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Original poster

Noah's ark story for older children

54 replies

LaBelleDameSansPatience · 07/04/2013 20:43

For reasons too complicated to explain, I will be teaching the story of Noah's ark to Y5/6 next term. Obviously, I will have to approach it is a far more complex manner than the normal KS1 activities. Has anyone any ideas for an interesting take on the story at y6 level? I am particularly interested in RE ideas; I know that there are lots of great cross-curricular things to do with the story.

OP posts:
seeker · 07/04/2013 21:41

Just tell them tht it's a Bible story. Why donyou need more than that?

WishIdbeenatigermum · 07/04/2013 21:53

Spectacularly unhelpful, seeker Hmm

seeker · 07/04/2013 21:56

Why? I am assuming the OP isn't asking for suggestions about how to teach it as anything but a story?

WishIdbeenatigermum · 07/04/2013 21:59

One of the stories in 10 and a half chapters by Juluan Barnes is about the ark- I can't remember the details, from a woodlouses pov.
Or examine the themes- the covenant and vengeance?

WishIdbeenatigermum · 07/04/2013 22:00

As I said, not very helpful.

PedroPonyLikesCrisps · 07/04/2013 22:05

Obviously, I will have to approach it is a far more complex manner than the normal KS1 activities. Has anyone any ideas for an interesting take on the story at y6 level?

Sorry, I might have missed something here, but why does it have to be more complex? Read the story as it is, what different takes are there on it?

seeker · 07/04/2013 22:20

I honestly, honestly don't understand. I don't understand what the OP wants, and I don't understand why you think I haven't been helpful

WishIdbeenatigermum · 07/04/2013 22:32

Are you being obtruse or is this some anti religion stance? Anything from the Water Cycle to the Romans or Tudors could be taught to different ages. The subject matter is essentially the same, the method will be different. It's not a hard concept.

colditz · 07/04/2013 22:33

Well, just teach it as it says in the bible. Either tell them it's the truth, if its a religious school, or tell them it's a story, but it really isn't complex either way.

You could introduce the subject of some of the flaws in the tale if taught as truth thugh, such as the normal diet of lions (zebras) and evolutionary bottlenecks. That could be interesting to year five and six.

Original poster
LaBelleDameSansPatience · 08/04/2013 07:06

I have obviously asked in the wrong place. I thought that people who weren't teachers might have an interesting angle which I, as a teacher, might be missing.

I had hoped that Jewish or Muslim mumsnetters might also contribute.

There are lots of different takes possible; at KS1, we sing songs about the animals going in two by two; at KS2 I had thought we could think about what the story tells about Noah's trust in God, about how different religions share stories, about the conflict or lack of it between evolution and religious belief, about how important it might or might not be that the story can be proved by archaeology ....

Colditz, I had been thinking along the lines of eating each other .... I had thought of starting the topic with a brainstorm of all the problems that could have occurred, to see if there were some really creative avenues.
I teach in a church school, incidentally, and will not be teaching the story as 'truth', rather as a story which some people believe is true.

WishIdbeen, I'll research Julian Barnes stories, thank you.

OP posts:
seeker · 08/04/2013 07:19

I am neither being obtuse or anti religious. But I genuinely don't understand why something which is just a story should be so difficult to teach. There is presumably no suggestion that in a state school children would be taught that there is any possibility that it's anything but a story? Although the OP talking about the story being proved by archaeology is a little worrying..........

AuntieBrenda · 08/04/2013 07:24

Seeker why exactly have you commented on this thread? The OP was only asking for interesting suggestions for teaching the story (might've had more luck in the Staffroom).
I've noticed more and more lately that Threads in this section are derailed by posters intent on beginning a 'god doesn't exist' debate or some type of argument. I have no particular religious leaning myself but I like to read about spirituality here. The derailing makes my uncomfortable.

OP - try reporting in THe Staffroom and good luck with your lessons

seeker · 08/04/2013 07:29

I am puzzled that some people are so defensive. What is wrong with explaining why teaching this particular story is so difficult? I am also very concerned that a year 6 teacher - or any teacher at a state school for that matter- is suggesting that the Noah's Ark story can be proved by archaeology, and I am hoping to be told I have misunderstood her.

vicarlady · 08/04/2013 07:36

OP perhaps encourage children to think of how the characters would have felt ? Some years ago I watched a production called African Mysteries - a production loosely based on medieval mystery plays. One of the memorable moments was the reaction of Noah's wife. In the end Noah and his sons carried her onto the ark - she had very plainly shown what she thought of the whole idea! Another angle might be to explore the whole story -myth - truth question. One interesting phrase - from the story-teller Joglaresa - 'story is truth with its clothes on'.

Original poster
LaBelleDameSansPatience · 08/04/2013 08:27

Seeker, I am not talking about the story being 'proved' by archaeology. I obviously didn't make myself clear. We might discuss the fact that some people believe that the story is proved by archaeology. RE lessons are not about indoctrination; they are about interesting discussions, developing critical thinking skills and philosophical questioning, as well as understanding, and showing respect for, the beliefs, customs and views of a range of believers.

