Core Questions Addressed:

1. How are religions created?
2. When?
3. Where did they start and where did they diffuse?
4. Why?
5. Who?

Time Frame: 3 - 5 days depending on how much time is spend on the examination of each religion

Suggested Grade Level: Middle School / High School

New Jersey Core Content Standards: 6.2, 6.4, 6.5

Instructional Objectives:

1. Students will be able to identify Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism as the world’s five most practiced religions
2. Students will be able to identify the basic belief systems of these religions
3. Students will be able to identify the basic historical background of these religions
4. Students will be able to identify various holidays and rituals of these religions

Resource Materials:

1. Buddhism Power Point
2. Christianity Power Point
3. Hinduism Power Point
4. Islam Power Point
5. Judaism Power Point
6. Student Handout
7. Venn diagram

Strategies and Procedures:

1. Have students write down on a piece of paper all of the different religions that they can think of.
2. After a few minutes of this, begin to take a survey of the different religions that were identified by the students.
3. Once it becomes clear that some religions are beginning to be mentioned by more and more students, identify to students that while there are many different religions in the world, there are only 5 that are practiced by a majority of people throughout the world. Identify those religions as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism.
4. Give students the Student Handout Chart. Explain to students that the information they are about to learn should be filled into this chart.
5. Give students historical background and religious practices by using the varying Power Point presentations.
6. Once all Power Point presentations have been given, have students use the chart that they filled out to complete a Venn diagram pertaining to all five religions.

Assessment:

1. Evaluate student’s Venn diagrams.
2. Have students use their Venn Diagrams to write a comprehensive essay comparing and contrasting these religions.