Buddhist temples in Britain and globally
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the role and significance of Buddhist temples in Britain and globally.
Key learning points
- According to the 2021 Census, 272,508 individuals in England and Wales identified as Buddhist.
- Some Buddhist temples and monasteries (viharas) in the United Kingdom are purpose-built, but the majority are adapted.
- Temples hold significant importance in the UK, serving as places of belonging.
- In nations with large Buddhist populations, temples often play a central role in daily life.
Keywords
Bhikkhu - a Buddhist monk
Monastery (vihara) - a building that houses monks and nuns; it may have space for study, as well as accommodation
Temple - a structure/building for religious or spiritual activities, such as meditation
Common misconception
All Buddhist temples and monasteries (viharas) are purpose-built.
Many Buddhist temples and monasteries in the UK are buildings that were originally used for something else.
Teacher tip
Ask pupils to research the nearest Buddhist temple or monastery. Find out the history of the building and which Buddhist tradition it belongs to.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the word 'dukkha' refer to in Buddhism?
Q2.Which of the following is not one of the Five Moral Precepts?
Q3.What is the goal of a Buddhist following the Eightfold Path?
Q4.What is anicca?
Q5.Which scripture contains the teachings of the Buddha?
Q6.What is the significance of the story of Prince Siddhartha seeing the Four Sights?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A bhikkhu is a Buddhist who has committed to the path of the Buddha.
Q2.Temples are important for Buddhists all over the .
Q3.Why are Buddhist temples important in the UK today?
Q4.What is the significance of the Buddhapadipa temple?
Q5.What helped Buddhism reach Britain in the 19th century?
Q6.True or false? All Buddhist temples and monasteries are purpose-built.
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Buddhist temples in Britain and globally, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Buddhist temples in Britain and globally, 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 4 religious education lessons from the Buddhism: Practices unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.