Author: Amanda McGarrigle

Year 6 Term 5—Buddhism
What do Buddhists believe about the way they should live their lives and why?

Background Information
Pupils will be given the opportunity to compare the beliefs and teachings of Buddhism with those of other religions that they have studied.
It is important that they understand that Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep insight into the true nature of life and do not worship gods or deities.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zqwfgk7
https://www.truetube.co.uk/film/enlightenment-buddha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2tnZL-3NqM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLS81XFzaWw
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/religious-studies-ks1-the-buddhist-story-of-siddhartha-and-the-swan-and-the-monkey-king/zfkcwty

In this unit the children will know that...
Buddhists believe about the Buddha and his search for enlightenment.
The Buddha’s first teaching was about the Four Noble truths and that these are teachings about suffering and about impermanence.
what is taught to and by Buddhists through the Eightfold Path and describe about how that might help Buddhists to live their lives.
Buddhists have the ‘Five Precepts of Buddhism’.
Buddhists value prayer and meditation.
Key teachings of Buddhism can be found in Buddhist stories.
Beliefs and teachings of Buddhism compare with those found in other religions that they have studied.

By the end of this unit….
All children can:
explain the idea of enlightenment in their own words
recognise symbols and images linked to the Buddhist faith.
describe what Buddhists believe about the Buddha and his search for enlightenment.
know that the Buddha had followers with whom he created the first Buddhist community and the Buddha’s first teaching was about the Four Noble truths
understand that these are teachings about suffering and about impermanence
explain what is taught to and by Buddhists through the Eightfold Path.
explain the Five Precepts of Buddhism and talk about how they might help a Buddhist to gain enlightenment.
use a developing religious vocabulary to describe and show understanding of beliefs, ideas, feelings and experiences related to Buddhist beliefs and teaching.
Most children will:
describe about how the Eightfold Path might help Buddhist to live their lives
express ideas about how it is important to reflect upon right and wrong and good and poor choices in everyday life
express my ideas about the value of prayer and meditation.
describe the impact of Buddhism on people’s lives and apply ideas to their own and other people’s lives.
Some children will:
express their own ideas about questions of suffering and impermanence
express their own ideas about the value of the five precepts.
describe what inspires and influences myself and others.

How did the Buddha seek to find enlightenment and why is this idea so important for Buddhists?
How do the Four Noble Truths help Buddhists to understand human life and how can they help our understanding of the world around us?
How does the Eightfold Path help Buddhists in their lives and can we learn anything for our lives from this?
What are the Five Precepts? Why are they important for Buddhists?
What are some of the key teachings of Buddhism that can be found in Buddhist stories?

Key Vocabulary
Buddhist
Enlightenment—Siddhartha Gautama
Lotus Flower
Sangha—Buddhist community
The Four Noble Truths (The Monkey Trap, The Happy Monk, The Raft, Kisagotami
Eightfold Path Dharma wheel—a reminder of the Buddha’s first sermon in a deer park.
The Five Precepts of Buddhism
Prayer and meditation