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.
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.
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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. Chocolates, daffodils, cups of tea, breakfast in bed, tidying the house and a big cuddle. These are all things you should be thinking about this Sunday, because it’s time to make your mum feel like the best mum in the whole wide world – and she is. As we all know, it shouldn’t be the only day of the year we reflect on how wonderful our mums are, we should always appreciate all the things they do for us. All those lovely meals she’s cooked over the years, and all the times she’s been there for you when you needed her should not be forgotten, so it’s time to pay her back a little TLC. Every Mother’s Day since I was a little girl, I’ve tried to make sure my mum relaxes on the sofa with her feet up, which is often challenging in itself! Like so many mothers, mine has the typical problem of not being able to sit still for longer than five minutes because she always has so much to do. So most Mother’s Days it’s a case of trying to convince her to relax, as I attempt to make her cups of tea, tidy the house or even cook a nice dinner (not as good as hers of course!) To make sure your students don’t forget to put a little extra effort in this Sunday, TrueTube has provided a few heart-warming resources to get the class thinking about all the important things our mums do for us. With an assembly script, PowerPoint presentation and the film 'My Mum', teachers won’t be short of ideas and activities before the big day. The resources also come with tips on how to best construct the assembly and be sensitive to those who have problems at home or to students who are going through bereavement. The assembly script goes into depth about the different theories of the origin of Mothering Sunday and thoughtful suggestions on how to make the day memorable. The PowerPoint presentation illustrates these suggestions ensuring that the ideas stick in the students’ minds and make the day wonderful for their own mammas. So for all those stressed out and tired mums you see dropping off their kids at the school gates, do this assembly for them and remind your students of that special bond they’ll never be without. The process of being taken into care can be a daunting, and sometimes traumatic ordeal for a child. Being taken away from your family and friends, and all the little things which are so familiar to you at such a young age requires a lot of support. However, it’s important to stress that everyone involved in this big move is trying to protect that child and they are all looking out for the young person’s best interests. It is only by placing emphasis on this, that the child’s sense of security and confidence can grow. TrueTube has just launched a film from Biomation called 'Just So I Know' which depicts this important message. Biomation is a creative media production company which uses animation to help people explore issues they care about. In this film, two children who have themselves been “looked after” provide the voiceover to make it as relatable to the audience as possible. The animated characters include a little girl being taken into care, her social workers and all the people she meets along the way. The voiceovers take it in turns to follow the animated characters stage by stage, giving advice on how to handle the change, and reassuring the audience that everything will be ok in the end. Children who may be going through similar situations can feel comforted by the words of experience. It can also help the whole class understand what one or two of their friends might be going through. The reason I have chosen to blog about this particular film is because of the heart-warming nature of the resource. Using colourful clay animation, Biomation have successfully turned a very serious topic on its head, making a child feel more at ease, whilst helping them to understand the key points of their situation. I think if I was taken into care at a young age, watching a film like this would make me realise I’m not alone and there are always people I can talk to. This is a brilliant resource to use in the classroom if you’re trying to tackle what can be a very troubling topic without creating a negative atmosphere amongst your students. If children have problems at home, they can sometimes go unnoticed by people around them. This film could make a big difference to that certain someone sitting at the back of the classroom. Genetic modification and the use of medical science in fertility treatments can raise a huge range of ethical problems which need to be understood in depth if we are ever to make a judgement. It is something that has been argued about ever since medical science made its first steps into the realm of reproduction. An essential distinction to make however is the difference between IVF and “designer babies". Such a distinction is a very important one for me personally, because I was an IVF baby. In Vitro Fertilization is the process in which eggs from a woman’s ovary are removed and fertilised with a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish. The fertilised eggs are then inserted into the woman’s womb in the hope that the embryo will mature. “Designer babies” by definition, are created by the process of genetically modifying an embryo to ensure the presence of a particular gene or eliminate a particular defect. This is initially done through the process of IVF followed by a selection of a particular embryo according to the preference. Teaching such a complex and sensitive subject can be daunting, but hopefully TrueTube can help you out here. With no less than 8 films tackling this vast topic from different angles, you should feel more at ease when introducing it to the classroom. Religious, non-religious and medical views come from people who have had personal experience of this medical technology in one way or another. The most powerful film for me is the one that explores the first designer baby