Unit title	Year	Background notes
Why are the ten Gurus special for Sikhs?	6	In this unit, pupils will learn about the role of the ten human Gurus as spiritual teachers, having considered what makes a good teacher and learner. They will look at stories and episodes in the lives of some of the Gurus, and finally explore the events at Anandpur in 1699, when Guru Gobind Singh called together the Sikh community and founded the Khalsa, the brotherhood of Sikhs. This work builds on stories about Guru Nanak told during Foundation Stage and Year 1. There are opportunities within the unit to show how values can be communicated through architecture, using the Golden Temple as a stimulus. In also providing the opportunity for pupils to write a story that exemplifies the good qualities of a teacher, there are links with both literacy and the striving of many schools to become self-reviewing learning communities. Redbridge SACRE briefing paper 3, Sikh Appearance and Identity, is an invaluable support for this unit.

Key questions	Concept/s	Learning outcomes	Suggested activities	Resources
What makes a special teacher and a good learner?	Teacher Learner Guru Dedication Inspiration Guidance	To be able to evaluate what makes a good teacher and a good learner	· Share in pairs what makes a good teacher and a good learner. Report back to the class. What are the differences between the qualities in a good teacher and the qualities in a good learner? · Write an advertisement for a special teacher. Imagine it is for a school that has had lots of problems, so it needs a good teacher to help. List the qualities that the children would like from their teacher · Introduce the word guru as important to Sikhs, meaning a teacher who teaches people about God and how to live their lives	Agreed Syllabus 3.7-3.8
Who was Guru Nanak and why is he significant for Sikhs?	Guru Wisdom Symbolism Special quality Admiration Goodness	To understand the importance of Guru Nanak to Sikhs To be able to explain what makes people special	· Explain that Sikhs honour ten Gurus, the Ten Gurus: men who lived in the Panjab region of India between the 1400s and 1700s. The first was Guru Nanak, the fifth Guru Arjan and the last Guru Gobind Singh · Look at a picture or poster of Guru Nanak. What does the image tell you about him? Focus on the light around him, his raised hand, perhaps symbols such as Ik Oankar (One God) on his hand, his kind expression · Explain some facts about Guru Nanak: where and when he lived and why he is special to Sikhs · Read a story eg Guru Nanak and the holy men* and discuss the qualities that he shows in the story · Complete the sheet 'The person I admire the most'** · Read the story about the Guru bathing in the river***. Split children into pairs to retell the story to each other. Listen to some of the retellings. Discuss what messages about the importance of Guru Nanak that Sikhs might see in the story · Read the story of Malik Bhago and Lalo**** and brainstorm as a class the messages that they feel there are in the story. What is Guru Nanak teaching about life? Use questions***** to explore story the levels of meaning within the story · Rewrite the story, set it as a play or write a poem about the themes of the story · Put the work on Guru Nanak together in a special class book	Poster of the Ten Gurus Picture of Guru Nanak Quest animated story of Guru Nanak Scholastic Curriculum Bank, Bk 2, pp14-15, 112*, 113** Scholastic Curriculum Bank, Bk 1, p156*** Scholastic Curriculum Bank, Bk 2, p114****, p17***** Guru Nanak by E Nesbitt & G Kaur (RMEP, ISBN 1-851-75-192-0)
Who built the Golden Temple and why was it designed the way it was?	Equality Devotion Symbolism Design Pilgrimage	To understand the significance of the Golden Temple of Amritsar to Sikhs To understand how a building can convey values	· Show some pictures of the Golden Temple and talk about any first impressions of the building. Write down any questions · Give a brief description of the history of the Golden Temple, which was built by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, and mention some of its features eg idea of building a paradise on earth; a walkway over the holy water, around and into the temple; the structure of the shrine mixing the rectangular form of the Hindu temple with the dome and minarets of the mosque showing harmony; entrances on all four sides symbolising accessibility to all people; built so that you have to step down into it to show humility · Design a community interfaith building for Redbridge. Its architecture must show the values of harmony, understanding and tolerance. It must be a place where all people feel equally respected and comfortable. (The final designs could be sent to Redbridge Council of Faiths for members’ comments)	www.sgpc.net (official site of Golden Temple) Sikh visitor who has been to the Golden Temple of Amritsar The Secretary, Redbridge Council of Faiths, 2 Northbrook Road, Ilford IG1 3BS
What happened when Guru Gobind Singh called Sikhs together in 1699?	Khalsa Brotherhood Identity Symbolism	To understand the significance of the Sikh Baisakhi story To be able to explain the significance of the Five Ks for Sikhs	· What could brotherhood and sisterhood mean? How is the school like a family? How do we show we are linked together as a community in school? · Read the story of Baisakhi* and discuss why Guru Gobind Singh wanted all Sikhs to look the same · Explore the symbolism of the Five Ks (using photocopiable sheet**) · Design a uniform for pupils of Four Trees Infants School or a badge for the school uniform, with a school motto eg ‘Always care, always learn’. Explain the symbolism (eg colour, images)	BBC ‘Pathways to Belief’ video on Sikhism Scholastic Curriculum Bank, Bk 1, pp32-33, 116*, 117**

