Saint Anne's-Belfield Intensive 2016 Charlottesville, Virginia
Introduction to World Religions
This year nineteen students had the opportunity to engage in the World Religions of Central Virginia intensive. In this course we focused on the five major religions of the world and how compassion impacted them. The main idea that we focused on for this intensive period was to view and understand how different religions practice compassion. To help the students understand more about each religion, our intensive was allowed to take one field trip per religion. Going on the field trips gave the students insights on what life is like for people may have different beliefs than you might have. Our class was layed out specifically so we would have a day or two to learn about the religion and then a day for us to go on the field trip. Another great aspect that this intensive allowed the nineteen students to do on a daily basis was yoga. The class was able to learn how to do and practice four different types of yoga, all different and great for the body, mind, and soul. Even though in this course Mr. Clark and Dr. Simenone never gave us any quizzes or test, the students did have to complete daily journal entries describing our field trips from the day before or what we did in class. At the end of the course we were assigned a group iMovie project, each group doing a different religion. We also had to complete longer journal entries describing opinions on the intensive and what we got out of it.
This year nineteen students had the opportunity to engage in the World Religions of Central Virginia intensive. In this course we focused on the five major religions of the world and how compassion impacted them. The main idea that we focused on for this intensive period was to view and understand how different religions practice compassion. To help the students understand more about each religion, our intensive was allowed to take one field trip per religion. Going on the field trips gave the students insights on what life is like for people may have different beliefs than you might have. Our class was layed out specifically so we would have a day or two to learn about the religion and then a day for us to go on the field trip. Another great aspect that this intensive allowed the nineteen students to do on a daily basis was yoga. The class was able to learn how to do and practice four different types of yoga, all different and great for the body, mind, and soul. Even though in this course Mr. Clark and Dr. Simenone never gave us any quizzes or test, the students did have to complete daily journal entries describing our field trips from the day before or what we did in class. At the end of the course we were assigned a group iMovie project, each group doing a different religion. We also had to complete longer journal entries describing opinions on the intensive and what we got out of it.
Daily Yoga
One of the highlights for the students was yoga. Everyday all students in the intensive would go to the dance studio and practice yoga. We did all kinds of yoga and breathing techniques including Hatha yoga, Tsa Lung Tibetan yoga, Kundalini yoga and more. Yoga was a very important part of this intensive because it had to do with almost all of the religions we studied. On a majority of trips we went on we were allowed to practice yoga at each different sanctuary. Everyones favorite pose was definetly Shavasana pose, which is where you lay on your back and just breathe deeply.
One of the highlights for the students was yoga. Everyday all students in the intensive would go to the dance studio and practice yoga. We did all kinds of yoga and breathing techniques including Hatha yoga, Tsa Lung Tibetan yoga, Kundalini yoga and more. Yoga was a very important part of this intensive because it had to do with almost all of the religions we studied. On a majority of trips we went on we were allowed to practice yoga at each different sanctuary. Everyones favorite pose was definetly Shavasana pose, which is where you lay on your back and just breathe deeply.
Field Trips
One of the biggest parts of this intensive was the field trips. Our first field trip was for the religion of Hinduism. For this religion we traveled to Buckingham Country to visit Yogaville. There we were able to experience the Lotus Shrine, a vegan lunch, and practice Hatha yoga. After we learned about Islam, we went to the Islamic Society of Central Virginia Mosque and stayed for their Friday service. Afterwards we were able to talk and ask questions with Imam Tyler. Our third field trip we went on was to Ligmincha Bon Tibetan Buddhist Institute. There we met with Geshe Yangton and he showed us around the sanctuary. He taught us how to write Tibetan Caligraphy and we were able to practice Tsa Lung Tibetan Yoga. For our fourth field trip we traveled to Congrgation Beth Israel Synagogue, just by the Downtown mall. At the synangoue we met up with Rabbi Rachel, who taught us about the Torah and gave us a tour of the whole place. The best part of the day for many was making and eating the Challah bread and learing to dance the Hora. For our last trip we visited Christ Church Episcopal. There Paul Walker talked to us about his ministry and gave us a tour of the church. We also got to experience help serving in the Soup Kitchen and Toiletry Pantry. After helping out in the Soup Kitchen, everyone was able to take a step back and realizze how lucky they were and how much they took for granted. On every field trip, the group that had that religion would always ask a form of this question: How do you practice compassion? Every time someone asked the question, the responce was always different depending on the religion. All five of these field trips help the students understand that everyone around us has the right to believe in their own faith and to accept that whatever your religion may be, that does not mean someone else has the same faith as you.
One of the biggest parts of this intensive was the field trips. Our first field trip was for the religion of Hinduism. For this religion we traveled to Buckingham Country to visit Yogaville. There we were able to experience the Lotus Shrine, a vegan lunch, and practice Hatha yoga. After we learned about Islam, we went to the Islamic Society of Central Virginia Mosque and stayed for their Friday service. Afterwards we were able to talk and ask questions with Imam Tyler. Our third field trip we went on was to Ligmincha Bon Tibetan Buddhist Institute. There we met with Geshe Yangton and he showed us around the sanctuary. He taught us how to write Tibetan Caligraphy and we were able to practice Tsa Lung Tibetan Yoga. For our fourth field trip we traveled to Congrgation Beth Israel Synagogue, just by the Downtown mall. At the synangoue we met up with Rabbi Rachel, who taught us about the Torah and gave us a tour of the whole place. The best part of the day for many was making and eating the Challah bread and learing to dance the Hora. For our last trip we visited Christ Church Episcopal. There Paul Walker talked to us about his ministry and gave us a tour of the church. We also got to experience help serving in the Soup Kitchen and Toiletry Pantry. After helping out in the Soup Kitchen, everyone was able to take a step back and realizze how lucky they were and how much they took for granted. On every field trip, the group that had that religion would always ask a form of this question: How do you practice compassion? Every time someone asked the question, the responce was always different depending on the religion. All five of these field trips help the students understand that everyone around us has the right to believe in their own faith and to accept that whatever your religion may be, that does not mean someone else has the same faith as you.
Class Periods
Everyday class included notes, journaling, videos, group activities, and other fun projects. When we would first learn about a new religion, Mr. Clark and Dr. Simeone would talk to us about the religion while the students took notes from a powerpoint. After learning about the religion we would break into groups and go over scriptures and different texts from that faith. The activities were sometimes looking at paintings that were signifcant to that religion, reading scriptures from their holy book, and having indepth harknesses. A really fun activity that everyone enjoyed was making "Om Mani Padme Hum" posters, for the religion of Buddhism. For this project we were given text and two partners and had to come up with your idea of what a cover for this text would be. In every group, people had different ideas for their poster but everyone ended up collaberating really well together. In the classroom, this intensive was both fun and helpful in learing about the five major religions of the world.
Everyday class included notes, journaling, videos, group activities, and other fun projects. When we would first learn about a new religion, Mr. Clark and Dr. Simeone would talk to us about the religion while the students took notes from a powerpoint. After learning about the religion we would break into groups and go over scriptures and different texts from that faith. The activities were sometimes looking at paintings that were signifcant to that religion, reading scriptures from their holy book, and having indepth harknesses. A really fun activity that everyone enjoyed was making "Om Mani Padme Hum" posters, for the religion of Buddhism. For this project we were given text and two partners and had to come up with your idea of what a cover for this text would be. In every group, people had different ideas for their poster but everyone ended up collaberating really well together. In the classroom, this intensive was both fun and helpful in learing about the five major religions of the world.