Women in Sikhi
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use the tools of social science to explain Sikh teachings on women and the role of Sikh women historically and today.
Key learning points
- At the time Sikh Gurus lived, women experienced fewer opportunities than men.
- The experiences of Guru Nanak's sister, Bibi, helped shape his views on the treatment of women.
- The Guru Granth Sahib states that men and women are equal because God made them.
- Sikh women are encouraged to study, participate and lead worship equally with men.
- Data shows there may still be inequalities between men and women in lived experience.
Keywords
Equality - all people having the same rights and opportunities
Pangat - the act of eating together in rows, signifying equality and unity
Sangat - the community of Sikhs who meet and worship in the gurdwara
Survey - a process of collecting, analysing and interpreting data
Common misconception
Sikh women are not as involved as men in religious and community life.
Sikh women have always played an active and important role, historically, as activists and modern day professionals.
Teacher tip
Use the British Sikh Reports (available online) to research other important issues to Sikhs living in Britain.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the Sikh symbol called?
Q2.Why do many Sikhs wear a turban?
Q3.What is the Sikh holy book called?
Q4.How many human Gurus were there in Sikhi?
Q5.What do Sikhs believe about God?
Q6.Why did Guru Gobind Singh create the Khalsa?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each key word to its correct definition.
all people having the same rights and opportunities.
a community of Sikhs who meet and worship in the gurdwara.
a process of collecting and interpreting data.
Q2.What teaching about women is found in the Guru Granth Sahib?
Q3.What does the British Sikh Report help to show?
Q4.Which Sikh woman fought in a battle and led soldiers in 1705?
Q5.Sikh women are not involved in religious life as much as men.
Q6.Guru Amar Das introduced pangat, allowing men and women to sit together when .
To help you plan your 7 religious education lesson on: Women in Sikhi, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 religious education lesson on: Women in Sikhi, 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 Social justice: how might Sikhs promote equality? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.