8th grade · Social Studies · Unit 2 of 7
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.
Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 8.4.19.2 · the variety of religious and spiritual beliefs in the world
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Monotheism is belief in one God; polytheism is belief in many gods.
- Judaism was one of the first religions to teach monotheism; Christianity and Islam also teach belief in one God.
- Hinduism began in South Asia. Buddhism teaches the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Example: The ancient Greeks honored Zeus, Athena and many others. Is this monotheism or polytheism? Mono means one; poly means many. The Greeks honored many gods. That is polytheism. Answer: polytheism
World Beliefs in Minnesota
In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 2 of 7 in 8th grade Social Studies, after Human Rights Around the World and before Maps, Graphs & Data.
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.
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which statement about these ancient belief systems is true?
- All of them disappeared long ago
- Many are still practiced by millions of people around the world today
- None of them influenced art or law
- They were all started by the same person
Many are still practiced by millions of people around the world today
Hint: Religions and philosophies from this period still shape holidays, values, laws and art today.
Question 2
Confucius taught that society works best when…
📜- there are no rulers at all
- people worship only one god
- everyone lives alone in the wilderness
- people respect family and elders, and rulers govern with good character
people respect family and elders, and rulers govern with good character
Hint: Confucius focused on proper relationships, education, duty and leading by example.
Question 3
Judaism was one of the first religions to teach…
🕍- belief in many gods (polytheism)
- that there are no gods
- that the Sun was the only god
- belief in one God (monotheism)
belief in one God (monotheism)
Hint: 'Mono' means one and 'theos' means god.
Question 4
Islam began in the early 600s CE, when the Prophet Muhammad began preaching in which city?
🕌- Athens, in Greece
- Babylon, in Mesopotamia
- Rome, in Italy
- Mecca, in Arabia
Mecca, in Arabia
Hint: Mecca is in the Arabian Peninsula. Today, millions of Muslims travel there each year.
Question 5
The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are central teachings of which belief system?
- Judaism
- Confucianism
- Buddhism
- Islam
Buddhism
Hint: The Buddha taught these as a way to understand suffering and live a balanced life.
Question 6
Where did each belief system begin? Sort them by region.
Sort into: ⛰️ South Asia · 🏯 East Asia · 🏜️ Southwest Asia
- 📜Confucianism
- ⛩️Shinto
- ☸️Buddhism
- 🕍Judaism
- ⛪Christianity
- 🛕Hinduism
⛰️ South Asia: Buddhism, Hinduism · 🏯 East Asia: Confucianism, Shinto · 🏜️ Southwest Asia: Judaism, Christianity
Hint: Hinduism and Buddhism began in South Asia. Confucianism, Daoism and Shinto began in East Asia. Judaism, Christianity and Islam began in Southwest Asia (the Middle East).