Appendix 8 - Non-statutory Guidance Lower KS2

Statutory Enquiries with suggested non-statutory key questions

1. How and why do people worship? (Worship)

• What is most important to me in my life? (Things, people, ideas, feelings, beliefs)
• How do I express my feelings and beliefs about what I think is important in my life?
• What do religious people do in their worship? Why do they do this?
• Why are beliefs and attitudes important?
• How does worship express different beliefs about God, humans and the world?
• What do believers gain from worshipping on their own (privately) and with other people (in the home or place of worship)?
• How does worship influence their lives?
• How do we show what is most important in our lives and how might this influence how we live and affect other people?

2. Are places of worship really needed? (Religious buildings)

• What different kinds of buildings are there in the local communities? What are they for?
• How do the features of these buildings help them to fulfil their purpose?
• What are the places of worship in the religions called and how are they used?
• What features are found in the different places of worship and what are they used for?
• What role do places of worship play in the lives of the individuals and faith communities?
• How do these places help believers feel closer to God and understand life better?
• What are the differences between private and collective worship? How might believers benefit from each? Do they need to have a public place of worship?
• Why is it important for people to have public buildings in the community? Why not just have homes?
• How important is it for people to have somewhere to go to be on their own? Why?

3. What holds communities together? (Religion in the community)

• What is it like to belong to our class? Our school? What responsibilities do different people in the school have?
• How can belonging to a religion influence the lives of the faith communities?
• How do religious communities live out their beliefs and actions in the wider world?
• What beliefs do the different religions share in common and how are they different?
• What does it mean to be a Christian, a Hindu or a Muslim's religion important in the community? Why/why not?
• How does being part of a community influence people’s actions, choices and behaviour?
• How can different people and groups live together in communities (local, national, global)?

4. How do religions express their beliefs about God? (Symbolism)

• What does our school badge or motto say about us?
• What is important to me and how can I express my deeply held feelings and beliefs?
• What is the difference between a sign and a symbol? What symbols are important to you?
• What do some religions believe about God?
• How do they express these beliefs through art, language, rituals and symbols?
• How do symbols and language express deep ideas, beliefs and feelings?

5. Why are sacred texts and holy books so important? (Sacred Texts)

• What is your favourite book or story? What are books for and how do we use them?
• How do stories help us understand how we should behave/live our lives?
• What is a sacred text? What sacred texts are important in the religions? How did they come into existence?
• What beliefs about God are expressed in the sacred texts?
• What do different sacred texts say about what it means to be a person?
• What rules for living are found in different sacred texts?
• How might religious people interpret their sacred texts differently?
• How might non-religious people interpret sacred texts? How do they know what their rules for living are?
• Do people need to believe in God in order to be good?

6. What do our celebrations show about what we think is important in life? (Festivals)

• What things do we celebrate? Why? How do we celebrate?
• How do celebrations show what is important in our lives?
• Why do we usually celebrate with other people and not just on our own?
• What are some of the main festivals in the religions?
• How do festivals express important beliefs and events in each religion?
• What value do religious festivals have in the lives of individuals and communities?
• What are the similarities and differences between secular and religious celebrations?
• What makes something worth celebrating?

What can we learn from this about what people think is really important in life?