Buddhist Parables and Stories

Stories, parables, and literature allow students to visualize different people, holidays, customs, and traditions within a particular religion in a more concrete way. There are many books related to Buddhism that teachers can use to help students form a deeper understanding of the religion and the people who practice it. In this activity, students will create a plot diagram to summarize a story relating to Buddhism. This example focuses on the life of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, as told in the book Under the Bodhi Tree.

There are many other engaging books that introduce students to the traditional folktales and stories relating to Buddhism. Here are some suggestions:

• The Barefoot Book of Buddhist Tales by Alexandra Kohn and Sherab Chodzin
• Magic of Patience (Jataka Tales) by Rosalyn White
• The Kids Book of World Religions by Jennifer Glossop
• Who Is the Dalai Lama? by Dana Meachen Rau and Who HQ
• Zen Ties (A Stillwater Book) by Jon J. Muth
• I Once Was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told by Jeanne M. Lee
• A Pebble for Your Pocket: Mindful Stories for Children and Grown-ups by Thich Nhat Hanh
• Buddha in Your Backpack: Everyday Buddhism for Teens by Franz Metcalf
• Prince Siddhartha: The Story of Buddha by Jonathan Landaw
• The Calm Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Wisdom, Compassion and Mindfulness to Read with Your Child by Dharmachari Nagaraja

Due Date:

Objective: After listening to or reading the story, create a narrative storyboard that includes important details from the beginning, middle, and end.

Student Instructions:

1. In about 3-5 cells, write the major details of the story in order of occurrence.
2. Add appropriate scenes, characters, and items to illustrate each cell.

Requirements: Include events from the beginning, middle, and end of the story.