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First lessons about world religion for primary classes

Religion is lumped in with history, literature, languages and art as one of the humanities but we tend not to feel as comfortable teaching about religion as the other subjects. Teaching about religion does not promote any one particular faith. It introduces the fact that there are differences between people and their ideas and practices about God. Primary students can easily be introduced to the idea that there are different religions during social studies units about the community and its people. Different religions use different types of  buildings. Different religions can be identified by the way some adherents dress.

When you are teaching about communities, say that people worship in different types of buildings. People who are Christians worship in churches or cathedrals. People who are Jewish worship in synagogues. People who are Muslim worship in mosques, and people who are Hindu or Buddhist worship in temples. Take pictures of any of these buildings in your school community and locate them on a map. For buildings that are not in your local area, find pictures online and show them to the class.

When your students are learning about individuals from various cultures around the world and you introduce the idea of clothing as a distinguishing trait, tell the students that different types of clothing can sometimes identify a person's religion. Some Christian clergy may wear a habit, robes, or collars. Some Christian Amish or Mennonite women wear plain dresses and head coverings. Many Jewish men wear a yarmulke, or cap, on their heads. Muslim clergy may wear robes and skull caps. Many Muslim women wear veils, hijabs, or head-coverings. You may be able to show pictures of local members of the community who dress in one of these ways. Connect their pictures to the pictures of the buildings they use for worship.

For a fact-based, objective introduction to the Christian religion and its history, particularly in Kentucky, make plans to visit the Kentucky Faith and Public History Education Project Walking Trail in Paris, Kentucky. Free, two-hour customized, guided field trips are available outdoors in an arboretum with an Eye-Spy game, informational signs, simple quizzes, history-inspired five-minute games, and a picnic area that seats 80. Call 859-987-5407 to arrange for your class to come during the spring, summer, and fall months, March through October.


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