RE   Year 7

Unit 7D Sikhism

 

 

 

Last modified 29/07/02

by P Clark

About the unit

 

In this unit pupils learn about key beliefs in Sikhism. Using a variety of written and visual sources they learn about and understand some ways in which Sikh belief informs Sikh practice today. The unit offers opportunities for pupils to examine and reflect on issues of faith. Pupils encounter Sikh teachings at first hand, and develop their understanding of Sikh sacred texts. They evaluate the relationship between beliefs and practice in society today for a Sikh believer.

 

Where the unit fits in

This unit comes after units on festivals and is a unit devoted entirely to one religion. Whereas the rest of the work we do is largely thematic in this unit the religion of Sikhism is covered in more detail and in a way that should not confuse pupils.

 

 

 

Expectations

 

At the end of this unit

 

All pupils will:  explain some key Sikh beliefs; understand what belonging to a Sikh community involves, eg prayer and meditation and community action; understand the meaning of some Sikh symbols and use some Sikh language; make informed responses to questions of other people’s values and commitments in the light of their own learning; reflect on questions about the purpose of human existence, formulating their own response

 

Most pupils will: explain what Sikhs mean by the term God and how God may be known and worshipped by Sikhs; explain how the use of religious symbols helps a Sikh believer in his/her faith; understand ways in which Sikhs express their belief in God through the way that they live their lives, eg through prayer and meditation, taking part in festivals and community service;

 

Some pupils will have progressed further and will: explain and evaluate the principal beliefs and teachings in Sikhism and explain in detail what it means to belong to a Sikh community; illustrate their answers with modern examples of Sikh belief and practice

 

Language for learning

 

Through the activities in this unit pupils will be able to understand, use and spell correctly words relating to the study of:

   religion, eg festival, prayer, meditation, pilgrimage, creator, eternal, immanent

   Sikhism, eg Waheguru, Nam , Sahib, Kangha, Kara, Kesh, Khanda, Kachera, Kirpan, Gurdwara

Speaking and listening – through the activities pupils could:

   describe and evaluate how the work was undertaken and what led to the conclusions

Reading – through the activities pupils could:

   undertake independent research using knowledge of how texts, databases, etc are organised and of appropriate reading strategies

Writing – through the activities pupils could:

            organise facts/ideas/information in an appropriate sequence

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Prior Learning

It is helpful if pupils have:

·  been taught about religious beliefs and practices outside Sikhism

·  learnt how belief in God affects a person’s actions

·  an understanding of the ways in which religious people try to serve others in their local community

·  had opportunities to develop skills of empathy, interpretation and reflection

learnt how to take part in a debate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sikhism

 

 

 

Learning Objectives

Pupils should learn:

Possible teaching activities

Learning outcomes

Pupils:

Points to note

Resources

 

 

 

 

 

1. My Club

·  That groups share an identity

·  The key elements of religious groups initiation, symbol,  clothing, food

·  Brainstorm ‘Clubs’ Discussion, what makes a club, what elements clubs and groups have, e.g.. Uniform, rules, secrets, activities

·  Pupils invent their own club, produced on A3 sheets

·  Demonstrate awareness of the different elements of an organised group

·  Homework research basic facts about Sikhism

·  A3 paper

2. The Sikh Symbol

·  About the meaning and importance of the Sikh symbol

·  About how symbols affect Sikhs in their faith

·  Read through as a class Sue Penny’s ‘Sikhism’ introduction

·  Discuss the importance of symbols as representing ideas

·  Use the Sikh symbol sheet to make note in exercise books

·  Identify the meaning of the Sikh symbol

·  Explain how this symbol might affect a Sikh

·  Homework continue with the clubs from lesson one

·  Sue Penny ‘Sikhism’

·  Sikh symbol; sheets

3. The 5 K’s

·  About the meaning and importance of the 5 Ks

·  About how the 5 Ks affect a Sikh in their daily lives

·  Using the artefacts talk through the 5 Ks and their significance

·  Hold each one up in turn asking the whole class to call out the name, ( You could make a game of this and repeat each week)

·  Use the k Ks worksheet to make notes in exercise books

·  Identify the meaning of the 5 Ks

·  Explain how the 5 Ks might affect a Sikh

·  Homework complete sheet

·  Artefacts

·  5 Ks worksheet

4. The Life of Guru Nanak

·  About the influences on the life of Guru Nanak

·  About the significance of Guru Nanak for Sikhs

·  Watch the video

·  Discuss the video

·  Write the significant parts of the story in exercise books

·  Read and answer appropriate page from Sue Penny

·  Explain the influences and affects of the life of Guru Nanak

·  Understand key concepts Guru, Caste, Equality and their significance for Sikhs

·  The idea that everyone is equal should be stressed as a central tenet of Sikhism

·  Video ‘Life of Guru Nanak’

·  Sue Penny ‘Sikhism’

5. Other Guru’s & Guru Gobind Singh

·  About the influences on the life of Guru Gobind Singh

·  About the affect Guru Gobind Singh had on Sikhism

·  About the significance of the other Gurus

·  Use the Sikh Gurus picture to discuss the way the Gurus role was passed on

·  Read through the Sikh Gurus page in Sue Penny’s ‘Sikhism’

·  Read through the page about Guru Gobind Singh

·  Discuss his significance and how his ideas changed Sikhism

·  Answer the questions from the book to make notes

·  Understand the concept of Guru in more detail

·  Can retell the story of Guru Gobind Singh

·  Homework Sikh Gurus sheet

·  Sue Penny ‘Sikhism’

·  Sikh Gurus sheet

6. The Khalsa

·  About the beginning of the Khalsa

·  About initiation into the Khalsa

·  About the importance of religious commitment to Sikhs

·  Act out as a class the story of the starting of the Khalsa

·  Use the comic strip version of the story to explain the detail

·  Read through the ‘Entering the Khalsa’ sheet

·  Discuss the significance of initiation

·  In books pupils make their own comic strip version of how Guru Gobind Singh started the Khalsa

·  Understand the significance of commitment for Sikhs

·  Understand the origins of the 5 Ks

·  Homework complete ‘Entering the Khalsa’

·  Worksheet ‘The  Khalsa, ‘Entering the Khalsa’

7. The Gurdwara

·  What happens in a Gurdwara

·   the key concepts of equality and respect to the Guru Granth Sahib

·  As a class look at the Gurdwara sheet. Pupils guess what they see. Ask the question ‘What do you think is happening in the picture’

·  Teacher explanation of the key elements

·  Pupils label the Gurdwara and colour it in

·  Can explain the different aspects of Sikh worship

·  Understand how the ideas of Equality and Respect to the Guru Granth Sahib affect worship in a Gurdwara

·  Key ideas equality and respect

·  Gurdwara worksheet

 

           BUXTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION