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7th grade · Social Studies · Unit 3 of 11

World Beliefs

Origins of major belief systems

What your child practices

Where and when major religions and philosophies began (Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Christianity, Islam), their key figures, texts and ideas, described respectfully and factually.

Alaska content standards learning standard: SS.7.2.18.2; SS.7.3.7.1 · the world's major religions and how religion and politics connected in early societies

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Link each belief system to where it began: Judaism, Christianity and Islam in Southwest Asia; Hinduism and Buddhism in South Asia.
  2. Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto began in East Asia.
  3. Know key figures and texts: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddhism), Jesus (Christianity), the Torah (Judaism).

Example: Which belief system is linked with Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha? Siddhartha Gautama is known as the Buddha. His teachings became Buddhism. Answer: Buddhism

World Beliefs in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 3 of 11 in 7th grade Social Studies, after Where Civilizations Grew and before Trade Networks.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Where did each belief system begin? Sort them by region.

    Sort into: ⛰️ South Asia · 🏯 East Asia · 🏜️ Southwest Asia

    • 🕌Islam
    • 📜Confucianism
    • 🛕Hinduism
    • ☸️Buddhism
    • ☯️Daoism
    • 🕍Judaism

  2. Question 2

    Daoism teaches people to live in harmony with…

    ☯️
    • the laws of the Roman Senate
    • the Dao, the natural way of the universe
    • the pharaoh's commands
    • the rules of the marketplace

  3. Question 3

    Which Roman emperor supported Christianity and agreed to the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, granting religious freedom?

    • Julius Caesar
    • Hadrian
    • Constantine
    • Augustus

  4. Question 4

    What does 'polytheism' mean?

    • belief in ancestors only
    • belief in many gods
    • belief in no gods
    • belief in one God

  5. Question 5

    Judaism was one of the first religions to teach…

    🕍
    • that there are no gods
    • belief in one God (monotheism)
    • belief in many gods (polytheism)
    • that the Sun was the only god

  6. Question 6

    Hinduism and Buddhism both include the idea of karma. What is karma?

    • A yearly harvest festival
    • The idea that a person's actions affect their future
    • A holy river
    • A type of temple

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