and Religious Education topics with KS3 KS4, GCSE etc.
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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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.
Bullying, Peer-Pressure, Faith in Action, Courage
durgamatadurgamata

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.
Teilhard de Chardin - Hymn of Matter
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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
durgamatadurgamata

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.