Learning Activity

Show and Tell with World Religions

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

8

Overview

In this learning activity, students will identify the origins, development, influence, key tenets, and cultural contributions of an early world religion (Judaism, Greek and Roman gods, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam) in an online storyboard. They will use StoryboardThat to develop a comic strip detailing the early religion and its cultural contributions.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX  Resource Development Summit.

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 8

SS10.8.3

Compare the development of early world religions and philosophies and their key tenets.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.8.3

Vocabulary

  • Judaism
  • Diaspora
  • covenant
  • Greek gods
  • Hinduism
  • Buddhism
  • Roman gods
  • oracle
  • Confucianism
  • Daoism
  • Legalism
  • Islam
  • Christianity
  • Zen
  • prophets
  • messiah
  • disciple
  • apostle
  • Darma
  • Karma
  • monotheism
  • polytheism
  • meditation
  • reincarnation
  • excommunicate
  • monastery
  • doctrine
  • parable
  • philosophies
  • tenets

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The origins, development, influence, spread, and cultural contributions of Judaism, Greek and Roman gods, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify locations on a map or globe.
  • Use maps to support conclusions about cultural groups.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The history, key tenets, and beliefs of early world religions and philosophies have influenced regional and world history.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

The students will be able to:

  • identify cultural contributions of early world religions and philosophies.
  • create a digital comic strip using digital tools

Activity Details

Students will use the website storyboardthat.com to create a cartoon that highlights the development of early world religions, their philosophies, and their key tenets.

Students and teachers can use the StoryboardThat quick guide to get a step by step process of how to create a storyboard: quick guide.  

Students will choose one of the major early world religions:  Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Taoism, and Greek and Roman gods. 

Students will create a storyboard detailing the following information about their chosen religion: 

  1. Who founded it and how it was founded
  2. When and where the religion became popular
  3. The main beliefs of the religion
  4. The holy book and philosophies that are the foundation of their chosen religion
  5. How and why did this religion spread
  6. The impact of this religion on world history and culture from their country of origin

  Each question should be a different storyboard panel.   

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

The cartoons will be the assessment tool.  The teacher can check that the content represents the origins, development, influence, spread, and cultural contributions of early world religions, using the storyboard rubric. 

Variation Tips

You might want to consider setting up one StoryboardThat account and allow your kids access. Information can be found on www.storyboardthat.com

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Previous instruction on the major world religions that they will study. Provide articles or web links for research purposes. Make sure students can access StoryboardThat.

Digital Tools / Resources

Storyboard That
https://www.storyboardthat.com/account/logonforclassroom?ReturnUrl=/classroom/j…

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

myraharris
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