Sunday 31 January 2010

Mary and Martha

So I found my hat (turned out my sister had taken it), and the oven is on its way to being fixed, and there has been much rejoicing.

Now, I may have mentioned that my sister is doing a PCGE, with a view to becoming a teacher, and to this end, she is co-opting anyone within shouting distance to help with Lesson Preparation. So this week's lesson is RE, and they're doing the story of Mary & Martha. You know the one: Mary and Martha invite Jesus for tea, and then Martha does lots of work making dinner, and Mary just sits and listens, and then Martha gets cross with Mary, and shouts, and Jesus says Mary's the one in the right, and then Mary doesn't even act all smug like I would have done. The point is that it is better to listen to Jesus than to be engaged in activity and not listening to Jesus, even if the activity is good.

Now, this being 2010, the children cannot be taught That Sort Of Thing, so instead they are teaching the story in terms of how generally it is better to spend time with your friends than to be being busy all the time. Or something.

So with this vaguest of all points in mind, Sister decided that the lesson needed jazzing up. And you know what would jazz up an RE lesson? That's right, a DVD. Cos we all like DVDs, right? But of course it can't be any old DVD, it has to be related to the story in hand, and of course we do not have one of those. So she decides we'll make one.

And this is it:



If you're now confused about the point of the story, be assured that you're in good company, but isn't it fun?

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi there,

I have to ask, what do you mean "that sort of thing" can't be taught now? How you can tell a story about Jesus and gut it of its meaning? Is that really the way even RE has to be taught now?

Jonathan

ScatterCode said...

I've no idea. I just said it. But i know that the point of this lesson is to do with friendship, and not the specific meaning of this story. I don't know if that's a general thing, or just how this lesson is being taught.

Look, I just turn up, put my headgear on, and act. Like I'm told to.

Leona said...

that is hilarious! i actually cried with laughter. he is a brave man going out in the street like that though. i see you were wise enough to stay indoors!

Anonymous said...

Ah I see. Well, the little sketch was good fun, though I really, really hope that Jesus didn't actually talk that way :P

As an aside, I wasn't attacking you! Please take my tone as one of surprise and exaspiration. "They what? Eh?" etc. (Constant danger of blogs being unable to convey tone)

As the story itself is about Mary invading the mens' only zone and taking up the posture of a disciple, you're probably right that it's a lesson about friendship which has dragged in a story about Jesus.

Jonathan

ScatterCode said...

Thanks Leona! We also cried a bit.

Jonathan, after spending my Saturday afternoon doing this, I could not possibly feel attacked. I have no idea why Jesus had a bizarre English accent, except that when we asked him to stop, my sister's boyfriend couldn't. like, actually couldn't.

Anonymous said...

:)

Paul said...

I like the bit at 3:07 where he lifts the wrong hand. Was that on purpose? If so, he is a comedy genius.

Northern Focus said...

I thought yer man was off down to Tesco for a spot of shopping...

ScatterCode said...

Paul, it wasn't on purpose, but it WAS hilarious! Took a few takes, and he did it every time (and I cracked up every time, which is why it zooms in on him - I had to be got out of shot!)

Anonymous said...

and the Oscar goes to....

ScatterCode said...

To Cat, I think.