dcf.cymru stimulus sheet · RE · Year 7

School Faith Forum Posts and Festival Guide

Keep this sheet beside your worksheet all lesson. Read the forum charter, the 4 pupil posts, the 6 draft replies waiting for moderation, and the festival glossary.

1. Cymru Year 7 Inter-School Faith & Festivals Charter

Four Welsh secondary schools share a moderated online discussion board where Year 7 pupils write about religious festivals. Every post and reply must follow 4 rules:

  1. Rule 1 (Respectful tone): Ask polite, curious questions. Never mock, laugh at or insult someone’s beliefs, worship, clothing or food.
  2. Rule 2 (No stereotyping): Speak about your own family or say “many” or “some” believers. Never claim that every person in a religion thinks or celebrates in the exact same way.
  3. Rule 3 (Protect personal privacy): Use only your first name and school town. Never post home addresses, postcodes, phone numbers or times when your home will be empty.
  4. Rule 4 (Clear 3-part structure): Organise every main post into three clear parts: Opening (name of the festival and religion), Middle (what people do and what it means), and Ending (a friendly question for other pupils).

2. Four Original Posts on the Year 7 Discussion Board

Pupil & Festival Published forum post
Post 1: Amina
Year 7, Cardiff
Eid al-Fitr (Islam)		 “Assalamu alaikum! My family is getting ready for Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of our month of daylight fasting during Ramadan. Before the morning Eid prayer at our mosque in Cathays, my parents give Zakat al-Fitr, a charity gift so families in need can join the celebration too. Afterwards we wear our best clothes, visit relatives and eat sweet dates and samosas. How do other families celebrate special days together?”
Post 2: Rohan
Year 7, Newport
Diwali (Hinduism)		 “Namaste everyone! In autumn my Hindu family celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights. We clean our house, make bright patterns called rangoli on the doorstep using coloured powders, and light rows of small clay oil lamps called diyas. For us, the lamps remember Rama and Sita returning home after defeating evil, showing that light triumphs over darkness and good triumphs over evil. What symbols of light do other faiths use?”
Post 3: Hannah
Year 7, Swansea
Pesach / Passover (Judaism)		 “Shalom! Each spring my Jewish family gathers for Pesach (Passover). On the first evening we sit around the table for a special meal called the Seder. We read from a book called the Haggadah, which tells how God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. We eat unleavened flatbread called matzah to remember how quickly the Israelites had to leave before their bread could rise, and bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery. Does your family have foods with a special story?”
Post 4: Harri
Year 7, Wrexham
Easter (Christianity)		 “Bore da! In my Christian family, our most important festival is Easter Sunday (Sul y Pasg). A week earlier, on Palm Sunday (Sul y Blodau), we take fresh daffodils to my grandparents’ grave by the chapel. On Easter Sunday morning we go to a sunrise church service to celebrate the resurrection, when Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead, bringing hope and new life. Then we share roast lamb and chocolate eggs at home. What spring traditions do you enjoy?”

3. Six Draft Replies Waiting in the Moderator Queue

As a pupil moderator, you must check these 6 replies before they go live on the board:

Reply ID Replying to Draft text typed by a Year 7 pupil
Reply 1 Post 1 (Amina · Eid al-Fitr) “Every single Muslim in the world eats the exact same food and celebrates Eid in the exact same way, because all Muslim families are identical.”
Reply 2 Post 2 (Rohan · Diwali) “Diwali sounds brilliant, Rohan! How long does it take your family to make the rangoli pattern, and what do the lit diyas mean to you?”
Reply 3 Post 3 (Hannah · Pesach) “Why would anyone eat dry matzah crackers for a whole week? That sounds really boring and weird lol.”
Reply 4 Post 2 (Rohan · Diwali) “We are going to my auntie’s Diwali party at 42 Cathedral Road, CF11 9AB at 6pm on Friday so our house at 14 Oak Street will be empty all evening! Text me on 07700 900123.”
Reply 5 Post 3 (Hannah · Pesach) “Thank you for explaining the Seder plate, Hannah. In primary school we learned about the Exodus from Egypt. Which part of the Haggadah do the youngest children ask or sing at your table?”
Reply 6 Post 4 (Harri · Easter) “Our family in Carmarthen puts daffodils on graves for Sul y Blodau too! Why does your church hold its Easter Sunday service at sunrise?”

4. Festival Glossary for Step 2 and Step 3

Term Religion Meaning
Ramadan Islam The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when many Muslims fast during daylight hours and focus on prayer and charity.
Zakat al-Fitr Islam A charitable gift of food or money given before the Eid prayer so that people in need can celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
Diyas Hinduism (also Sikhism & Jainism) Small clay oil lamps lit during Diwali to symbolise light overcoming darkness and good overcoming evil.
Rangoli Hinduism Colourful floor patterns made near the entrance of a home during Diwali to welcome guests and the goddess Lakshmi.
Seder Judaism The symbolic family meal held on the first evening (or first two evenings) of Pesach, following a set order of prayers, songs and foods.
Matzah Judaism Unleavened flatbread eaten during Pesach to remember how the Israelites left Egypt in haste before their dough could rise.
Resurrection Christianity The Christian belief that God raised Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday, three days after his crucifixion on Good Friday.