Lesson video

Hi, I'm Mrs. Charalambous, and welcome to today's lesson.

We'll be looking at comparing prayer and reflection from the unit Prayer: Is It Possible to Speak to God? Let's get started.

By the end of the lesson today, you'll be able to explain how both religious and non-religious people value time to reflect or pray.

Let's have a look at our key words and practise with my turn, your turn.

Reflection.

Reflection.

Taking time out to think deeply and carefully about something important.

Non-religious.

Non-religious.

Not believing in a God.

Prayer.

Prayer.

The words or thoughts to help someone talk or listen to God.

Here is our lesson outline for today.

Let's begin with how is prayer different from reflection? Izzy and Andeep are talking about religious education.

Izzy says, "Why are we always learning about what people do in religious education lessons?" Andeep says, "Finding out about what people do can help us learn about their beliefs and ideas about God." In this lesson, we'll be finding out how people pray or reflect and how it helps them.

Izzy says, "I've learned that prayer is the words or thoughts to help someone talk or listen to God." Andeep says, "I found out that some people don't pray.

They take time out to think deeply and carefully about something important.

This is called reflection." How do you think prayer might be different from reflection? Let's find out more together.

This is Asher.

He says, "As a Christian, I say a prayer before bed.

I thank God for my day." This is Nadia.

She says, "I'm a Muslim and I pray five times a day to show respect to Allah, God." Prayer is also a way to talk or listen to God.

Often part of a religion.

Can be said alone or in a group.

Let's check our understanding with this multiple choice question.

What is prayer? A, a way to talk or listen to God? B, sitting quietly without thinking? Or C, only something people do at bedtime? That's right.

It's A, a way to talk or listen to God.

Well done.

Let's carry on.

This is Diane and Alan.

They say, "We're humanists so we don't pray as we consider ourselves non-religious, but we take quiet time to reflect.

We take time to think about how to be good role models for our baby." Reflection is also time to think about what you are thankful for.

Doesn't involve God.

Anyone can do it.

Have you ever stopped to think quietly? Sometimes our minds feel really busy, don't they? Maybe after playtime or when something exciting or worrying has happened, have you ever stopped and taken a moment to just think quietly? This is called reflection.

It's when we pause and think about something carefully like how we're feeling, a choice we need to make, or something that happened in our day.

People reflect in different ways.

You don't need to follow a religion to take quiet time.

Some people do it by sitting still, listening to music, going for a walk, or even colouring.

Let's check our understanding with this multiple choice question.

What is reflection? A, a noisy group activity? B, taking time to think quietly or carefully? C, reading a book out loud? That's right.

It's B, taking time to think quietly or carefully.

Well done.

Let's carry on.

Andeep says, "I heard people go to places of worship like churches and mosques to pray." Izzy says, "Yes, some people do, but some people like to pray at home, at school, or somewhere quiet." Andeep says, "Some people pray alone and others pray together in a group.

Do humanists go somewhere to reflect?" Izzy says, "No, they don't have a place of worship, but they can reflect anywhere like at home, outside, or even in class." Andeep says, "Some people like reflecting alone and others like to reflect and take time out in a group." Task A: can you organise these statements into a Venn diagram? Here are the statements: can be done in a quiet space, doesn't involve God, can help you feel calm, can be done alone or in a group, take time out to think deeply, people talk and listen to God, humanists do this as a moment of quiet thinking, lots of different religions like Christians and Muslims do it.

And you've got prayer on one side, reflection on the other, and both if the statement is true to both, that goes in the middle.

Pause the video here and when you're ready, press play.

Your Venn diagram might look like this.

Prayer: lots of different religions like Christians and Muslims do it, people talk and listen to God.

Reflection: doesn't involve God, humanists do this as a moment of quiet thinking, taking time out to think deeply.

And both: can be done in a quiet space, can help you feel calm, and can be done alone or in a group.

Well done.

Let's carry on.

Cycle two: why do people pray or reflect? Izzy is thinking about prayer and reflection.

"I know prayer and reflection have some similarities and differences, but I wonder what makes someone want to pray or reflect." Why might people pray or reflect? Would you like to share some of your ideas with me now? Wow.

I'm hearing lots of different ideas for why people might pray or reflect.

Good job, everyone.

Andeep says, "This is Grace.

She is a Christian.

Can you tell me why you pray?" Grace says, "I mostly pray to say thank you.

I thank God for my family, my warm home, and the lovely food we have." "James, what helps you feel calm when things are tricky?" James says, "As a Christian, when I feel unsure or nervous, I pray and ask God to help me feel brave and not alone.

Talking to God helps me feel less worried and calm." "Meryem, what do you do when you feel unsure about something?" Meryem, says, "As a Muslim, I ask Allah, God, to help guide me when I feel unsure.

Personal prayer makes me feel close to God when I have hard choices to make." Let's check our understanding with this multiple choice question.

Why do some people pray? A, to ask for help when they feel unsure? B, only to get what they want? C, to help them feel calm and thankful? D, they are told they have to? That's right.

It is A, to ask for help when they feel unsure and C, to help them feel calm and thankful.

Well done.

Let's carry on.

"Diane is a humanist.

Diane, how does reflection help you?" Diane says, "Before starting something new, I sit with a cup of tea and think.

Reflection gives me space to consider what's really important.

It helps me make thoughtful choices." "Nell, I know you're a humanist.

Can you tell me why you reflect?" Nell says "At the end of each day, I take time out to think about what went well and what I could do better.

I don't pray as I'm non-religious, but I like to reflect on my actions as it helps me grow as a person." "Elijah, why do you like to have time out on your own sometimes?" Elijah says, "I'm non-religious so I don't pray.

I'm a humanist and I like to take time out for reflection.

Sometimes I just need a few minutes on my own.

I listen to calm music and it helps me feel peaceful again and ready to carry on." Let's check our understanding with this true or false.

Reflection can help someone grow as a person even if they are non-religious.

True or false? That's right.

It's true.

Why? Taking time out to reflect helps people think about their actions and make thoughtful choices whether they are religious or not.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's carry on.

Task B: think about something that's important to you.

It could be someone you care about, something that you are thankful for, a big feeling like being nervous or excited, an important choice you want to make.

You can take a quiet moment to reflect or you can say a short prayer if that's something you do.

Pause the video here so you can carry out this activity.

When you're ready, press play for some feedback.

Reflection.

I sat quietly and thought about my day.

I felt proud because I helped a friend and took time to think about how I can continue to be a good friend.

Prayer.

Dear God, thank you for my warm home and yummy food.

Please also help and guide me in being a good friend at school, amen.

Well done for your learning today.

Let's have a look at the summary together.

Summary for comparing prayer and reflection.

Prayer is the words or thoughts to help someone talk or listen to God.

Reflection is taking time out to think deeply and carefully about something important.

Reflection can help gain perspective, to come to terms with events and learn from experience.

There are similarities and differences between non-religious reflection and religious prayer and reflection.

Many people, religious and non-religious, find value in the space for prayer or meditation.

Well done for your learning today and I hope to see you soon.

Bye for now.