Jeff, Karen, Marilyn and Janice had the pleasure of using Orison in the Parsons Down Schools in early June. It was a privilege working with pupils from the age of four to eleven.
Four zones (themes) were set up.
In The World Zone pupils were encouraged to think about areas of the world that needed our prayers, the needs of Thatcham and the environment. There were some very insightful prayers. The pupils enjoyed colouring flowers and leaves to add to a tree as they thought about how they could look after the environment.
In The Bubble Zone pupils thought about their own needs and their concerns for family and friends. Some pupils wrote prayers or comments and attached them to the tube. Many of the pupils spent a long time watching the bubbles and reported afterwards how they had enjoyed the time to be calm and relax.
In The Sorry Zone there were many pupils who had problems that came to light. Many of them said that watching the vitamin pill dissolve helped them with their problem.
In The Image Zone pupils were asked if they could see someone special. Not all of them realised that it was themselves who were special. They were also encouraged to write on big hand – representing the hand of God looking after them.
The pupils were also asked to write a question to God in response to: If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
Here are a few of the many questions:
Yr 1 Are you tired of being God? Can you make people nice?
Yr 2 If you made the world, who made you? Why do bad things happen?
Yr 3 When you die is there an afterlife? How long did it take to make the world?
Yr 4 Why did you make people who created wars if you wanted the world to be a happy place?
Yr 5 Dear God, please help me get through these hard bits of life
Yr 6 Do you ever get mad?
The RE Coordinator sent the following comments:
‘The feedback from staff was very positive and issues for circle time were identified by many staff. Some staff were surprised at the depth of hidden feelings children displayed and some did not like the "God" element.
The main issues highlighted to address were personal anger, death in the family and maintaining friendships.
All in all very successful and a big thank you to the team who facilitated the whole experience.
Thanks to Mike for transporting the resources and setting them up.
Four zones (themes) were set up.
In The World Zone pupils were encouraged to think about areas of the world that needed our prayers, the needs of Thatcham and the environment. There were some very insightful prayers. The pupils enjoyed colouring flowers and leaves to add to a tree as they thought about how they could look after the environment.
In The Bubble Zone pupils thought about their own needs and their concerns for family and friends. Some pupils wrote prayers or comments and attached them to the tube. Many of the pupils spent a long time watching the bubbles and reported afterwards how they had enjoyed the time to be calm and relax.
In The Sorry Zone there were many pupils who had problems that came to light. Many of them said that watching the vitamin pill dissolve helped them with their problem.
In The Image Zone pupils were asked if they could see someone special. Not all of them realised that it was themselves who were special. They were also encouraged to write on big hand – representing the hand of God looking after them.
The pupils were also asked to write a question to God in response to: If you could ask God one question, what would it be?
Here are a few of the many questions:
Yr 1 Are you tired of being God? Can you make people nice?
Yr 2 If you made the world, who made you? Why do bad things happen?
Yr 3 When you die is there an afterlife? How long did it take to make the world?
Yr 4 Why did you make people who created wars if you wanted the world to be a happy place?
Yr 5 Dear God, please help me get through these hard bits of life
Yr 6 Do you ever get mad?
The RE Coordinator sent the following comments:
‘The feedback from staff was very positive and issues for circle time were identified by many staff. Some staff were surprised at the depth of hidden feelings children displayed and some did not like the "God" element.
The main issues highlighted to address were personal anger, death in the family and maintaining friendships.
All in all very successful and a big thank you to the team who facilitated the whole experience.
Thanks to Mike for transporting the resources and setting them up.