Siddhartha: craving and suffering
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Siddhartha realised that the answer to suffering was to stop craving.
Key learning points
- Siddhartha became very weak after fasting, but he had still not discovered the cause of suffering.
- He decided that the Middle Way was the best way to live.
- Siddhartha realised that the source of suffering was craving and the way to stop suffering was to stop craving.
- Buddhists call this the Four Noble Truths.
Keywords
Craving - longing for something or someone
Fasting - doing without food or drink
The Middle Way - the path that falls between the two extremes of luxury and poverty
Common misconception
Siddhartha discovered the answer to suffering through fasting.
This did not give him the answer. It was when he stopped being an ascetic and chose the 'middle way' between extreme luxury and extreme self-denial that he found the answer.
Teacher tip
This is a sensitive topic including discussion of suffering and its causes.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the meaning of 'ascetic'?
Q2.What was the fourth sight seen by Siddhartha?
Q3.Which key word means 'a prediction of what will happen in the future'?
Q4.In which village was Siddhartha born?
Q5.After the four sights, why did Siddhartha leave the palace?
Q6.Put the story of the early life of Siddhartha in the correct order.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.For how many years did Siddhartha fast?
Q2.What is the meaning of 'craving'?
Q3.What is the name of the way that falls between the two extremes of luxury and poverty?
Q4.Put the Four Noble Truths in the correct order.
To help you plan your 5 religious education lesson on: Siddhartha: craving and suffering, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 religious education lesson on: Siddhartha: craving and suffering, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 religious education lessons from the Buddhists: who was the Buddha and what does he mean for Buddhists? unit, dive into the full primary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.