For the classroom
Using faith stories: ten great ideas
Exploring experiences of prayer inspired by different faith communities around the world
Using the Methodist Modern Art Collection with schools:
The exhibition has been organised by the Believe in Hull church partnership as part of its contribution toward Hull City of Culture celebrations 2017, with funding support from the Methodist Church.
How to tell a faith story well
Every day we are ‘storied’. We all live by stories – indeed, our lives are stories – but for them to mean something we have to be inside them; otherwise they are merely words. When we achieve that synergy, we...
Two views of teaching the new GCSE
The rider and the elephant -the only way is ethics
Robert Kirkwood has resourced RE over many years with exciting textbooks through his collaboration with the cartoonist Edward McLachlan. We asked him how he sees the subject at the moment.
New beginnings, human destiny and what happens in between
Fr Peter Walters has lived in Columbia since 1994, where he works directly caring for and empowering Columbia’s los desechables; its ‘disposable’ street children. His charity, Let the Children Live, offers...
RE in the graveyard: Not scary, but peaceful
Gill Tewkesbury teaches in Devon. She wanted to help her pupils think more deeply about religion and the end of life, so she went to the graveyard with her class. Secondary teachers reading this face the challenge:...
How does RE contribute to reconciliation?
Amanda Donelan is headteacher of the Holy Spirit Catholic and Church of England Primary School in Leasowe on the Wirral. She describes a new spiritual beginning for her school.
Luton in Harmon: RE lessons to think about inter-religious respect
Ulrike Hunt wanted her pupils to start thinking more deeply about respect for all. Here’s what she did.
Beginning to see RE as research
This idea is one of many ways to move RE in an enquiring direction. If we think of pupils as researchers, then the enquiring purposes of RE come into focus. So we asked several schools (thanks to them all) to set...
Beginnings and endings – An exploration
Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, is one of the most well-known of all Hindu images. It is enigmatic on first encounter, but its complexity makes it an exciting resource for exploring Hindu beliefs about the cycle of...
Helping 4-year-olds with the true meaning of Christmas
Sophie Nicholls, from Ferncumbe CE Primary School, in Warwickshire, shares how the Forest School experience was used to help children in the reception class understand the festivities. They all made a team sculpture...
Big Friendly RE
Matthew Priest teaches 7–8 year olds in Sandwell. He linked up English with RE to begin exploring the theme of dreams
What is love? Answers from the 6-year-olds
Rachel Buckby teaches at St John’s CE Primary School in Leicester and is a member of the NATRE Executive. She wanted to begin to use sacred texts thoughtfully with her infants. Here’s how she did it: ideas you can...
Teaching life, the Universe and (the pedagogical) everything:
RE seems to require teaching everything, alongside factual content of rituals and vocabulary. A pick from REtoday 35:1 includes promoting critical thinking1 and negotiating conflicting worldviews2 in a way that is...
Islam and science:
Letter writing is often suggested by textbooks as a way to enable pupils to respond to an issue. In this example, we go further, and offer four ‘letter starts’ that address key issues in Islam and science, with...
What is Religion?
Do you ever get the sense that your students come to school to watch you work? Jane Halsall at Southend High School for Boys wants to shift the responsibility of critical thinking from her to her students’...