Religious Symbols

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Instructor: Katharine Snell Poniatowski

Students: High School

Description and Rationale:

This lesson is to provide an overview of several world religions. This lesson will include explanations of common generalities, misunderstandings, and prejudices attached to those religions.  It is essential that students gain a better historical knowledge of world religions through multiple perspectives and resources. This skill will also create an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding of difference.

Materials:

  1. Ganeri, A. (1999). The Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Heaven. Boston: Element Children's Books.
  2. Ganeri, A. (2001). Religious Articles: Objects Used in Worship. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughn.
  3. Osborne, M. P. (1996). One World, Many Religions. NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
  4. Philip, N. (1999). Myths and Legends. NY: DK Publishing.

Procedures:

  1. Students will first be guided through a short PowerPoint presentation of general, or “textbook” definitions and characteristics of several world religions, including the less common.
  2. Students will select a religion from a list of possible religions, to research in order to develop a better understanding of the religion, but more importantly the misunderstandings that occur or might occur. 
  3. Working in small groups, students will use several books and Internet websites with different points of view.
  4. Students are required to prepare a presentation on their selected religion to present to the class.
  5. The teacher will then lead a discussion of the common misunderstandings of each religion.

Evaluation:

The students will be evaluated on their quality of work while in groups, including depth of research and understanding of the assigned religion. Individually, students will be asked to complete a short essay demonstrating his or her new opinion or understanding of one of the religions discussed in class. Students are asked to see out further resources to support their new understanding.