New
New
Year 6

The story of the first Khalsa

I can understand the meaning of Khalsa and explain how it created a special identity for Sikhs.

New
New
Year 6

The story of the first Khalsa

I can understand the meaning of Khalsa and explain how it created a special identity for Sikhs.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Guru Gobind Singh was the final human guru in Sikhi.
  2. The Khalsa commemorates five volunteers who were prepared to offer their lives to God.
  3. A deeper meaning of the story is the importance of self-sacrifice and a life of service.
  4. For most Sikhs, this story is the beginning of a distinctive Sikh identity.

Keywords

  • Guru Gobind Singh - the tenth and final human Guru in Sikhi who started the Khalsa

  • Khalsa - a special group of Sikhs who promise to live honestly, help others, and follow the Sikh religion closely

  • Sacrifice - giving up something important or special for a good cause or to help others

Common misconception

The Khalsa was created only for warriors who fight in battles.

The Khalsa was created for all Sikhs who live by a set of values, such as honesty, bravery, kindness, and service to others.


To help you plan your year 6 religious education lesson on: The story of the first Khalsa, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Retell the story of the Khalsa, Vaisakhi, stopping at different points to discuss the true meaning and what it teaches Sikhs. Invite a speaker to share their views and experiences about Khalsa. Use the following video to enrich the classroom experience - https://www.truetube.co.uk/resource/vaisakhi/
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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5 Questions

Q1.
What percentage of people in England and Wales are Sikh?
Correct answer: 0.9%
5%
10%
Q2.
What is a gurdwara?
a Sikh festival
Correct answer: a Sikh place of worship
a Sikh holiday
Q3.
Why do some areas in the UK have large Sikh communities?
they are near airports
there are jobs in farming
Correct answer: Sikhs settled where they could practise their faith
Q4.
How did Sikhs contribute during the World Wars?
Correct answer: by serving as soldiers and nurses
by writing newspapers
by building schools
Q5.
Did all of the Sikhs in the UK move here recently?
yes, most came to the UK in the last 5 years
Correct answer: no, Sikhs have a long history in the UK
yes, they all came to the UK after 2010

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
The Khalsa was created by Gobind Singh at the Vaisakhi festival.
Correct Answer: Guru, guru
Q2.
The Khalsa began with Sikhs who were willing to give their lives to God.
Correct Answer: five, Five, 5
Q3.
Why did Guru Gobind Singh create the Khalsa?
to collect money
to test people’s loyalty
Correct answer: to form a group of people devoted to faith and service
Q4.
Who were the Panj Pyare in the story of the Khalsa?
Correct answer: the five 'beloved ones' who showed courage
five kings from India
five warriors who won a battle
Q5.
Was the Khalsa created only for people who fight in battles?
yes, it was created only for those who wanted to be warriors
Correct answer: no, it was created for all Sikhs who live by Sikh values
yes, only soldiers could join

Additional material

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