Special Places and Worship

Overview

This 60-minute lesson introduces Year 2 students to the concept of places of worship, fulfilling the Religious Education requirements as set out in the National Curriculum for England. The lesson focuses on understanding what makes a place special, what worship means, and recognising some common places of worship across world religions.

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National Curriculum Links

Key Stage 1: Religious Education

• Pupils should be introduced to the word ‘worship’ and develop awareness of different places used for worship and what happens there (The Agreed Syllabus for RE, England).
• Pupils learn to express their own experiences and feelings about special places.
• Understand that some places are special to different people and religious communities.
• Develop respect and curiosity towards diversity.

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Learning Objectives (LO)

• To know what a place of worship is.
• To understand the meaning of worship.
• To be able to name and talk about some examples of places of worship.

What I’m Looking For (WILF)

• I can talk about a place that is special to me.
• I know what worship is.
• I can name and talk about some examples of places of worship.

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Resources Needed

• Large pictures or printed flashcards of various places of worship (church, mosque, synagogue, temple, gurdwara).
• A large world map to locate these places of worship geographically.
• A small box/bag with item cards (e.g., prayer mat, candle, prayer book, prayer beads).
• Paper, crayons, or markers for drawing activity.
• ‘Special Place’ drawing sheets (template showing a room with space to draw a special place).
• Music: short audio of calming worship music from different faiths (optional).

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction and Engagement (10 minutes)

• Circle Time Discussion:

  • Ask students to think about a place that is special to them (e.g., their bedroom, garden, a grandparent’s house).
  • Prompt with questions: What makes this place special? How do you feel there?
  • Share a couple of examples from the teacher or classmates to model language.

• Introduce ‘Place of Worship’:

  • Explain simply: "A place of worship is a special place where people go to pray or think about their beliefs."
  • Explain what the word ‘worship’ means, e.g., "People worship to show respect, love, or thanks to something important in their life, often God or a higher power."

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2. Teaching and Exploration (15 minutes)

• Place of Worship Flashcard Introduction:

  • Show each picture flashcard of a place of worship: church, mosque, synagogue, temple, gurdwara.
  • For each, say the name clearly, show the location on the world map, and mention a simple fact about what happens there (e.g., special prayers, festivals).

• Interactive Group Q&A:

  • “Have you seen or visited any of these places?”
  • “What do you think people do when they go to these places?”

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3. Practical Game – ‘Find the Special Place’ (20 minutes)

• Setup: Place flashcards of places of worship around the classroom.
• Instructions:
  • Each student picks an item card related to worship (e.g., candle, prayer mat).
  • One by one, they walk to the place of worship in the classroom that matches their item and explain why they think their item belongs there (with help if needed).
  • Example: “I have a prayer mat, so I think this belongs at the mosque.”
• Extension: Students can place their item near the flashcard, helping visual and kinaesthetic learning.

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4. Creative Expression (10 minutes)

• Drawing Activity:

  • Give each student the ‘Special Place’ sheet.
  • Ask them to draw their own special place or a place of worship they learned about today.
  • Encourage them to label or describe one thing that makes this place special.

• Sharing:

  • Invite volunteers to briefly explain their drawings and why their place is special.

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5. Assessment and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Oral Assessment:
  • Quickfire questions addressing WILF, e.g.:
    • “Can you name a place of worship?”
    • “What is worship?”
    • “Tell me about your special place.”
• Self-Assessment:
  • Each student says one new thing they learned today.

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Differentiation

• For students who need support: Provide sentence starters and one-to-one help during the game.
• For higher ability students: Encourage them to explain more about what happens at a place of worship or name festivals associated with it.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• Geography: Locating countries on the map where these religions are practiced.
• Art: Drawing and labelling special places.
• PSHE: Expressing feelings about special spaces and learning respect for diversity.

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Assessment Evidence

• Participation in discussion and game.
• Oral answers during assessment questions.
• Drawings showing understanding of ‘special place’.

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Reflection for Teachers:
This lesson encourages personal connection and awareness of cultural diversity through interactive and creative means, aligning fully with the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 focus on spiritual, moral, social and cultural development as laid out in the National Curriculum. The practical game ensures kinaesthetic engagement, helping students internalise the concepts by doing rather than just listening.