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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.
Key Words for learning and revision - a game
durgamatadurgamata

Key Words for learning and revision - a game

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This resource is in process. There is an outline describing how to play the game, a blank table in which you or your pupils can suggest Key Words to include, a page of Key Words to begin with (1A) and an outline of the 1B table which will give meanings to the words in 1A. What is best about this game is that 'wrong&' answers are encouraged. Those who know the answer can think about the key words they are holding and try to link them with the meaning given.
Blog for July/August 2013
durgamatadurgamata

Blog for July/August 2013

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1 kittens, Joy Weekend 2 Ipswich weekend inc photos Indian Independence Day. Third = Facing History Seminar (re Holocaust) Blogs from 20th August to 4th September - the Spiritual Festival in New York. a bit unusual. 6th Sep - back home kittens celibacy and God Realisation. 7th (with pics) of my spiritual Teacher. 9th - reflections on wealth and oneness. 11th Birmingham Expedition and chocolate. 13th house-share tensions. Posters for the Concert 25th catch up on postering news and an interview 2nd Oct. Postering + people in Birmingham 11th Oct (from 4th) preparing for the concert
Hindu Festival Guru Purnima, July - August
durgamatadurgamata

Hindu Festival Guru Purnima, July - August

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celebrates the relationship between a Spiritual Teacher / students or disciples, a time when Hindus re-dedicate themselves to their spiritual life. There are parallels here Islam during Ramadan and Judaism in celebrating the Sabbath. a summary of Wikki on this, as a separate file, with questions is in process. If anyone uses this and would like to share lesson plan and feedback, that would be great. I aim to create some activities around this information. Happy Guru Purnima.
Malala Yousafzai  - a source of inspiration
durgamatadurgamata

Malala Yousafzai - a source of inspiration

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includes speech Malala gave at the UN on 12th July 2013 Videos of M's recovery more vids inc reports and interviews from July - Nov 2013 some of M&'s blog + it inspires others wksheets 1 bckgnd to start of her speech Worksheet with 20 questions plus 2 - in process - on the substance of the speech. (yr 9 upwards needs adaption and differentiation.) Worksheet on UN and Human Rights Taliban 1 full text of letter from T with background Taliban 2 about T from a contrasting perspective Women&';s experiences of T rule. Buddhist statues destroyed by T. Drone attacks. feedback please
Letter to my MP about RE and Mr Gove's latest.
durgamatadurgamata

Letter to my MP about RE and Mr Gove's latest.

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With Mr Gove admitting that he has messed up RE I was inspired tonight to set out why I think RE is important and how it could be improved. There is much too much here for a real letter to an MP but you may find material to adapt and send to Mr Gove or your own MP. One way or another we need to strike while the iron is hot if we can, to pressure Mr G to make some changes that will improve things. just added Stephen Lloyd's excellent article Do give your comments and suggestions here or as a personal message. Best wishes to everyone, DurgaMata
What Amazes You Most? A poem on Wonder and God.
durgamatadurgamata

What Amazes You Most? A poem on Wonder and God.

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poem, with introduction composed in response to a year 10 contingent who were quite disaffected and atheist-exclusivist-closedmindedist. It was effective in engaging them with the God question. the poem is quite powerful for anyone to read as a meditation and you can omit the central section which is an exploration of evil/suffering, please give some reviews as this helps other readers find the resource.
Pregnancy and Abortion - readings and perspectives
durgamatadurgamata

Pregnancy and Abortion - readings and perspectives

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The first of these readings is from my June 27th 2013 blog, reflecting on the pregnancy of my cat I plan to add other inspiring or insightful readings related to pregnancy, abortion, sex and family life. I may also add the group-work / role-play notes I have used with success when exploring this topic with GCSE classes
RE Blog for June 2013
durgamatadurgamata

RE Blog for June 2013

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June 6 part 1 is about gratitude. P 2 - my son's concert tour in Italy June 11th Part 1 cats p 2 - Hinduism and Community June 12th - poet Hollie McNish poem - racism and xenophobia June 14th part 1 Mum leaving for Shetland Part 2 about the consequences of a conference in London on Saturday. June 18th Vygotsky&'s Zone of Proximal Development June 20-22 a painful experience explored and transformed What amazes you most poem July 12th - and 21st the Clutter Problem 23rd when I focused on my spiritual life for Guru Purnima.+ latest miracles from Lourdes
What is Religion? Part one Religion and Me
durgamatadurgamata

