National Curriculum Content

Our local council, Derbyshire and Derby City are responsible for deciding the RE syllabus.  The Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education for 2020–2025, states the principal aim of RE is to engage pupils in systematic enquiry into significant human questions which religion and worldviews address, so that they can develop the understanding and skills needed to appreciate and appraise varied responses to these questions, as well as develop responses of their own.  

Our school uses the Discovery RE enquiry-based approach for teaching RE. Each curriculum area is created around an enquiry question.

Enquiry Question

Could the Buddha’s teachings make the world a better place?

Overall and Lesson Objectives

To understand the teachings of the Buddha and explore what he taught about change.

1. Engagement – Understand that the world/life is not the same for everyone and some people may experience suffering or unpleasant experiences.
2. Investigation – To learn that the Buddha believes the world would be a better place if selfishness and greed did not exist. They follow the 8-fold path.
3. Evaluation – Evaluate the Buddha’s teaching on change, greed and suffering.
4. Expression – Express how we could make the world a better place.

What we want children to know

• That life is different for everyone.
• The steps of the 8-fold path and its purpose.
• The Buddha’s teachings on making the world a better place.
• How can we improve the world and our path.

What skills we want children to develop

• To understand individual liberty
• To have mutual respect
• To show tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

Vocabulary

8-fold path, Bodhi tree, Buddha, change, Prince Siddhattha