Miriam’s Vision: Working for social cohesion
Miriam's Vision
Miriam's Vision
Miriam Hyman was killed in the "7/7" London bombings on 7th July, 2005. The Miriam Hyman Memorial Trust presents her legacy – Miriam’s Vision.
Miriam's Vision promotes social cohesion in response to the circumstances of Miriam’s death. The lesson plans refer to Miriam's story and her memorial, the Miriam Hyman Children's Eye Care Centre in Odisha, India.
Miriam´s Vision is freely accessible, with no sign-up, to make things as easy as possible for you. Simply use the lesson plans on this website. However, please use this contact form to express interest or let us know you are using MV. That will help us very much. Please share!
The unique, high-quality lesson plans and accompanying electronic resources are curriculum- and theme-based, and broaden to wider issues. There are straightforward guidance notes aimed at teachers of 11- to 14-year-olds.
Our five core messages:
- We may not always be able to control what happens, but we can control our responses.
- Negative events can have both negative and positive results.
- People from different backgrounds and traditions have important similarities as well as differences.
- Resolving conflict can be done peacefully through democratic processes.
- Acts of kindness benefit the giver as well as the receiver.
Miriam's Vision was developed by the Miriam Hyman Memorial Trust in association with the University of London Institute of Education and Copthall School, London, which Miriam attended. Produced by teachers for teachers, guiding students to explore 7/7 in the safe environment of the classroom, through the powerful personal narrative of Miriam's story.
The Schemes of Work are part of a much bigger picture:
- Preparation for independent and collaborative thinking.
- Creative and constructive action on personal, local, national and global levels.
- Responsible citizenship recognising one’s own rights and those of others, irrespective of race, religion, tradition and culture.
Miriam's Vision meets Ofsted requirements (September 2019) for “creating a positive climate with respectful interactions” and “connecting new knowledge and existing knowledge”. It supports the new Ofsted Framework’s focus on Character Education which includes resilience, confidence and independence.
The lesson plans have been tested by teachers and learners in our study, Evaluation & Impact of Miriam's Vision, March 2018.
History, Citizenship and PSHE relate directly to the events of 7/7. Opportunities for acquiring transferable life skills such as emotional intelligence, resilience, considered and constructive response to negative situations, problem-solving and rational action in the light of rights and responsibilities.
Geography, Art and Dance refer to the location of the Miriam Hyman Children's Eye Care Centre in Odisha. Learners experience aspects of a different culture and compare with their own to understand that diversity is the natural outcome of local response to universal needs for sustenance, shelter, safety, and spirituality.
Add-ons were written in response to feedback and give context to aspects of Miriam's Vision.
Themes such as empathy, altruism and resilience are woven into the Schemes of Work.
Read the Guidance in our For Teachers section.