Auntiebrenda, I always forget about The Staffroom, since it doesn't come up immediately on my list of topics. Thank you. (I am not sure about 'reporting' though - I always thought that the 'report' tab was to report a thread to MN for abuse. Must investigate.)

Vicarlady, Great ideas! This is what I was hoping for. I love the quote and need to research Joglaresa.

OP posts:
Gingerdodger · 08/04/2013 08:39

What about examining the faith aspects of this? By this I mean getting the children to explore how they would feel and respond if they felt they were being called to behave in this way. Did they think God was speaking only to Noah or were others just not listening? Is the story fully as presented or is it there to demonstrate listening to God? I don't know the answers to any of these but the story always seems a representation of faith that has possibly been simplified to the black and white story we see in the Bible.

Not sure if this is appropriate for year 6 either but just some off the top of my head ideas.

sassytheFIRST · 08/04/2013 08:41

Balloon debate but animals - which species should be last to be thrown overboard? Would work nicely as investigation into ecosystems and food chains etc e.g wasps important in degrading food waste etc.

stressedHEmum · 08/04/2013 08:43

It might also be worth discussing what the children think would happen if the story were to be played out today - would Noah believe that God was speaking to him, would his family, what about other people? Kind of an Evan Almighty scenario.

What about using it a s a stepping stone for the whole "Just God" idea - would a fair and just God kill so many people...

The idea that the flood was limited to the area around the Black Sea could give some geography stuff. Also the fact that most major ancient cultures and religions have a similar sort of story is quite interesting.

There is a belief that before the flood, every living thing was vegetarian - God gives Noah permission to eat animals after the Flood and some branches of religion believe that this is when animals started eating each other as well. That might be worth exploring.

I think that I would quite like to link the story of Noah to modern day flood events in some way to show the kids how catastrophic flooding can be, perhaps link in to the situation in Bangladesh and what happened to New York during the hurricane.

worldgonecrazy · 08/04/2013 08:55

How about looking at it from this angle: Gilgamesh and the Flood as an introduction to comparitive religion, history, geography and critical thinking?

PedroPonyLikesCrisps · 08/04/2013 09:42

Purely out of interest, do you teach stories from Scientology in your RE classes?

FireOverBabylon · 08/04/2013 09:49

Could you get the children to consider Noah's family - why they went along with him, what you'd think if your dad announced he was going to build a boat in the garden etc. How it would impact on your life - knowing that your firends wouldn't survive the flood if it came.

thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts · 08/04/2013 10:32

How about using clips from Evan Almighty? From an RE perspective there are those around images of God - I adore Morgan Freeman in the film and you could look at 'book the The Shack' for another image of God and maybe paintings on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - all very different. How do our images of God colour how we perceive religion?

Or using Evan Almighty you could explore the cost of doing right and acting ethically. Evan faces strong oppostion to his venture. How do we make ethical decisions? Going back a stage - what are ethics? This could very easily link into all sorts of PSHE issues.

Or you could look at genre- is the story of Noah's ark (remembering that there are 2 held within the Biblical narrative) a news report or a myth or a folk tale or something else. How do we look for clues for the author's intent in the language used? How are stories told and retold for different cultural contexts - paintings of Noah, children's stories, wasn't there a song about unicorns not getting into the ark? Julian Barnes, Evan Almighty, I'm sure there are lots more.

Or there was a good Horizon programme a few years back on the evidence for a flood after the ice age which may have led to the various flood stories around the globe. How do major events such as a natural disater get remembered in songs and stories? The author(s) of the Biblical flood story were trying to make sense of their world and their sense that their God was different from the Gods of the surrounding nations and the flood and the rainbow get worked into the story. How do we make sense of major events today? In blogs, film, books, poetry etc.

MrsShrek3 · 08/04/2013 10:47

A piece (operetta) called "Noyes Fludde" (Noah's flood) by Benjamin Britton would give you another angle on it - perhaps too cross curricular, but from the pov of different styles and types of depiction of the story would add a dimension. It is regularly performed, and a quite easy piece for high school aged children to play. I'm sure there will be lots of clips on youtube.

Original poster
LaBelleDameSansPatience · 08/04/2013 14:37

MrsShrek, the reason that I am doing this is that some of our school will be taking part in a production of Noyes Fludde!

Thegreenheart and all other inspried contributers, the minute the trio of squabblling children downstairs are occupied, I will be taking some notes of your ideas!

Pedro, no; no scientology, but not on principal. Just due to time and practicality. If a family joined our school who followed this set of beliefs, we would certainly make the children aware of them. We also don't look at Sikhism, Ba'hai, Shinto, etc. I am sure they are all very interesting, but we have no space in the curriculum. I think that one thing that I would like to do in my teaching is to open children's minds to the possiblity of different belief systems and for them later (or just out of school time) to read or hear about something interesting and want to find out more themselves.

OP posts:
PedroPonyLikesCrisps · 08/04/2013 15:06

LaBelle I get your point about space in the curriculum. One question I would ask though, and I'm picking on Scientology for its controversial nature here, do you think that teaching about Scientology would be accepted by the parents (even if there was child who followed it - as unlikely as that would be in a normal school) or do you think there would be a backlash at the teaching of such a controversial belief system?