Dhamma - moral precepts
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain a range of ways the moral precepts are interpreted and lived by lay Buddhists, monks and nuns.
Key learning points
- The Buddha taught five moral precepts that Buddhists may try to live by.
- Precepts are based on positive states of mind that avoid bad kamma and aim to remove suffering.
- The precepts include behaviours to avoid and behaviours to develop.
- There are additional precepts that may be followed by monks/nuns.
Keywords
Moral - concerned with the principles of right and wrong behaviour
Precept - a rule or direction, often with some religious basis, dictating a way you should act or behave
Refrain - resist doing something
Common misconception
The five precepts are a set of rules like the ten commandments.
They are more things to avoid to keep a positive mental state than rules to follow.
Teacher tip
The pupils could draw around their hand and write their own examples of the five moral precepts. They could then compare and contrast their own precepts with the ones taught by the Buddha.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What type of actions cause good kamma?
Q2.Which keyword describes 'nothing is independent or without cause'?
Q3.What are the four Brahmaviharas?
Q4.What are skilful actions rooted in?
Q5.What are unskilful actions rooted in?
Q6.What are virtues?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What does the key word 'refrain' mean?
Q2.How many moral precepts do most Buddhists follow?
Q3.What are the moral precepts?
Q4.What must Buddhist monks and nuns refrain from?
Q5.Match the precept to those that are applicable to all Buddhists and those that only apply to monks and nuns.
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Dhamma - moral precepts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Dhamma - moral precepts, 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 3 religious education lessons from the Buddhism: how significant are the three jewels to Buddhists? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.