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6th grade · Social Studies · Unit 5 of 15

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.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 6.4a; 6.4b; 6.4c · where and when Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism began, their founders, teachings and holy texts

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Judaism and Christianity began in Southwest Asia; Hinduism and Buddhism in South Asia; Confucianism and Daoism in East Asia.
  2. Christianity follows Jesus of Nazareth. Karma (Hinduism, Buddhism) means actions affect your future. Daoism seeks harmony with the Dao.
  3. Constantine's Edict of Milan (313 CE) granted religious freedom.

Example: Where did Confucianism begin? Confucius was a teacher in ancient China. China is in East Asia. Answer: East Asia

World Beliefs in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 5 of 15 in 6th grade Social Studies, after Ancient India & China and before Greece & Rome.

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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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

    The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are central teachings of which belief system?

    • Judaism
    • Islam
    • Confucianism
    • Buddhism

  2. Question 2

    Christianity is based on the life and teachings of…

    ⛪
    • Jesus of Nazareth
    • Siddhartha Gautama
    • Hammurabi
    • Confucius

  3. Question 3

    What does 'polytheism' mean?

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

  4. Question 4

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

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

    • 📜Confucianism
    • 🕌Islam
    • ⛪Christianity
    • 🛕Hinduism
    • ☸️Buddhism
    • ⛩️Shinto

  5. Question 5

    Daoism teaches people to live in harmony with…

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

  6. Question 6

    Which statement about these ancient belief systems is true?

    • All of them disappeared long ago
    • They were all started by the same person
    • None of them influenced art or law
    • Many are still practiced by millions of people around the world today

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