Students explore the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. They learn the origins, beliefs, important people, and key features. They compare and contrast the two religions. Finally, they learn about the holiday Diwali and consider what it might be like to participate in such a celebration.
Students are introduced to Hinduism and Buddhism and view the Hinduism and Buddhism segments of the video The Five Major World Religions. They then post a question they have about either religion in a shared class table, ensuring that each question is unique.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson overview and objectives, then play the specified segments of the video. Prompt students to generate thoughtful questions about Hinduism and Buddhism, and plan to revisit these questions at the end of the lesson to check which have been answered.
Students read Beliefs of Hinduism and Principal deities of Hinduism to learn about Hinduism’s history, core beliefs, and major gods. They use a three-column table to record key concepts and beliefs, important deities and people, and other significant facts about Hinduism.
Teacher MovesEnsure students understand the main ideas from the readings, including core beliefs such as karma and reincarnation and the roles of principal deities. Model or explain how to organize information in the table, and facilitate discussion to clarify misconceptions and deepen understanding.
Students watch The Philosophy of the Buddha and read Introduction to Buddhism, then take notes in a table on key Buddhist concepts and beliefs, important figures, and other facts. Using their notes on both religions, they post a response describing elements that Hinduism and Buddhism share and then discuss their ideas with the class.
Teacher MovesGuide students in identifying and recording essential Buddhist beliefs and figures, checking for understanding. Lead a class discussion that surfaces similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism, such as shared ideas about reincarnation and karma, and help students begin to compare and contrast the two traditions using evidence from their notes.
Students watch Diwali: Festival of Lights and read Diwali to learn how the Hindu festival of Diwali is celebrated in India and beyond. Drawing on these resources, they write a diary entry from the perspective of someone attending Diwali for the first time, describing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of the celebration.
Teacher MovesClarify how Diwali connects to Hindu beliefs while also being celebrated widely across India. Support students in using sensory details and accurate information from the resources in their diary entries, and share selected examples with the class to prompt discussion about religious festivals and cultural traditions.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
©2026 Exploros. All rights reserved.