Medium Term Planning
Curriculum Area: Religious Education
Theme:Buddhism
Year Group: Key Stage One
Time:
Internet resources:
Key Vocabulary:
Buddhism, Buddha, Vesak, Meditate, Shrine, Sangha
www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/.../religion/buddhism.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/storybuddha.htm
http://www.thegrid.org.uk/archive_site/learning/re/pupil/buddhisttrail/index.html
http://www.dharmaforkids.com/Buddha/story/story.htm
http://www.buddha-images.com/
http://familydharma.pulelehuadesign.com/
http://www.firstschoolyears.co.uk/re/buddhism/festivals/wesak.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/mag_kids.htm
P.O.S
1 and 2
Learning
Objectives
Learning
Outcomes
(We are
learning to)
(What I am
looking for)


3

Introduction
Grab factor
Connect the learning
(This is because)
Discuss with the children things that are
special to them and make them happy
when they see them. Show children a
picture of Jesus and explain how
Christians feel it is special.
Briefly introduce Buddhism Using
Buddhism Key Stage One by Yin and
Hudson.
Children will reflect Show children a statue (rupa) or a picture
of Buddha. Invite the children to come up
on the kind of
with questions about the statue and
person they would
discuss.
like to be.
Tell a simplified version of Buddha’s life
story or use stories from the life or past of
Buddha such as the story of Siddhartha,
the swan and Devadatta or The monkey
King.
Children will be Introduce the importance of times of
Learn about the life
of Buddha.
 Children will
understand the
significance of
Shakyamuni Buddha
to Buddhists.
I.C.T and Other Resources:
Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Word, Internet
Books, CD-ROMS, video, photos
Cross Curricular Links:
Literacy- note making, speaking and listening, drama
PSHE- Working in a group, being sensitive to views of others
History and Geography- Origins of Buddhism
ICT- Creating presentations, using net, digital camera
D and T- Making tree, lantern etc
Music- creating music for Jataka stories
Activities
Access
Core
Plenary
Extension
Key questions
Make puppets to retell the story of Buddha or
the story of Siddhartha. (AT1)
Make clay or plasticine models of Buddha
(AT1)
Draw the Buddha after a quiet contemplation
(AT1)
Buddhists believe Buddha brought light and
wisdom. Make a class book of local people
who are ‘lights’ to you. (AT2)
Make a personal timeline which includes
moments of happiness and sadness. Add some
which might occur in the future. (AT2)
Discuss feelings about
1
introduced to the inactivity to Buddhists and how they
believe developing positive thoughts,
skill of meditation.
Children will know
some Buddhist worship
practices
4
5
6
Children will be
introduced to key
Buddhism artefacts.
Children will start to
know about the Dharma
and the Sangha.
 To hear and discuss
Buddhists stories that
have a moral message.
 Children will know a
story from the
Buddhist tradition.
concentration and powerful wishes is very
powerful.
Sitting in a circle discuss the places the
children go when they want to be quiet or
alone at home.
Have a selection of Buddhism artefacts set
out on a rug on the floor. Allow children
to explore and come up with their own
questions and possible answers. Examples
to include are; Buddha, prayer wheel,
prayer flags, singing bowl, thangka and
ocean drum.
Set up a home shrine.
Choose an artefact to focus on e.g. prayer
wheel. Put it in a feely bag and allow
children to explore it using their senses.
Using Buddhism- Key Stage 1 introduce
the Dharma in the simple way of:
Do not do bad
Do Good
Keep your mind clean.
Show children poster illustrations of each
of these such as killing animals, stealing,
telling lies, respect parents and teachers,
help one another, make friends with good
people etc.
The Buddha often taught through telling
stories. Discuss which other important
people did this? (Jesus, Mohammed
(pbuh)).
Read the story of ‘The Buddha and the
wounded swan’ on the PowerPoint
presentation, which explores Buddhist
views on animal rights issues.
Children could design their own quiet areaswhat would they have in there? What would it
look like? Colour?
Or
Introduce meditation. Guide children through
a simple breath awareness meditation then a
loving kindness meditation (see Cumbria)
meditation- how did
you feel before and
after? did the children
enjoy it? (AT2)
Debrief by asking questions about how the
children felt about the meditation.
Make prayer flags to decorate the classroom.
Discuss what children
would pray for.
Design and make their own hand held prayer What is prayer? Who is
wheels. (AT1 + AT2)
prayer for?
.Children write their own versions of promises Use Cleo website to
or precepts. (AT2)
show clip of The
Sangha from Amaravati
Invite a monk or nun in????
Buddhist Monastery,
Hemel Hempstead,
U.K.
Children make paper bag, stick or shadow
puppets of the characters in order to retell the
story. (at1)
Write about or draw somebody who has the
same positive quality as the one in the story.
(AT2)
2
Discuss how does the story communicate
Buddhist attitudes towards living things?
How do they express this in their daily
lives? Why do Buddhists believe in animal
rights? Why do they respect all living
things? Do you agree/disagree? Why?
Make up music to accompany the story.
There are lots of alternative stories that
can be used such as the Jataka Tales or:
Wild deer park (no killing)
The moon is looking at you (no stealing)
The Buddha and Rahula (no lying)
The Buddha threading the needle (helping
each other)
The fishmonger’s (making good friends)
They all help show actions have
consequences.
Try to tell the story using visual support
such as objects from the story or puppets.
Allow time for reflection and then ask
children what questions they have about
the story.
 To investigate the
7
significance of Vesak
and explore ways
Buddhists celebrate it.
 Use pictures of Wesak celebrations, for
example from BBC Religion, to
introduce the festival. Explain how it is
celebrated and ask children to describe
the events of a special day they have
experienced.
 As a whole class make a thought
Create a bodhi tree, lotus flower or lotus
lantern
shower of different festivals people
celebrate in different religions.
 Introduce the topic Vesak (Wesak) The
Buddhist Festival of Light using the
PowerPoint presentation.
 Recap by asking children questions
about the presentation: What is Vesak?
When and how do Buddhists celebrate
it? etc.
3
 As a whole class make a class bank of
words that describe feelings associated
with special times and celebrations.
4