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RE at key stage 3    (Year 8)

Unit 8D: Beliefs and practice: how do the beliefs of Sikhs affect their actions?
Section 5: How are Sikh beliefs shown in festivals?

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • about the content of two Sikh festivals
  • about why Sikhs celebrate these festivals
  • how important festivals are in the lives of Sikhs and others

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Have a general discussion about why human beings celebrate festivals. What are the names of any Sikh festivals that you know?
  • Identify the dates of the major Sikh festivals on the calendar and name them.
  • As a class, investigate the two main types of Sikh festival - gurpurbs and jore melal, making sure that pupils understand the difference between them. Read Sikh accounts of what happens during a festival, at least one example for each type of festival, eg Guru Nanak's birthday (around 18 November) and Baisakhi (14 April). Discuss why Sikhs celebrate these festivals and ask pupils to identify the main Sikh teachings or beliefs inherent in each. Pupils should make a record of the key events and beliefs in each festival. Select one of these festivals and ask pupils to imagine they are reporters for a local newspaper writing a piece on the festival, covering what happens and why.
  • describe the events of two Sikh festivals
  • explain the key beliefs behind these festivals
  • understand the importance of festivals for Sikhs and others

Points to note
  • There are opportunities here for further study or extension work on the temple at Amritsar, Khalsa and Sikh initiation rites.
  • Pupils could set up a festivals database with fields relating to the religion, the date (or time of year or other identifying time), the practices, the meaning to believers and so on. This database could be refined and developed over the years, and used by future pupils and teachers.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. What symbols are used in Sikhism?
2. What does God mean to Sikhs?
3. What do Sikh scriptures have to say to Sikhs?
4. Why do Sikhs pray and meditate?
5. How are Sikh beliefs shown in festivals?
6. How Sikhs seek to serve God