Teaching Material
STUDY UNIT Special Days (inc Festivals)Key Stage 1
STUDY UNIT
/Precious Things
/Key Stage 1
BUDDHISM
AT1 / Explore their own experience of what is precious (AT2b).Learning
Objective 1 / This is a very significant learning objective because it will set the tone for the ways in which children respond to religious artefacts and to sacred items. It is therefore important to establish the right atmosphere and talk to the children about respect and care. Teachers will need to return to this theme often so that there is reinforcement of the basic principles which underpin the ways in which we treat our own and other people's precious things.
AT1
/ Develop an understanding of ‘preciousness’ in relation to two religions.Learning
Objective 2 / Examples of precious items from Buddhism could be a Buddha image, a leaf from the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha was enlightened, and a miniature stupa or reliquary. All of these can be linked to the story of the Buddha, his enlightenment and the placing of his ashes in stupas when he passed away. Buddhists would prostrate before an image to show respect and would walk around a stupa three times on special occasions, such as a festival.
The Buddha is seen as a spiritually perfect being by his followers; his teaching can be used to bring well-being and happiness to oneself and others.
Many Buddhists would have such items in their homes, sometimes as part of their shrines where they practise meditation.
AT2a / Develop empathy towards others' beliefs and practices.
Learning
Objective 3 / Symbols to show respect towards precious items in Buddhism include: prostration, being at a lower level than a Buddha image; removing shoes; not pointing feet towards an image of the Buddha; being silent or respectful in the presence of a Buddha image etc. Lights, flowers and incense are used as offerings in Theravada Buddhism to show respect.
In all traditions there is great care taken to ensure that shrine rooms are clean and orderly and that devotees exercise great care in all their movements. Pupils can compare with their own and others' behaviour in relation to precious things.
STUDY UNIT Special Days (inc Festivals)Key Stage 1
STUDY UNIT
/Precious Things
/Key Stage 1
CHRISTIANITY
AT1 / Explore their own experience of what is precious (AT2b).Learning
Objective 1 / This is a very significant learning objective because it will set the tone for the ways in which children respond to religious artefacts and to sacred items. It is therefore important to establish the right atmosphere and talk to the children about respect and care. Teachers will need to return to this theme often so that there is reinforcement of the basic principles which underpin the ways in which we treat our own and other people's precious things.
AT1
/ Develop an understanding of ‘preciousness’ in relation to two religions.Learning
Objective 2 / Precious items in Christianity include a Bible, a cross or crucifix, pictures of Jesus, icons, statues, prayer book/hymn book or other devotional texts.
The Bible and particularly the Gospel stories are special because they teach about Jesus as a special person, believed by Christians to be the Son of God. Other precious items are associated with the key events in Jesus' life, such as a cross.
Artefacts that celebrate religious events, such as a baptismal candle may be seen as precious. For many Christians baptism is a sacrament and therefore of great significance.
Visual images of Jesus and the saints are also important. Children can explore the visual imagery behind paintings, icons and statues.
Remembering religious events such as the anniversary of baptism or confirmation is important for many Christians and gives the opportunity to remember promises made and to re-commit themselves to their faith. This could include, for example, re-lighting the baptismal candle.
AT2a / Develop empathy towards others' beliefs and practices.
Learning
Objective 3 / Christians would show respect towards the Bible, the altar/communion table in a church, particularly in those churches where the reserve sacrament is kept. Some Christians would kneel or bow towards the altar as they passed. Although worship can often be lively and fun, churches are also seen as places where courteous and respectful behaviour should be shown. Using the Bible for swearing an oath in a court shows the importance the Bible has in western culture.
Pupils can compare with their own and others' behaviour in relation to precious things.
STUDY UNIT Special Days (inc Festivals)Key Stage 1
STUDY UNIT
/Precious Things
/Key Stage 1
HINDU DHARMA
AT1 / Explore their own experience of what is precious (AT2b).Learning
Objective 1 / This is a very significant learning objective because it will set the tone for the ways in which children respond to religious artefacts and to sacred items. It is therefore important to establish the right atmosphere and talk to the children about respect and care. Teachers will need to return to this theme often so that there is reinforcement of the basic principles which underpin the ways in which we treat our own and other people's precious things.
AT1
/ Develop an understanding of ‘preciousness’ in relation to two religions.Learning
Objective 2 / Precious items in Hinduism would include images and pictures of deities such as Rama, Krishna, Lakshmi and Ganesh, which are aspects or representations of God. In mandirs and people's homes, there are often several deities which are washed, dressed and garlanded. Offerings are made to them, including food, light, flowers and incense.
The stories behind the deities can be told to children (but choose different deities from other study units) See Stories from Hindu Dharma, available from the IEC, for tales of deities, including Durga, Ganesh, Shiva, Rama and Krishna.
AT2a / Develop empathy towards others' beliefs and practices.
Learning
Objective 3 / Hindus show respect to sacred items by putting their hands together and bowing (namaste); women usually cover their head with a dupatta; shoes are not worn in the presence of deities; feet aren't pointed towards deities; it is customary for people not to show their back towards the deities. The use of red paste to mark the foreheads of deities is a sign of special respect.
Pupils can compare with their own and others' behaviour in relation to precious things.
(inc Festivals)Key Stage 1
STUDY UNIT
/Precious Things
/Key Stage 1
ISLAM
AT1 / Explore their own experience of what is precious (AT2b).Learning
Objective 1 / This is a very significant learning objective because it will set the tone for the ways in which children respond to religious artefacts and to sacred items. It is therefore important to establish the right atmosphere and talk to the children about respect and care. Teachers will need to return to this theme often so that there is reinforcement of the basic principles which underpin the ways in which we treat our own and other people's precious things.
AT1
/ Develop an understanding of ‘preciousness’ in relation to two religions.Learning
Objective 2 / In Islam the Qur'an is most precious and is treated with great respect. The story of the first revelation of the Qur'an can be found in Muslim Story Book, published by the IEC.
Other significant items in mosques and homes are a prayer mat for salat, quotations from the Qur'an in Arabic, and pictures of sacred places: Makkah, Madinah and Jerusalem.
Behaviour in mosques is always quiet and respectful, for it is a place of worship of Allah.
The importance of Makkah is that it is Muhammad's birthplace and the city where the Ka'aba is to be found. Madinah is where the prophet also lived. Jerusalem with its famous Muslim building the Dome of the Rock (which is not a mosque) is where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven.
AT2a / Develop empathy towards others' beliefs and practices.
Learning
Objective 3 / The Qur'an is believed by Muslims to be the word of God and is therefore sacred. Muslims wash, remove their shoes and cover their head before opening the Qur'an which is only opened to be read and is never left open on display.
Pupils can compare with their own and others' behaviour in relation to precious things.
STUDY UNIT
/Precious Things
/Key Stage 1
JUDAISM
AT1 / Explore their own experience of what is precious (AT2b).Learning
Objective 1 / This is a very significant learning objective because it will set the tone for the ways in which children respond to religious artefacts and to sacred items. It is therefore important to establish the right atmosphere and talk to the children about respect and care. Teachers will need to return to this theme often so that there is reinforcement of the basic principles which underpin the ways in which we treat our own and other people's precious things.
AT1
/ Develop an understanding of ‘preciousness’ in relation to two religions.Learning
Objective 2 / The Torah scroll is a particularly precious item in Judaism. It contains the first five books of the Jewish scriptures: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They are hand written by a specialist scribe who may take up to two years to complete one scroll. Their decorations - the crown, the bells, the cover and the use of a pointer to protect the text - are all symbolic of how precious it is.
The Torah is precious because Jews believe that its contents have been revealed by God. God has made a promise to protect his people and they must abide by his laws.
There are many famous stories in the Torah which can be used with children. The reading of the Torah in the synagogue in the key feature of worship.
The Western Wall of the Temple in Jerusalem is an important place of pilgrimage for Jews.
AT2a / Develop empathy towards others' beliefs and practices.
Learning
Objective 3 / It is required by the Torah that the head is covered and a prayer shawl (tallit) worn during the reading of the Torah and it is usually men who do this. The Torah is paraded round the synagogue so that everyone can see it and those nearest will kiss the edge of their tallit and touch the scroll as it passes. Everyone is standing to show respect.
Jews learn Hebrew so that they can read the Torah in the synagogue. A light burns above the Ark in the synagogue, where the scrolls are kept. Many scrolls are very old and very precious. When a scroll can no longer be used it is buried in a Jewish cemetery so that it is always treated with respect.
STUDY UNIT
/Precious Things
/Key Stage 1
SIKH DHARAM
AT1 / Explore their own experience of what is precious (AT2b).Learning
Objective 1 / This is a very significant learning objective because it will set the tone for the ways in which children respond to religious artefacts and to sacred items. It is therefore important to establish the right atmosphere and talk to the children about respect and care. Teachers will need to return to this theme often so that there is reinforcement of the basic principles which underpin the ways in which we treat our own and other people's precious things.
AT1
/ Develop an understanding of ‘preciousness’ in relation to two religions.Learning
Objective 2 / The Guru Granth Sahib is a guide for Sikhs. Its precious nature is symbolised by the use of the Chauri Sahib (a whisk), rumala (special cloths used to cover it) and its position as the focal point of the Gurdwara. Respect for the Guru Granth Sahib is shown because it contains the teachings of the Gurus and it is believed to be the Guru for today. It is therefore treated as a human Guru would be.
During worship there is singing of hymns (Kirtan) from the Guru Granth Sahib. This is accompanied by musicians playing a harmonium and other instruments.
Other precious items include the 5 Ks (Kes - uncut hair; kanga - comb; Kara - bangle; kirpan - small sword; kaccha - specially designed shorts) as symbols of commitment and the way of life of a Sikh.
AT2a / Develop empathy towards others' beliefs and practices.
Learning
Objective 3 / The treatment of the Guru Granth Sahib shows how precious it is in the lives of Sikhs. It is placed on a special stand in the middle of the Gurdwara, it has a canopy over it and is covered with special cloths. The reader will wave a chaur over it as a mark of respect and to keep it clean. The reader must have recently bathed, will be barefoot and will have their head covered.
People entering the Gurdwara bow down before it and make an offering. The Granth is treated as a living person because it contains the teachings of the human gurus. Sikh names are chosen from it and people are married by walking round it four times. It is present at all special occasions and a building must be properly prepared before a Granth can be placed in it. At night, the Granth is carried to a special room, called the Sach Khand), where it is ceremonially put to bed.
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