New
New
Lesson 2 of 4
  • Year 11

Divergent funeral rites

I can compare some of the key decisions made about funerals and some of the beliefs that may influence these.

Lesson 2 of 4
New
New
  • Year 11

Divergent funeral rites

I can compare some of the key decisions made about funerals and some of the beliefs that may influence these.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. How a body is treated after death varies widely between religions, worldviews and cultures.
  2. For many people it is important to honour and mourn loved ones.
  3. One decision to be made is between burial or cremation.
  4. Some religions believe a burial is preferable due to the physical body being required for resurrection.
  5. Followers of Dharmic traditions are typically cremated and ashes scattered in water.

Keywords

  • Buried / burial - the act or ceremony of putting a dead body into a grave in the ground

  • Cremated / cremation - the act or process of burning something

  • Funeral - a ceremony that is held when the body of someone who has died is buried or cremated

  • Memorial - a statue or structure established to remind people of a person or event

Common misconception

More people are buried in the UK than cremated.

Data from 2024 shows that 80% of UK funerals were cremations.


To help you plan your year 11 religious education lesson on: Divergent funeral rites, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

A video has been embedded within this lesson. The video provides context and shows how a range of religious and non-religious worldviews deal with the body after death. It would be great to use this as a lesson prompt and then revisit sections throughout the lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive 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

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Why do different people have different views about what happens after death?

because science explains it fully
Correct answer: because cultures and beliefs differ
because everyone agrees

Q2.
Humanists believe there is only this ...

Correct Answer: life, Life

Q3.
What happens after death in Abrahamic religions?

disappearance
liberation from samsara
Correct answer: judgement by God

Q4.
Which religions teach reincarnation?

Correct answer: Hinduism and Buddhism
Christianity and Islam
Judaism only

Q5.
Dharmic faiths teach that actions create ...

Correct Answer: karma, Karma

Q6.
Some non-religious people believe in life after ...

Correct Answer: death, Death

Assessment exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Burial usually involves ...

preserving ashes at home
scattering ashes
Correct answer: placing the body in a grave

Q2.
Jewish burials often take place within hours.

Correct Answer: 24, twenty-four, twenty four

Q3.
Why might Christians choose a headstone?

financial reasons
Correct answer: to create a lasting memorial
decoration only

Q4.
Eco funerals reflect concern for the ...

Correct Answer: environment, Environment

Q5.
What percentage of UK funerals are cremations?

30%
Correct answer: 80%
95%

Q6.
Hindus may scatter ashes in the River ...

Correct Answer: Ganges, ganges