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Lesson 4 of 10
  • Year 5

Which festivals do Buddhists celebrate?

In this lesson we will be learning about the Buddhist festival called Wesak. We will learn about why this festival is so special to Buddhists and the traditions that they observe. Finally, we will learn about the Noble Eightfold Path, which Buddhists reflect upon during Wesak.

View unit
Lesson 4 of 10
  • Year 5

Which festivals do Buddhists celebrate?

In this lesson we will be learning about the Buddhist festival called Wesak. We will learn about why this festival is so special to Buddhists and the traditions that they observe. Finally, we will learn about the Noble Eightfold Path, which Buddhists reflect upon during Wesak.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The importance of Wesak for Buddhists
  2. Celebrating the life of the Buddha, alongside Dharma and Sangha (not worshipping a god)
  3. Alms-giving, chanting and 'bathing the Buddha'.

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This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The Buddha wrote all of his teachings down. True or false?

Correct answer: False
True

Q2.
The Buddha's teachings are called...

Correct answer: the Dharma.
the Enlightenment.
the Meditations.

Q3.
Which of the following make up the three baskets of wisdom from the Tipitaka? (Select three to get all three marks!)

Correct answer: The Discipline Basket
Correct answer: The Higher Doctrine Basket
The Meditation Basket
Correct answer: The Teaching Basket
The Wisdom Basket

Q4.
Buddhists do not agree that people should work in a job that might cause harm to other people or animals. They believe that we should work for the good of the community and benefit the world as a whole. This is an example of what:

Right Effort
Correct answer: Right livelihood
Right Understanding

Q5.
"Putting effort in to avoid feelings like greed and jealousy, and making an effort to develop feelings of compassion and consideration for others." - This is an example of what:

Correct answer: Right Effort
Right livelihood
Right Understanding

Q6.
"When you see the world as it really is and not how you want it to be." - This is an example of what:

Right Effort
Right livelihood
Correct answer: Right Understanding

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Another name for Buddha Day is...

Enlightenment Day
Pali
Correct answer: Wesak

Q2.
In which months could Buddha Day be celebrated? (Tick three to get all three points!)

Correct answer: April
August
December
February
January
July
Correct answer: June
March
Correct answer: May
November
October
September

Q3.
Wesak falls on a different day every year because…

Buddhists can’t agree about when the Buddha was born.
It falls on the day of his birth, then the day of his enlightenment and finally the day of his death.
Correct answer: It is based on the cycles of the moon.

Q4.
Buddhists worship God during Wesak.

Correct answer: False
True