With the exam period looming over the UK, it is important to give students the support they need when dealing with their stress levels. TrueTube have provided an assembly script, film and PowerPoint presentation to give those anxious pupils a helping hand. The assembly script provides an activity which demonstrates the importance of facing our fears and a good few tips on how deal with exam pressure. The accompanying film focuses on different phobias present amongst society where as the comical PowerPoint presentation, will keep the students engaged with the content of the assembly script. These resources successfully make the exam period seem less daunting and the words of advice more memorable. Unfortunately, I was one of those students who went to bed at 2 am and woke up at 6 am to cram in last minute revision during exams. A lack of sleep, strong coffee and high stress levels are never a good combination for anybody! The guidance from these resources will help your students control their nerves and tackle the exam monster in style.
Once in a while, stress gets the better of most of us. Sweaty palms, racing heartbeats, tired eyes, all of which can lead to a lack of concentration in what we need to get on with. The stress and adrenaline rush which comes with exam pressure is often unavoidable. Even those of us who have past the days of exams, remember the panic in thinking ‘I haven’t done enough revision’ or ‘I haven’t got enough time to answer all of these questions’. The trick is to channel the energy into a positive thing. This natural reaction is a human instinct known as ‘Fight of Flight’. It biologically prepares our bodies to either fight whatever’s attacking us or run for our lives. In the case of exams, we must face our fears and tackle the monster. With the exam period looming over the UK, it is important to give students the support they need when dealing with their stress levels. TrueTube have provided an assembly script, film and PowerPoint presentation to give those anxious pupils a helping hand. The assembly script provides an activity which demonstrates the importance of facing our fears and a good few tips on how deal with exam pressure. The accompanying film focuses on different phobias present amongst society where as the comical PowerPoint presentation, will keep the students engaged with the content of the assembly script. These resources successfully make the exam period seem less daunting and the words of advice more memorable. Unfortunately, I was one of those students who went to bed at 2 am and woke up at 6 am to cram in last minute revision during exams. A lack of sleep, strong coffee and high stress levels are never a good combination for anybody! The guidance from these resources will help your students control their nerves and tackle the exam monster in style.
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Basic human rights are universal and absolute. Or, at least, they should be. They should not be affected by ethnicity, economic conditions, religion or gender. The right to an education is the right of all children. Unfortunately many young people are deprived of this wonderful part of life for these exact reasons. While most of us grow up with years of school memories, many adults are left with empty recollections of hardship. Many adults who were deprived of an education as a child do not even have the basic ability to read and write. This does not just create a lack of knowledge, but a lack of power in the modern world, restricting that person from living life to its full potential. For all the children that do not have a voice in this matter, we must speak up for them and fight for their right to learn. There is one particularly inspirational case which demonstrates the determination and courage needed for this battle...
