Any ideas about teaching about Mary?

[RacingSnake]

Hi. I am a teacher of RE at a primary school and we are having a 'creative day' based on the story of the Nativity. Each class is doing a different character and is to produce writing/poems/art work etc in one day to show to parents at the end of the day. I have drawn the short straw, I feel, with 'Mary', who doesn't figure very large in CofE teaching.

Has anyone got any ideas for me? The children are 8 years old. Is 'Hail Mary' the prayer used at all by the CofE or is it just RC? Would CofE people mind if it were included?

I really have no ideas! (I had lots of ideas for angels, but another teacher got there first!)

Haven't a clue about prayers, but Mary's the mother and as all children identify with that, I'd maybe use motherhood as a theme and what mums mean to them and why Mary/ mothers are so important. You could do a lot with that.

Is it a faith school? if not and you won't offend anyone you could perhaps explain that Mary was almost "created" as a way of wooing those "pagan" cultures where female deities were the most important ones. (Not saying Mary wasn't real but it is possibly the main reason why the "cult" of Mary is stronger in some Christian countries/religions than in others...)

Smee's idea is good though...

In what sense is it a CofE school where there appears to be no material or support to you in preparing such a lesson.

It is a faith school but that is an interesting angle, DecorHate. Smee, that is a good idea about mothers. Zanzibarmum, Mary just doesn't seem to crop up much in CofC RE.

i think you may have to ask a vicar - have done quite a google and found out that proddies don't like the term #holy' mary as she was a sinner like everyone else

apparently.

funny them proddies you know

bbc

history

Ooh, thank you Custardo. Don't know howI missed that one!

How can you be an RE teacher and have no idea about Mary?

Rather more helpful than a tired old bigot like Custardo, a link to Anglican Marian theology, which like the Eucharist is rather nuanced and closer to the RCs than some might think.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglican_Marian_theology

Could you not do the something based on the magnificat (luke 1:46-55), as sung by "proddies" at evensong? (BCP version below)

My soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him : throughout all generations.

He hath shewed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.

I was going to suggest basing something around the Magnificat. It is magnificent (pardon the pun) as a summary of what the Christian view of a just and Godly world would be like.

And pretty incredible as a statement of faith from a young teenage girl (as she presumably would have been - being betrothed, but not yet married). And yes, I know that the odds are that she didn't say it in quite that form and that words may have been put into her mouth, but it's still beautiful and thought-provoking.

And there's lots and lots of stunning choral music written for those words, on account of it being part of the Anglican sung evensong - so you could bring some music appreciation into it, too.

In fact, what about getting the children to do some big artwork based around images of a just world, as set out in the Magnificat (hungry being fed, humble lifted high etc) - then show them to parents in a reflective way, with a musical setting of the Magnificat playing in the background?

OR ... you could get the children to look at paintings of the Madonna and Child, in a variety of styles - then get them to paint their own?

here is a very interesting one to get you started!

It seems that you're over-complicating the task.

One day of creative activities on Mary/Nativity for 8 year olds. By the time you;ve done a piece of mother and baby art, written a simpl e poem about difficult journeys and recorded/filmed the children giving a piece of advice to mary about the future of her son, the day's over.

do you proddies say the hail mary thread started off the back of this - it might help

There are lots of wonderful images of Mary - Leonardo's anunciation (in the Uffizi) and Michelangelo's Piete (in St Peter's) spring to mind. Also Leonardo's cartoon in the Nat Gall.

Might these be inspiration? the Pieta is esp interesting as she is so young which of course seems unlikely - why has M made her look like that? what about the sculpture (which is totally fantastic of course).

Grumpy - in a primary school you teach everything. If you don't know about it, you get a book, look on google or ask friends. You also get given one or more subjects to coordinate (support other teachers and oversee provision in the school). You may not have any background in the subject at all, but you do the above. Then there is a staff change and you are given new subjects.

Smith - what a beautiful picture.

Pointydog - I do tend to overcomplicate things! Time to start again and make it far simpler.

Clary - just looked at the Pieta and you're right; she should surely be at least 45.

Also, Grumpy, I didn't say I know nothing about Mary - I just felt there was less potential than with, say, angels or the wise men, which immediately suggest lots of shiny paper and doilies. (sp)

However, I now have a lot of ideas. Will definitely use the Magnificat in some way. And get them painting their own version.

You do know that:

'Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee Blessd art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus'

are also the words that Gabriel said to her at the annunciation according to the Bible.

Probably I did somewhere at the back of my memory, but I had forgotten.

Seriously, you should get them to video each other giving advice to Mary re looking after a baby or something like that. That would be fun.