What is Religion? Part one Religion and Me

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The latest of my slide-shows which asks 'What is Religion? using beautiful images, inspiring quotations, thought provoking text and interactive activities. The slides are timed to progress and some animation is used but the activities progress with a mouse-click and can be timed to suit. This resource is great to stimulate thought about religion in its widest aspect or to set the scene for any new Scheme of Work. It takes viewers through two models of religion - the jigsaw and the garden and introduces the great Eternal Questions, exploring identity - body, vital, heart, mind and soul. comments and feedback welcome.
Bullying, Peer-Pressure, Faith in Action, Courage
durgamatadurgamata

Bullying, Peer-Pressure, Faith in Action, Courage

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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.
Sport and Spirituality, running, meditation + more
durgamatadurgamata

Sport and Spirituality, running, meditation + more

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Here are poems and quotations about sport and the spiritual life from the Sri Chinmoy Library site. These cover topics such as the World Harmony Run (also called the Peace Run) the Six and Ten Day endurance ultramarathon races - and then as many good and relevant quotes as I could gather in about three hours of researching. These form a great resource to dip into if you are asked to do cross-curricular work on sport and religion.
Group work strategies with example from Sikhism
durgamatadurgamata

Group work strategies with example from Sikhism

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thoughts about Groupwork with a nice example on the Guru Granth Sahib. The power point is in process - but offers some good visual material. You can save any slide you like. Just put save as jpeg and then current slide for the ones you want. You can then insert them on a publisher file and arrange to print out as resources for the group-work exercise - I've done a few. + info about Gurmurki and Shabad Guru (spiritual sound in the writings and songs of the Guru Granth.) Thanks to ballykl (TES)and the Oadby Punjabi School for added files on Mool Mantra
Readings on the subject of Anatta - Buddhism
durgamatadurgamata

Readings on the subject of Anatta - Buddhism

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A selection of articles and reflections on the subject of Anatta. I include several sources which explore Anatta and some exercises including an essay outline. Pupils and students can also use silent reflection to explore self and change, just watching their thoughts. Afterwards write notes of what they remember thinking about + colour code these notes, to show which thoughts related to past, present, future or the world of imagination. Then discuss observations re Anatta and Anicca.
Religious Education Blog
durgamatadurgamata

Religious Education Blog

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21st Feb is about my son singing on ATN Bangla Television I am so proud and happy. What a joy and a privilege to be able to have such a son and a link to such an inspiring event. 25th - 28th about my struggles to teach the lad I work with and my new priority for progress. 14th March includes catch up about a difficult week and 15-16 a paragraph about walking and breathing meditation from a book I am reading by Satish Kumar 25 April - 2nd May back from New York, Alex and Birmingham.
Religious Prejudice Christian Muslim, Israel, Shia
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Religious Prejudice Christian Muslim, Israel, Shia

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a range of articles on these topics from Internet including about the relationship between Shia and Sunni Muslims in Pakistan (most recent example of Religious Prejudice resulting in deaths that I know of - in 2013.) and some history of the Israel/Palestine conflict. I will add to this should other examples arise.
Syria/Chechenia/Iraq/Iran inspired refugee story
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Syria/Chechenia/Iraq/Iran inspired refugee story

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This story arises from an art exercise in preparation for some animation work. The brief gave three 'random-generated&' words (Party, Aeroplane and Waiting) and asked for &';a scary story.' This story was inspired by my concern for all who are suffering from political upheaval around the world, especially in Syria, Chechenia, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and so many other parts of the world. Use as a starter or stimulus for a unit of work on refugees and asylum seekers, war and peace or even aspects of Islam in today&'s world. I&';d love some feedback.
Crime and Punishment, Peace and Conflict, engaging
durgamatadurgamata

Crime and Punishment, Peace and Conflict, engaging

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Some initial ideas for engaging our pupils with these two important topics. I will add to these but at least this will help you start thinking of ways to engage with your pupils' own life experience and be able to learn from what the religions teach about these subjects. just came on here to add a file and found this is not downloading! Not surprising then to have a bad rating. I will try to put this right.
Miracles - GCSE RE
durgamatadurgamata

Miracles - GCSE RE

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in haste, I just answered a question about miracles in relation of GCSE RE. My answer (here) may be helpful but I will improve on it soon. I want to add the model and examples of miracles with the Bible Refs on. plus a suggested questionnaire and how to analyse results (cross curricular maths.) but no time for that tonight.
Blog beginning 25th January, 2013
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Blog beginning 25th January, 2013

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continuing blog. The first two files include photos of the kitties. The on on 25th also includes some reflections on the meaning and significance of birthdays. 30th is about presentation skill training and my workshop next week. 1st has some sheets for next weeks workshop.the scanned texts (which come from the Interfaith video/slide-show) are loaded separately + original slide-Show they go with. - see http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Reflections-On-Life-part-2-InterFaith-with-music-6079804/ for original plus music