Two years ago, Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban for standing up for what she believed in. Malala believed that girls, as well as boys, have the right to an education and would not be silenced, despite threats from the Taliban.. Luckily, Malala survived the shooting and is fearlessly contuing her campaign. All around the world, she is now recognised as the face of equality in education. TrueTube is proud to host a film based on Malala’s story called ‘Education for all’. It shows how this basic human right is being abused on a global scale, and how the bravery of this one young girl made an incredible difference. The accompanying assembly script provides a creative activity for the students, a link to the film and the story in-depth. The resources can be found on the TrueTube website under the category human rights. For the students in your class who moan about their homework or the early Monday mornings, these resources may just open their eyes to how lucky we all are. A major problem with mental health issues is that they can go undiagnosed for a long time. People can feel trapped in their own mental prison, unable to find the key to escape. Such a prison often traps the victims within walls of silence, and they find themselves unable to tell even their closest friends and family members what’s wrong. Sometimes they’re not even sure themselves. Anorexia is one mental health problem that can have this very effect on the person involved. It is a mental health and eating disorder which can be life-threatening if not treated. Victims of this illness normally have low self–esteem and a distorted view of their body image. To achieve their notion of the perfect body, they can under-eat, over exercise, take laxatives or abuse their bodies in other ways. This can go unnoticed for a long time, and normally only comes to light once the disorder has intensified. It is important for victims of anorexia to know there are people out there who have gone through something similar and people who can help. It can take a huge amount of courage to admit you have a problem, and an even more courage to do something about it. For all of those victims who may feel isolated from the world around them, there is a short film on TrueTube that may provide them with some comfort. Sometimes the smallest thing can make a big difference. The film ‘Gains and Loses’ explores Anorexia from the victim’s point of view and offers advice on how to take the first few steps towards getting better. The film has been produced by Biomation, who never fail to make a difficult topic easy to understand. Using animation to present their characters and metaphors, the film shows the audience that there is light at the end of the tunnel in what can seem an impossible journey. It is narrated by young people who have suffered from anorexia themselves, giving the production a feeling of reality and integrity. The young voices talk about how they fought back and overcome their eating disorders. The hope for recovery shines through this film and can reach that one person watching who may need it most. Gigantic chocolate eggs, Easter bunnies and a lamb roast dinner with the family are normally things many people associate with this time of year. But the religious meaning behind the chocolaty days off work, can sometimes be forgotten. Christianity holds Easter to be the most important celebration within their faith. It commemorates the sacrifice Jesus Christ made when he was crucified on Good Friday and the amazement of his resurrection on Easter Sunday. This biblical tale represents both hope and sacrifice, each dependent on the other. The betrayal of Judas, the jealousy of the priests and the arrogance of the roman political leaders are to be remembered when Christians reflect on how Jesus came to his death. The core of the faith states that God sacrificed his only son to save humanity from their sins, giving the people of this world a chance to join God in heaven. Jesus was willing to give his life and suffer for mankind in order to bring hope for the future. Therefore the courage, loyalty and strength Jesus demonstrated is also to be reflected upon and celebrated at this time of year. TrueTube has provided a range of resources on this topic to pack in before the celebrations begin. The assembly plan explores the story of Easter in depth, why it is so important to Christians and some of the pagan roots behind the symbolism. Meanwhile, the PowerPoint presentation provides visual accompaniment to the script. The film ‘What is Sacrifice?’ asks the public what they would be willing to give up and what consequence this can have on the people around them. Overall, these resources offer a deep sense of reflection upon what sacrifice means to Christians and what sacrifice can personally mean to the individual. So besides the bunny ears and the Easter egg hunt this weekend, it is a time to reflect upon the people in our own lives and how those relationships are often worth sacrificing for. Passover is one of the most important festivals celebrated in the Jewish calendar. It is a time to reflect upon the importance of courage, determination, faith and liberation within the Jewish community. It is a celebration of an event that took place in Egypt over 3000 years ago, when the Jew’s were liberated from slavery. They were led by Moses who was called before God to save the children of Israel from the imprisonment of the Pharaoh. The story entails many key elements which need to be understood in depth. The ten plagues, the bravery of Moses and the stubbornness of Pharaoh are just a few key features of this incredible story. I still remember learning about Passover as a child through the film ‘The Prince of Egypt’, which was one of my favourite films growing up. It was beautifully animated and has left the details of the event imprinted in my memory to this day. For a lesson at school however, there is not always time to play a two hour length film on one topic. If only there was a shorter animated film encompassing the key details of this Jewish celebration... TrueTube may just have the answer for you if you’re looking for an engaging, creative resource on this subject matter. The film ‘Passover: Read all about it’ tells the story behind this tradition from a slightly different angle. It is told as if it were a headline on the news in the 21st century. The voice overs are a mix of journalists and interviews with key characters, being careful not to miss out any important details. The combination of animation and humour makes this resource a memorable one, evidently making the key features of this