in Britain and how this extraordinary little girl saved her brother’s life. I have linked the film just below the text. Designer babies and IVF evidently highlight different ethical issues but they both face the argument that they are unnatural processes and therefore should not be carried out. If the medical world stamped out IVF because they did not want to ‘play God’, my twin sister and I would not be alive today. I owe my life to the hard work and intellect of these scientists and strongly believe IVF to be a blessing, undoubtedly bringing happiness to so many couples. My parents were told they could not have children for years, and eventually had a successful third round of IVF. On the subject of designer babies, my personal opinion is that genetically modifying an IVF embryo to avoid an inherent disease can be justified. It cannot be truly understood without being in the shoes of parents with terminally ill children. However I think we must avoid genetic modification for any other reason than the prevention of severe inherited disease. I believe that anything other than this abuses the very point of the process and takes science far beyond the ethical boundaries we should live by. I am very lucky to work for a company which aims to educate young people about such a powerful topic, and strongly recommend these films to start up thought-provoking debate amongst your students - whatever their opinions may be. It has certainly given me a chance to reflect on the miracle of IVF in my own life and how I wouldn’t be writing this blog if it hadn’t been discovered. But what do you think? This year, Sport Relief runs from the 21st to the 23rd of March and is an excellent chance to get your students thinking about Global Citizenship and how they can help to solve other people’s problems. Specifically, it aims to raise money for people living in poverty in the UK and all over the world. In the past years, money has been raised in a number of exhausting and entertaining ways to inspire people to get involved. Now, you and your class don’t need to swim the themes like David Walliams or cycle to the South Pole like Helen Skelton, because every small contribution also makes a valuable difference. TrueTube has provided an assembly script and film to help teachers create a buzz amongst the pupils. With school fundraising ideas, a PowerPoint presentation, script and creative activities, this resource is the perfect way to start off Sports Relief in your school. Whilst the assembly script will get the students fired up, the film that follows is bound to pull on your heartstrings as it explores the life of one inspiring boy from Ghana, called Raymond. In many parts of the world, conditions for children are unimaginable and far beyond the privileges many of us have been blessed with growing up. The film explores how Raymond, at the tender age of 14, has to work long hours in a dangerous gold mine to help support his family. He has no choice but to do the dangerous work, emphasizing the desperation of families living in poverty. The innocence and personality of this brave teenager shines through as the camera guides us through a normal working day. The film explores however, how Sport Relief has provided Raymond with an education which will help him escape the world of poverty and achieve his goals. The film certainly put things into perspective for me. We take so many basic necessities in life for granted on a daily basis, not realising how precious they are. It is easy to forget the number of people that go without decent food, water, shelter or an education. I am proud to work for a company that supports such a worthwhile charity, and gladly do my bit in putting the word out about how we can all help within school life. Just by using this assembly script and film on a Monday morning, you are helping make a difference to people who live very different lives to the ones we’re so used to. In the film, Raymond tells the camera man how he wants to be the president of Ghana when he grows up! With a bit of help from your school, let’s hope one day, this could become a reality for this ambitious young boy. The festival of Purim is one of the most entertaining celebrations in the Jewish calendar. It is certainly one you don’t want to miss out on in the classroom, as it teaches key features of the Jewish culture and faith. It is based on the story of a beautiful young Jewish woman called Esther who showed true courage when she used her natural charms to save the Jewish people in her Kingdom. Esther was married to the great Persian King, Ahasuerus. The King came very close to allowing the massace of the Jewish people before he was persuaded by his wife to help save them. The word Purim means ‘lots’ which refers to when people used to ‘cast lots’ when they wanted to make an important decision. This was based on the idea of Fate, and relying on the game to decide which path to take. The Festival gets its name because the baddie in the story cast lots to decide when would be the best day to kill all the Jews.
The Book of Esther is a Jewish Scripture, and can also be found in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This year, it is celebrated on the 15th of March, and is a time to give to charity, drink and eat with family and friends, and reflect on the courage Esther demonstrated in order to save her people. Many Jewish women believe it to be a day to celebrate feminism; others believe it to be a day of celebrating bravery of Jewish people in general. Whichever reason you choose, it certainly raises a good few ethical questions in the classroom. Is intelligence more important than beauty? Is it right to stereotype people? Should women use their looks to get what they want? TrueTube have provided an assembly script packed full with information about the traditions behind this celebration. In addition to the engaging narrative of the story itself, you will find two film links which explore the ethical implications of the event and a PowerPoint presentation. All wrapping up a very memorable assembly for your students. Happy Purim! |