Useful websites

www.sikhhnet.com Especially the Gallery for beautiful symbols

www.sikhkids.com A website especially for Sikh children

www.sikhs.org

www.sikhcenter.org

www.sgpc.net Official Golden Temple website

http://www.maboli.com/seva/sikhi/index.htm Has a slide show on Sikhism, with slides that could be used for your own Powerpoint presentation

Glossary of Sikh terms used in this planning grid

Amritsar	City in the Panjab region of India where a number of very significant Sikh shrines and buildings can be found, notably the Golden Temple.
Baisakhi	Sikh spring festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur in 1699.
Five Ks	The five symbols that mark out a baptised Sikh. The word for each of the symbols begins with the letter K in the Panjabi language: the kirpan, or sword, a reminder that Sikhs must fight for justice; the kacchera or undergarment, a reminder to be clean-living: the kangha or comb worn in the hair, a reminder to lead a disciplined life; the kesh or uncut hair, to remind Sikhs to lead disciplined lives; and the kara or steel bangle, worn on the right wrist, a reminder that Sikhs must be strong. Even Sikhs who are not baptised will wear some of the Five Ks.
Golden Temple	The Golden Temple is the holiest shrine of the Sikhs, located in Amritsar in the Panjab region of India. Sikhs often refer to it as Har Mandir – the House of God. It is surrounded by a large pool in which pilgrims often bathe.
Guru	The word literally means 'teacher'. In many religions, a guru is a spiritual teacher who gathers disciples. The Sikh religion began with Guru Nanak (1469-1539) after whom there were nine other human Gurus. The tenth Guru, Gobind Singh (1666-1708) said that, after his death, Sikh should regard their holy book as their guru – this is why they call it Guru Granth Sahib - and go to it for teaching and guidance.
Guru Arjan (1563-1606)	The fifth of the ten human Gurus of the Sikh who built the Golden Temple of Amritsar and gathered writing together to form a holy book for Sikhs.
Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)	The tenth and last of the ten human Gurus of the Sikhs. Before he died, he said that from his time onwards Sikhs should regard their holy book as their Guru. At the Baisakhi festival in 1699, he brought into being the Khalsa of baptised Sikhs who were to wear the Five Ks and use the names Kaur and Singh.
Guru Nanak (1469-1539)	The first of the ten human Gurus of the Sikhs.
Ik Oankar	Two Panjabi words meaning “There is only one (ik) God and Creator (Oankar)". This is the first line of Guru Nanak’s prayer called the Mool Mantar which is recited by every Khalsa Sikh each morning and has been called the creed of the Sikhs. The Panjabi lettering for Ik Oankar acts as a symbol for Sikhs and can be seen in the gurdwara, on badges, and so on.
Kacchera	Pronounced kucheera. Undergarment, one of the Five Ks.
Kanga	Pronounced kunga. Wooden comb, one of the Five Ks.
Kara	Pronounced kura. Steel wrist band worn on the right wrist, one of the Five Ks.
Kaur	Pronounced core. Name, meaning ‘princess’, used by Sikh women after their personal name.
Kesh	Uncut hair, one of the Five Ks.
Khalsa	'The Pure Ones', the brotherhood of baptised Sikhs.
Khanda	Pronounced kunda. This is a familiar Sikh symbol which consists of one double-edged sword, two curved swords and a circle.
Kirpan	Pronounced keer-parn. The single-bladed sword, one of the Five Ks.
Panjab	Literally, the ‘land of the five (panj) rivers’. The region of north-west India in which the Sikh religion began. The Panjab was divided between India and Pakistan in 1947.
Singh	Name, meaning ‘lion’, used by Sikh men after their personal name.