Primary RE Development Day Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Improving RE 4-11: spirituality, creativity, inspiration, presented by Lat Blaylock, editor, RE Today This one day course for anyone who teaches RE in the primary school will provide 14 practical ideas for better RE lessons in which children’s own spiritual ideas and experience are valued and celebrated. Linking to key topics in the curriculum, the day will enable you to think through big ideas and questions, links to art, music and drama, fresh ways to learn from the Bible and from the worship of the Christian community.  

Where is God? Children reflect on the biggest belief of all in RE lessons linked to the art curriculum. Select your three favourites Say why. Hundreds of these at www.natre.org.uk/spiritedarts

Ethan is 6 In his picture, he shows his idea about searching for God: “Up in heaven there is God. All of these are planets and God made them. I am jumping up to give God a flower from the hill. God looks just like me.”

“My model is called ‘All you need is love’ “My model is called ‘All you need is love’. Some people don’t believe in god, but they do believe in love. I am one of these people.”

Esme, 9: “God always watches us from the sky Esme, 9: “God always watches us from the sky. I have mainly done the eyes of God because we don’t know what God looks like, but he sees us from above. God is always watching and sees everything, so I feel safe.”

Up There? by Morgan Boyd age 10 My picture is called where is God: up there? I have done a cottage in the sky on the clouds with the sky behind it. I have written on it. It may look empty but the spirit lurks here, there and everywhere. I think God is in a cottage in the sky with a floating cottage on the clouds with the sky behind it but He is a spirit so he’s not just there but He’s everywhere. It is explaining that God is everywhere and I think God is in a cottage in the sky He is everywhere not just in one place. He is there for everyone when they need it. He is a spirit so he is everywhere. God is someone to turn to if you’re stuck and it shows just because you can’t see god it does not mean He’s not there.

Up in the Sky By Eliot, Age 8 “My picture is about where I think God is. The balloons and kites are messages to God - like his mail, instead of a postman. This picture shows me where God is: not far away.”

Emma is 9 “My picture is called ‘God is the light’ The little girl is in darkness. She needs help, so she looks in to the candle light. I called it God is the light because when she looks into the light she is safe.”

Talking about God: What is God like? Some Christian ideas Tell the children that Christians believe God does lots of different things. Can they make some suggestions about what they think God does (some may say ‘nothing’)? Can the class make a list of ten or more ideas? Using a poem to learn what Christians think God does. Tell the children that Christians believe God has lots of different roles. Use the ‘kenning’ poem on the next slide to start this work. Read it to the pupils, and ask them what or who they think it is about. The poem actually has two three line stanzas each about God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, so it is a simple way to help children think about Christian ideas about God. Put the lines of the poem on the whiteboard or make a big copy on some cards to use in circle time. Ask the pupils if they can see why each line is something to do with what Christians say about God. Any lines they don’t understand? Maybe someone else in the class can explain? Maybe the teacher can? Ask the children to take one line (i.e. 2 words!) of the poem each, and draw a picture to show what it means. If two children do a picture for each of the lines, then a class book could be made of the results. Use this sequence of lessons as part of the St Albans Unit for Year 1 or 2 called ‘Talking About God’. This could for an introduction to the unit.

Who? Time starter Space maker Earth shaper Mud modeller Garden planter Fruit grower Stable sleeper Miracle maker Eye opener Cross carrier Devil crusher Grave buster Promise keeper Hand holder Heart warmer Cheerer upper Energy booster Life giver This poem, in the form of a ‘kenning’ is usable alongside literacy activities, where they are connected t olist poems or to ‘patterns on the page. The poem uses two verses to say things which Christians believe about God the Father, two verses about Jesus and two about the Holy Spirit. Children who understand this poem will know a lot about Christian beliefs about God. It is quite fun to chant the poem: in circle time set up a rhythm by clapping their hands on their legs. The teacher then says each line of the poem and the pupils all reply together, in the rhythm. This will familiarise them with the language.

God is like... Different people have different ideas about what God is like. What are your ideas? You are going to discover five ideas about God from Christian people. Do you think they are good ideas? This simple slide is important because it launches enquiry with questions. Take a few minutes to hear some childrens’ ideas about these two questions, but move on fairly smartly.

God is like... Different people have different ideas about what God is like. What are your ideas? Here are five ideas from Christian people. Do you think they are good ideas?

Is God like any of these things in any way? Think carefully!

5 Christian comments about God: “I think God is big and strong.” “I think God can light up your life” “I think God is puzzling and mysterious” “I believe God is like your mum or your dad, but even better.” “My idea is that God is always really close to us, but hard to see sometimes” Can you choose a picture to go with each of the 5 ideas?

5 Christian comments about God: which picture? “I think God is big and strong.” “I think God can light up your life” “I think God is puzzling and mysterious” “I believe God is like your mum or your dad, but even better.” “My idea is that God is always really close to us, but hard to see sometimes”

Christians think God is... Like a tree because... Like a torch because... Like mums or dads because... Like your shadow because... Like a jigsaw because...

The next 4 slides are art work from pupils who have been thinking about God. Look and learn, then make one of your own, using your own ideas about God

God's Footprints Thomas Moore (5) In my picture I have painted the sky and the sun, then I added grass and flowers. Next I painted God’s footprints because although you can’t see God, I think you can see that He has been everywhere.

God Is In Me and In My Brother Anna Walker Age 5 Where is God? God lives in my little brother. And God lives in me.

Who Is God? Joao Age 7 I think God is hope. Hope might look like a halo with lovely things around it. I have drawn the halo with the sun shining in the middle. There is rainbow light coming out around the edges. He is also Spirit and human at the same time. One of my friends said my picture looked a bit like a keyhole. That made me think that God is the key to heaven. So God is hope. He is the key to heaven.

Amazing, Fabulous God Samuel (6) “This is my picture of God. He is showing us that he is amazing and fabulous!”

My favourite picture is... Because...

Copyright: RE Today and Author For pupils aged 4-7 See hundreds of ‘Art in ?Heaven’ entries at www.natre.org.uk/spiritedarts This material is available to RE Today subscribers via the password members area of the website. Your termly password is always in the inside back cover of the magazine. Copyright: RE Today and Author