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      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can retell the story of Rama and Sita from the Ramayana.

      Key learning points

      1. The story of Rama and Sita is found in the Ramayana which is an ancient epic story from India.
      2. The story of Rama and Sita is often retold by Hindus annually.
      3. The story has deeper meanings to help Hindus live out their dharma.

      Keywords

      • Ramayana - an ancient Indian epic that tells the story of Rama and Sita

      • Rama - a prince known for his bravery, kindness, and devotion to duty

      • Sita - the wife of Rama, a princess known for her beauty and devotion

      • Ravana - the king of Lanka, who has 10 heads and 20 arms

      • Diwali - a Hindu festival that symbolises the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance

      Common misconception

      Ravana is just evil and bad without any reason.

      Ravana is not simply evil. He is a powerful king with many good qualities but is also prideful and arrogant. His flaws lead him to make poor choices, like kidnapping Sita, which makes him a complex character.

      Teacher tip

      Hindu images of deities have deep symbolism. Rama is shown with blue skin to represent his divine nature as an incarnation of Vishnu. Ravana is depicted with ten heads, symbolising his great intelligence, but also his pride and arrogance. These visuals offer deeper insights into their characters.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      What did Noah have to build to escape the flood?

      Correct Answer: Ark, ark

      Q2.
      What symbol do Christians and Jews believe that God created as a promise never to flood the earth again?

      cross
      Correct answer: rainbow
      Torah
      Bible

      Q3.
      Who was called by God to leave his home and set out to the promised land?

      Joseph
      Correct answer: Abraham
      Moses

      Q4.
      A story told by Jesus with a hidden meaning that has to be worked out is known as a ...

      Correct answer: parable.
      gospel.
      miracle.

      Q5.
      Humanists are people with a worldview.

      religious
      Correct answer: non-religious
      non existent

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      The Hindu Dharma religion began in ...

      Correct answer: India.
      Great Britain.
      Sri Lanka.

      Q2.
      The Ramayana is an story from India.

      Correct Answer: epic, Epic

      Q3.
      Who went into the forest with Rama for 14 years?

      Sita and Hanuman
      Correct answer: Sita and Lakshman
      Sita and Ravana

      Q4.
      Which of these statements is most accurate?

      Ravana was totally bad.
      Ravana was totally good.
      Correct answer: Ravana had been a wise person, but made bad decisions.

      Q5.
      Which festival celebrated by Hindus remembers the return of Rama and Sita home to Ayodyha?

      Christmas
      Holi
      Hanukkah
      Correct answer: Diwali

      To help you plan your 3 religious education lesson on: The story of Rama and Sita, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...