1. Risky, Edgy REFrom Here to Outstanding Pushing the Boundaries for RECulham St Gabriels Teacher Weekend 2012Paul Smalley SOLSTICE Fellow & Senior Lecturer in Education Edge Hill UniversityEmail: smalleyp@edgehill.ac.ukTwitter: @PabloPedantic Mobile: 07952884795 Facebook : /PabloPedanticBlog: http://blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/re/

2. Aim9 practical lesson ideas, each with some sort of edgethings that have a risk of going wrong,when they go right are brilliantsolid lesson ideas that you can try 3. Why not play it safe?In schools where behaviour was poor, this was frequentlylinked to dull and uninspired teaching.Ofsted Annual Report 09-10 (2010)teachers lacked confidence and were reluctant to risk newapproachesOfsted Transforming Religious Education (2010)In the lessons seen in the secondary schools during the survey,the most frequent strengths included.using a variety ofimaginative approachesOfsted The National Strategies: a review of impact (2010) 4. Where pupils are actively engaged in their learning, they:have a longer concentration span;complete work on time;stay on-task and have few behaviour problems;maintain a good attendance record 5. Menu1. Effective Media Stimulus2. Maps from memory3. Demonstration4. Mystery game5. Using video clips6. Active reading7. Guided Fantasy8. Large scale role-play9. Paper dart plenary 6. 1. Effective Stimulus 7. 1. Effective StimulusWhat are the risks?When could you use this? 8. 2. Maps from MemoryPrepare a pictureGet pupils into groups of 4 (can vary)Call out 1s they have 30 seconds (can vary) to look at thepicture.After 30 seconds number 2s have 30 seconds to look atthe picture, while number1s draw.Repeat for 3s and 4s and allow extra time at the end.Each group should have a perfect facsimile of the originalpicture 9. 2. Maps from Memory The Hindu Law of SamsaraWhat are the risks?When could you use this?Why does this work? 10. 3. DemonstrationDemonstrating reincarnation with candles 11. 3. DemonstrationWhat are the risks?Can you think of any other demonstrations ofabstract ideas? 12. 4. MysteriesOne ways to use mysteries Divide into two groups, both have the sameevidence on either yellow or blue cards.The winners are the team which has the bestanswer, making greatest use of the evidence in agiven time. 13. 4. MysteriesWhat are the risks?How else can you use mystery games?Why do it this way? 14. 5. Video/media clipsAt its best media from the world of the pupils isused to learn about or from religion.An example: in a lesson on Is Bar Mitzvah agood initiation ceremony? use Finding Nemo. 15. 5. Video/media clipsShow the clip of Nemos initiationAnalyse why it is a good ceremony drawing out fromthe pupils that: this ceremony marked Nemo becoming one of the gang - initiation. it was a relatively simple task that was built up into a big thing. the task was relevant - Nemo had a weak fin but needed to be a good swimmer in order to escapeRepeat the process with a video of a Bar Mitzvah 16. 5. Video/media clipsRisk?Engaging?Examples http://www.damaris.org/relessonsonline/index2.phphttp://www.farmington.ac.uk 17. 6. Active ReadingDirected Activities Related to Text (DARTs)Highlight the KS2 text for Names Jobs Places Three Key VerbsGive each paragraph a sub-heading.Draw a map or flowchart of the story. 18. 6. Active ReadingToo safe make it louder and more active!To teach the prologue to John, start by rhythmicallychanting some poetry.Do the same with the prologue.Give each pair a verse, they read it out emphasising keywords.They create an action for each key word.Perform it as a whole class. 19. 7. Guided FantasyUsing experiential RE techniques allows pupils torespond to the spiritual dimension it is meant tobe de-indoctrination a term coined by David Hayand used by writers such as Watson and Thompson.My experience is that children love to do this sort ofexercise, if only as an opportunity to chill out.Guided Fantasy.ppt 20. 7. Guided FantasyPractical Risks?Theological Risks? 21. 8. Large Scale Role PlayBasically I had this mad idea to combineCitizenship (Crown Court) and putting Jesus ontrial for fraud (the resurrection).Sue Phillips Theatre of Learning pedagogy is verysimilar.Make your classroom into a place of worship. 22. 9. Paper dart plenaryFold paper into paper plane.Write on one thing you have learnt this lesson.When I say throw the plane.Add something you have learnt to the plane youcatch- repeat twice.At the end give throw them all to me. 23. Diamond 9As a four agree put the cards on the sheet inorder of risk.Which will have the best results?Which are you most likely to try?