Wiltshire RE Starter StimulusStarter ideas for the following key question from the 2011 Agreed Syllabus:

KS1 6 How does being Jewish make a difference to family and celebration?

This resource aims to provide some stimulus images and ideas to help pupils begin to address the above question. It links to the following learning outcomes from p.39 of the syllabus:Pupils can:• ii. talk about how a mezuzah in the home reminds Jewish people

about God

• v. express their own ideas about the value of times of reflection, thanksgiving, praise and remembrance

Some of the slides have notes to give suggestions for use. Look at the slide show in Normal mode and look for the notes at the bottom of the page.

How do you remember things?

What other ways help you to remember?

What do you think Hannah is looking at?

What is she pointing at?There is one on every doorway in her house. Why do you think that

might be?

This is a Mezuzah. Inside it has some words that are very important to Jewish people. What do you think

they might be?

What would you write on a scroll to go on a promise box outside your classroom?

What would you write on a scroll to go in a promise box outside the rooms in your house?

What might a Christian child write?

Additional suggestions for using this resource:

1. Writing a message of welcomeAsk your children to think about the place where they live.With a partner discuss what message they would write for visitors above the door of their home.Ask children to work in groups to design a banner showing a welcome message to the classroom or a promise box with a message in. Which would be better for the classroom? Why?

2. Important promisesAsk the children to think about important words and promises that they havemade, heard or know that other people make.Ask each child to make an individual promise containers using, for example, empty glue stick holders, or using the net on slide 8. Ask them to write a promise that is important to their family – just as what is written in the Mezuzah is important to a Jewish family. Alternatively you could create a whole class promise box.

3. Message down the generationsThe Shema is so important to Jewish people that they will teach it down the generations. Ask children to think about what message they have that is so important that they should teach it to their children, and their children’s children. Are there some things that they have learned that are not really important – that they are happy if their own children don’t know about it? Are there some lessons in life that must be passed on? What and why?

4. Finding out moreExamine the symbolic behaviour of a practising Jewish person passing the mezuzah on their house or synagogue door, e.g.on the Jewish Way of Life CD-ROM, freely available to view and download at REOnline http://www.reonline.org.uk/specials/jwol/