Creating a compare and contrast chart is a great way for students to display their knowledge about the major world religions such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Sikhism. In this activity, students will fill in important information about each major world religion using text and illustrations that include symbols, characters, infographics, scenes, or objects.
Topics that are helpful for students to track include:
Students can use the chart as a way to take notes as they learn about each religion and then use the chart as a study guide. Alternatively, a teacher may have students create the chart as a final assessment.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard chart of the major world religions such as: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Sikhism. Highlight important facts about each religion such as where its followers live in the world, how many followers it has today, when it originated and important symbols or objects.
Student Instructions:
Begin by introducing the basics of different religions to students. For instance, the meanings and origins of Islam and Christianity. Teachers can also start the discussion by generally discussing the concept of religion with students and then slowly move to different types of religions. Some students might also be aware of many different religions so the lectures can be built on prior knowledge of students.
Help students recognize and compare common themes, such as beliefs about God, the afterlife, morality, and the meaning of life, that appear in other faiths. Students can find similarities on the basis of monotheism or polytheism, the purpose of living beings, basic rules of life, etc.
Look at the many rites, ceremonies, and procedures that each religion employs, and talk about their importance in terms of worship and daily living. Students can also reflect on the different places of worship and highly regarded aspects of the religion. For instance, Churches in Christianity and Mosques in Islam are significant places of worship.
Place a strong emphasis on the necessity of approaching the study of religion with an open mind, respect, and sensitivity to other belief systems and behaviors. Encourage the students to express their opinions and perspectives but also listen carefully to other students and respect their opinions.
Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are some of the widely followed religions in the world. Every religion has unique cultural manifestations, traditions, and beliefs. These religions can be differentiated based on beliefs, rituals, practices, and history. Most of the key religions convey the purpose of human life, the meaning of peace, and how human beings can spend their lives on Earth.
Religions hold a vast range of beliefs on the afterlife. Others place more emphasis on ideas of paradise, and hell, while some (such as Hinduism and Buddhism) believe in reincarnation or different lives. Each religion has different beliefs based on the key principles provided by their religious leaders or Holy texts.
Prayer, meditation, worship sessions, pilgrimage, dietary restrictions, ceremonies, and festivals are just a few examples of practices and rituals, all of which vary widely amongst various religions. The majority of the religions in the world have an entire set of systems the people follow for instance, Muslims take Halal diets, Jews eat Kosher food, etc.