Unit title	Year	Background notes
Why is the gurdwara an important place for the Sikh community?	6	This unit should draw on some of the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed in a set of previous RE units: those relating to the church building (Year 2), the Hindu mandir (Year 3), the synagogue (Year 4), and the mosque (Year 5). At various times, pupils should also already have been given the opportunity to think about the role of special places in their own lives. This unit focuses on the gurdwara which, in the Sikh community, is more than ‘just’ a place of worship. It is also a place of meeting, eating and learning. Teachers will need to explore the gurdwara in its own distinctiveness rather than ‘simply’ seeing it as a Sikh version of a church building, for example. Schools are encouraged to visit a gurdwara in order to show its place in the lives of Sikhs today: there are two gurdwaras in Redbridge, both of which welcome visitors. Some schools have experimented with turning part of a classroom into a gurdwara (see the video programme which has been produced to support the Foundation Stage). Notice how this plan gives all pupils the opportunity to relate what they are learning to their own lives and experiences. In the last suggested activity, it also gives them an opportunity to apply what they have learned. As such, this activity could be used for assessment purposes.

Key questions	Concept/s	Learning outcomes	Suggested activities	Resources
What is an importance place for you and why?	Special place Significant buildings	To understand that places can have a special significance for different people or groups.	· Brainstorm places that are special in pupils' lives · Class focus on why the school is important to them, eg learning, making friends, sharing	Pictures of special places (eg for the teacher or learning support assistant)
What does the gurdwara mean to Sikhs?	Gurdwara as 'door to the Guru’ Prayer/worship Sewa Langar Community Oneness of God Equality	To understand how the gurdwara expresses many Sikh beliefs and customs To understand the importance of sewa (devotional service) to Sikhs To understand how langar (communal kitchen) reflects Sikh beliefs about sharing, equality and openness to all	· Interview Sikh visitors about what the gurdwara means to them · Collect pictures of gurdwaras around the world · Watch schools video programme that shows worship at a gurdwara · Plan a visit to a gurdwara and discuss rules, expectations · Go on visit and produce a personal response (writing, drawings, tape, web page) about the experience	Tape of Sikh kirtan (devotional singing) BBC ‘Pathways to Belief ‘ video on Sikhism Internet sites (see below) Sikh visitor/s
What special role does the Guru Granth Sahib have in the gurdwara?	Holy book as a teacher Respect Ritual	To understand why the Sikh's holy book is treated as a special person To be able to explain how and why Sikhs honour their sacred book	· Before visit, in groups write questions about the Guru Granth Sahib (eg What is in it? How big is it? How is it treated?) · On return, write a group book of questions and answers which will help other pupils who are going on a trip to a gurdwara	BBC ‘Pathways to Belief’ Video on Sikhism Internet sites (see below) Posters
How can a room show the beliefs of people who use it?	Beliefs Symbolism Ritual Design	To be able to demonstrate awareness of key aspects of a special place To be able to demonstrate understanding of how physical things (such as rituals and symbols) point to underlying beliefs and ideas	Group task: Think of an imaginary community/group and then: · design/make a special room that reflects the beliefs and culture of the community that uses it · design a symbol to be used in the room (and be able to explain its symbolism) · list a range of rules and rituals for people who use it (and the reasons behind them) Presentation/display by each of the groups	Magazines Internet sites

Notes on relevant websites

www.re.leonet.co.uk (Redbridge RE Network website Pictures of High Road Gurdwara (coming soon)

www.sikhnet.com especially http://www.sikh.net/Gurdwara/

http://www.geocities.com/gurdwaraworld/gurd1.html Pictures of gurdwaras around the world

http://www.gurbani.org/kirtan.htm Devotional songs (Real Player needs to be loaded)

http://www.proudtobesikh.com/ Sikh music and Radio Stations

http://www.sikhs.org/granth.htm Background for teachers/gifted and talented pupils

Glossary of Sikh terms used in the planning grid

Gurdwara	Sikh place of worship. Literally ‘door to the Guru’ (in Panjabi, dwara = door).
Guru	Teacher. In Sikhism, this title is reserved for the ten human Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Granth Sahib	The Sikh sacred book which was compiled by the fifth human Guru, Arjan and given its final form by the tenth human Guru, Gobind Singh. The word Guru means teacher, Granth means book, Sahib is a term of honour.
Ik Oankar	Two Panjabi words meaning “There is only one (ik = one) God”, the opening words of a famous Sikh prayer called the Mool Mantar. Ik Oankar in Panjabi script is used as a symbol to decorate Sikh objects (eg the canopy over the holy book).
Karah parshad	Sanctified food (made from flour and ghee, clarified butter) distributed at Sikh ceremonies as a gift and as a sign of equality.
Kirtan	The singing of devotion hymns.
Langar	Pronounced lung-ur. Literally ‘Guru’s kitchen’. The gurdwara dining area and food served in it. People ‘taking langar’ together expresses the key Sikh belief that all are equal.
Sewa	Pronounced say-va. Service directed at the Sikh gurdwara and community (eg serving food in the langar), but also at humanity in general.

Please note: Much valuable background information (including addresses of local gurdwaras) can be found in Redbridge SACRE briefing paper 3, Sikh Appearance and Identity