Schools - KS 3 & 4 - Religious Education

Plant Cultures has many links with religion and the sacred uses of plants. To get an overview of this, go to the See also links at the bottom of this page. In addition, a search with the words 'symbol' or 'sacred' will supply links to specific sacred plant references and stories.

As local RE curricula vary, this section is based around QCA schemes of work. The Key Stage 2 Celebrations pages include activities around sacred texts, sacred plants and rites of passage / family events which could be adapted for use at Key Stage 3 and 4.

You will also find links to other websites with more detailed texts.
  

Hindu views of the environment

Use Plant Cultures to research Hindu views of the environment, as seen in their sacred texts and sacred plants.

QCA Links

Unit 7E What are we doing to the environment?

Plant symbols

Research Plant Cultures symbols. Most of the plants have a passage on their spiritual connections and uses. As a class activity, collect plant symbols for a database, either in digital or paper form. Collect British plant symbols.

Festivals and celebrations

Look for information about Hindu and Muslim festivals and celebrations on the Plant Cultures site (carry out a search for 'Mehndi', 'Holi' and 'Diwali'). Go to the 'Activities' section for practical guidelines on making Henna and Rangoli designs. Plant Cultures represents a great opportunity to develop global links as described in the Year 9 QCA Unit 14. Not only are there schools in the UK with strong South Asian communities but links could also be made with schools in the Indian sub-continent. The combination of historical links as well as cultural common ground in the form of plants would create many opportunities to base such a link on Plant Cultures.

QCA Links

Unit 8C Beliefs and practice (generic)

Rites of passage

Go to the Life events section of Plant Cultures for information about Muslim and Hindu rites of passage.

There are also many stories and images showing how South Asian celebrations use plants in their celebrations and rituals.

QCA Links

Go to the Life events section of Plant Cultures for information about Muslim and Hindu rites of passage.

There are also many stories and images showing how South Asian celebrations use plants in their celebrations and rituals.

Sacred texts


QCA links

Units 7e and 8c both refer to sacred texts.