Jewish festival part of your student’s memory bank. Like watching a cartoon at home and remembering the storyline, the students will be able to recall why Moses was chosen, what God asked him to do, and how it was done. The joint interactive activity and teachers notes can also provide a good framework for revision and useful ideas for a lesson plan. The power and benefits of animation are now recognized within all areas of business and education, and can be a valuable tool within religious education. Unfortunately we live in a society where people are often judged on their physical appearance. Even though we eventually learn not to base judgements about somebody’s character on the way they physically look, discrimination based on physical appearance is undoubtedly still present within today’s society. We all know that physical beauty does not mirror kindness or the moral compass of that particular person. Even though we all claim to live by this ethical stance, we live in a world where the media feed off vanity and set unrealistic expectations for women and men of all ages. The world of fashion, music and film all play their part in creating these idols, neglectful of the consequences they may have on young people as they develop their sense of personal identity. Measuring our looks against someone else’s idea of how we should look can have a major effect on our state of mental health. Eating disorders, depression, anxiety and a lack of confidence all have roots in the notion that we are just not beautiful enough. Of course, there is nothing wrong with taking pride in one’s appearance and feeling confident about how you look. The problems occur when we prioritise our physical features above personality and the way we treat others. The TrueTube film ‘My Changing Face’ reflects the true meaning of beauty. It is the story of a brave young lady called Jess Lee who has Apert Syndrome. This is a genetic disorder which causes certain skull bones to fuse together affecting the shape of the head and face. Apart from health problems, such as the brain being unable to grow properly, the physical appearance caused by the condition can leave people feeling isolated and withdrawn. Jess describes how she felt happy as a child and didn’t feel different from the other children around her. It is only as she grew up, and faced the cruelty and pressure of other people’s opinions, that she began to lose her confidence and seek out operations to make her appearance seem more ‘normal.’ Jess has had some clinical operations to ensure the stability of her health, and some cosmetic operations because of the pressure to fit in with the world around her. This young lady has come out of it all proud of who she is and with the clear message: ‘Just be who you want to be’. Jess puts the world of vanity to shame, by standing up for who she is and being secure in her own identity - a quality that many people in the world of cosmetic beauty do not possess. For young students, this film will help them see the world of physical appearance for the narrow view that it is and how personality is the key to true beauty. Death is a part of life. It is something every living creature experiences. Yet talking about such an essential part of our existence can often lead to a discussion full of uneasiness. It is human nature to feel troubled when there are no definitive answers. The uncertainty of what happens to us after we die and the heartbreak of losing a loved one can make it a difficult topic to handle. To have the conversation with adults is often awkward enough, and so it is even more challenging for teachers to explain it their young students. The diversity found in the religious, ethical and cultural connotations of death make it arguably the most complex subject to introduce in a classroom and simultaneously, one of the most important lessons students will ever learn. TrueTube supports the value of this part of education by offering a diverse range of free resources tackling the subject of death from all angles. Whether it be a film on bereavement, life after death or the ethical implications of how we die, the resources can be used as a thought provoking tool at the beginning of a lesson to start up discussion. To understand the value of these resources, we must look at the very reasons this subject must be taught in the first place. Primarily, we live in a world where death is an inevitable part of everyday life, whether it touches a family member, a close friend, or an acquaintance. It may be something you hear about on the news: a famous person dies, or a catastrophe on the other side of the world that has killed hundreds of people. Whatever the case maybe, being able to talk about death in a tactful, relatable and understanding way is a valuable skill to have in life. It develops your own confidence when supporting people going through bereavement and reassures those who have lost loved ones that it’s ok to talk about how they feel. Another reason for the importance of this subject is the fundamental position it holds within all worldwide religions. From the notion of reincarnation to an after life; they are all key features of different religions which are deeply ingrained in our history. In addition to this, there is of course the atheist belief that we only have this one life which also has an effect on a person's behaviour and how they choose to live. The philosophical approach to death offers undeniable benefits in terms of critical thinking and the development of an open mind. Reflecting on what’s important in life and questioning your own personal values are intertwined with the topic, and are questions we all should ask ourselves. Furthermore, the ethical understanding of euthanasia, abortion and capital punishment are key attributes when learning to think for yourself and developing social awareness. We have just heard about the tragic death of Peaches Geldof, at the tender age of 25. The heartbreaking loss of this beautiful young lady brings to light the harsh reality that life can be taken away in an instant at any age. Peaches Geldof will be a young lady your students may be able to relate to when teaching matters of bereavement and how it can affect the people involved. We must use the education of such a vast subject to acknowledge and appreciate the people in our own lives who mean the world to us, and to make the most of every single day with them. Film from TrueTube: Ella lost her father to a rare blood disease, after he had got over cancer only a few months before. With great strength, she talks about the experience of losing her dad and how she has coped since.
