White House Primary School – Short Term Plan – RE
Sapphire Class – Year 5/6
Term 3 – Spring Term
Buddhism
Task 1:
Objective
To understand the story of
Buddha.
Task 2:
Objective
To understand why Prince
Siddhatta chose his path.
Task 3:
Objective
To recognise the symbols of
Buddhism
Main Teaching
Show children picture of Prince William – who is this?
How might your life be different if your were a Prince or
Princess? Discuss in pairs then share as a class.
Show the children a picture of Prince Siddhatta. Who is
this? Followers call him Buddha. He is the symbol of the
Buddhist faith. Do any of the children know anything
about the Buddhist faith.
Play video from you tube – The Life of Buddha (Animation)
Discuss what happened in video and try to section into 6
main parts of the story. Note down on SMARTboard to
help MA/HA with their storyboards.
Differentiation
SN/LA – to add pictures to
story board of life of
Buddha.
MA/HA – to create
storyboard of Buddha’s life.
Resources
Pre-prepared storyboards.
Word list to support
MA/HA.
Main Teaching
Ask children to remind you about the story of Prince
Siddhatta.
Can the children remember the name of his wife and
child? Show them a picture on the SMARTboard. How do
you think they would have felt the morning they woke up
to find him gone? Brainstorm ideas in thought bubbles.
Would the wife and child’s thoughts be the same?
Show them a picture of Siddhatta – if he could write them
a letter explaining his decision – what might he say?
Jot down ideas on smartboard.
Differentiation
Resources
Writing frame for SN/LA
Paper with border.
Main Teaching
Show children the symbol of a cross. What religion does
this represent? Christianity. Buddhism have various
symbols which are recognisable around the world. Show
children statue of a Buddha (or picture) – what/who is
this? Explain that Buddhist DO NOT worship the Buddha
(like God in Christianity) but they follow his teaching.
Differentiation
SN/LA – match labels to pictures
of symbols (CIP)
Resources
Pictures of symbols
Real symbols (if in RE cupboard)
MA/HA – to write a sentence
describing each symbol.
Labels to match symbols (cip)
SN/LA – children to write a letter
to Prince Siddhatta’s wife and
child – using a starting point given
to them. Draw a picture
underneath to finish off.
MA/HA – to write a letter to
Prince Siddhatta’s Wife – think
carefully about the phrasing of
the sentences to explain himself
and his reasons.
Yasodara – Prince’s wife
Write this on the board for children to use later.
Show the children a lotus flower – Buddhists have this as a
symbol because they grow in muddy water and rise above
to produce a beautiful flower. Buddhists think this is like
life – get through the muddy waters of life and rise above
it! Nothing in life is perfect because it will soon wither and
die – this is known as Dukkha.
The wheel of life – life, death, rebirth – Buddha taught
about the 8 ways of life.
Task 4:
Objective
To understand the Noble
Eightfold Path
Task 5:
Objective
Main Teaching
Show children symbol of the wheel of life – get children to
remind you of this symbol.
Ask children how many spokes there are on the wheel?
8 – Buddha taught that there were 8 ways for people to
follow for live their lives:
Right Understanding (of the four noble truths)
Right thought (thinking good, kind thoughts)
Right Speech (using kind words and not telling lies)
Right Action (not killing or stealing; looking after others)
Right Work (doing a job that does not harm others)
Right effort (working hard to do good things)
Right mindfulness (thinking before you act or speak)
Right concentration (using meditation to train your mind
to be calm and focused)
Differentiation
SN/LA – to stick the 8 paths on
the wheel and add a picture if
able.
Main Teaching
Differentiation
Resources
Blank Wheels
Labels for the wheels.
MA/HA – to write the 8 ways on
the wheel and their meaning.
Resources