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Prayer Spaces
Our children are innately curious about life. Growing up raises lots of questions, some to do with their experience, both the good and the bad, and some to do with their sense of wonder at the universe we live in and whether there’s more to life than meets the eye. Many have an interest in the non-material aspects of life, the spirit or soul, and want to explore how these ideas and experiences help them to develop their own sense of identity, self-worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose.
Prayer space enables children, of all faiths and none, to explore these life questions, spirituality and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way.
Taking a broadly Christian perspective as a starting point, prayer spaces gives our children an opportunity to develop skills of personal reflection and to explore prayer in an open, inclusive and safe environment.
The approach does not proselytise and purposely allows pupils to make their own meaning and to draw their own conclusions.
In school, prayer space happens daily and children are encouraged to access prayer space independently and voluntarily.
Oak Class
In Oak Class, we have explored what prayer is and why time for reflection is important for our wellbeing and the development of spirituality. Each prayer space, we have calming music playing and use a candle to help us say our prayers. Here are some of the activities we have chosen to do in Prayer Space:
Cedar Class
Prayer Space
Bounce Back
Life is hard sometimes. Learning to get back up again when something knocks you down or things don't go your way, is important.
Resilience is about 'bouncing back' when life knocks you down.
Think about something tat has 'knocked you down' recently, for example, falling out with a friend, problems at home or failing a test. Think about what you are going to do in the future to bounce back from it.
Just a Minute
Choose one person in your life, inside or outside of school and think of doing something, lasting no longer than one minute, to make a positive difference in that person's life.
Mindfulness Colouring Challenges
Colour Reflection Challenge - Choose colours that reflect how you're feeling today. After you're done, think about why you chose each colour.
Silent Focus Challenge - Complete the colouring sheet in total silence, focusing only on the sound of the pencils on the paper.
Non-dominant hand Challenge - Try colouring a section of your sheet using your non-dominant hand (e.g. If you're right handed, use your left hand.)
Transforming Butterflies
Change isn't easy, and the changes that pupils experience within their school communities can be especially difficult. Changing classes and teachers. Changing year groups. Perhaps changing from one school to another. Change can be scary and change can be stressful. But change can also be a gift. Change can bring new relationships and new opportunities.
Write on the two wings of a cut-out butterfly shape. On one side write or draw something that you are grateful for about whatever is coming to an end. Then on the second wing, write or draw something that you are looking forward to in the new season (school year, classes, etc.)
Cherry Class
Children in Cherry Class are encouraged to access our reflection area when they would like a quiet moment to sit and think. If they choose too, they can light a candle to help them think about our Collective Worship value. This term our value is Thankfulness.
We have discussed what prayer is, what people may pray for, and the different ways in which people pray. We have a collection of activities to access, or we simply sit and reflect.
We have been developing our spirituality in a variety of ways during prayer space, learning in both our indoor and outdoor reflection areas. We are thinking about big questions such as, "Why am I here?" and "Who made the world?".