Never underestimate the incredible difference that one small community can make to projects across the world. ‘One Hull of a Rainforest’ is a charitable project started by a group of primary school teachers in Hull with a very inspiring purpose. The project aims to encourage students to understand and appreciate the value of global sustainability and how we all need to work together to protect our planet. By educating their pupils about conservation, pollution, global warming and animal rights, these teachers are trying to ensure that the passion for such subjects is past down to the next generation and that the children take action. At the heart of the project is the Maquipucuna Reserve which covers 6,000 hectares in North Eastern Ecuador, and is well protected from the greed of human beings. It is home to an incredible range of life forms including 45 species of mammal, numerous invertebrates, over 2000 species of plant and over 350 species of bird making it one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots, fact fans. With the support of the local community, firm land management and sustainable forestry, the project is attempting to restore the areas surrounding the reserve.This increases the chance of saving the natural beauty of our precious resources which we have carelessly been destroyed and which sadly still continue. The beauty and vulnerability of the Ecuadorian Rainforest is reflected in a very memorable film produced by the ‘One Hull of a Rainforest’ charity, and it can be found on TrueTube. Bricknell Primary School, Animator David Bunting and the charity itself have worked together to produce an animation based on the journey that one of their teachers took to this beautiful rainforest. Mrs Jones talks about her expedition and how upsetting it was to see the deforestation with her own eyes. The animation’s is based around the questions that Mrs Jones’ pupils ask about different parts of her trip: ‘What was it like?’ and ‘What was the strangest thing you saw?’ say the eager young voices and Mrs Jones takes the children on a colorful journey through the rainforest. The film focuses on her senses, highlighting what sounds, sights and feelings their teacher experienced in this magical place. Animated characters of Mrs Jones and the two students Molly and Jayden, go on an adventure contrasting the beautiful lush habitat of the forest with the grey, miserable land blighted by deforestation found at the end. The simple piece of percussion music in the background perfectly matches the notion that this is all from a child’s perspective, and that the next generation has the power to make a difference. If you’re looking for a resource that will captivate your students and encourage them to protect our planet, this is the one for you. The notion of converting, of choosing your own faith inevitably begs the question of how people come to make such a decision. It is certain that religion, and indeed many new found religions, bring a lot of comfort and happiness to their members. It is also true however, that many of these new found religions face a lot of suspicion from outsiders. If you’re looking for a light introduction when teaching these complex belief systems, then TrueTube may have the answer for you. Courtesy of 4thought.tv, TrueTube is hosting a range of films which interview members of different minority faiths, focussing on how and why the converts chose such a path. Many new found faiths meet more controversy than others, making it even more important to understand in more depth so we can come to our own conclusions. The short films on Scientology and Jediism for example, give a direct insight into what it’s like to be a member of that faith community. The general world of media remain sceptical of these belief systems for a number of reasons. These films give members of different faiths a chance to defend their own religion and talk about their beliefs in their own words. These resources will allow your classroom to explore such controversial issues from all angles and remain open minded. I chose to do religion, philosophy and ethics at university and now as the core of my career because I found the diversity in different religions so interesting. Being able to explore ethical issues and faith from all angles is a valuable part of education and a lesson I strongly believe is reflected in these short films. |