Sangha - monks and nuns
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the Sangha as a global Buddhist community and explain the significance of Buddhist monks and nuns.
Key learning points
- The third jewel is the Sangha, the wider Buddhist community, which includes Buddhist monks and nuns.
- The two main forms of Buddhism are Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.
- Some Buddhists do not accept nuns.
- There are Buddhist monasteries all around the world, including in the UK.
- Monks and nuns commit their lives, or some of their lives, to learning and practising Buddhism.
Keywords
Sangha - the wider Buddhist community, including monks and nuns
Monk - a man who dedicates himself to a simple life of devotion to Buddhism
Nun - a woman who dedicates herself to a simple life of devotion to Buddhism
Monastery - a place where Buddhist monks and nuns live
Common misconception
All Buddhist monks are male.
Some schools of Buddhism ordain women, known as Buddhist nuns.
Teacher tip
Use a virtual tour of a monastery to learn more about the key features or arrange a trip to a local Buddhist monastery or temple.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a precept?
Q2.How many moral precepts did the Buddha teach?
Q3.Which of these is not one of the five moral precepts?
Q4.How many precepts do Buddhist monks and nuns need to follow?
Q5.Which of these is not one of the ten precepts followed by Buddhist monks and nuns?
Q6.Match each precept to the correct example.
avoid harm
avoid stealing
avoid overindulgence
avoid lying
avoid alcohol and drugs
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the Sangha?
Q2.Theravada Buddhism is practiced by the majority of people in which of these countries?
Q3.Which form of Buddhism emphasises living a monastic lifestyle?
Q4.What might Buddhist monks and nuns not do on a daily basis?
Q5.Which of these countries was the first to ordain Theravada nuns?
Q6.Why are Buddhist monks and nuns significant for the Sangha?
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Sangha - monks and nuns, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 religious education lesson on: Sangha - monks and nuns, 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.