This lesson plan falls within World History (Modern), Religion, Sociology and Cultural Anthropology strands.

Develop an understanding of the religion and cultures of Buddhism; describe the significant ideas of Buddhism; identify examples of religious influence in daily life.

Around 530 B.C.E., a young Hindu prince named Siddhartha Gautama challenged the beliefs of India when he said that even a lowborn person could become enlightened and be released from the cycle of reincarnation in just one lifetime. The Buddha, as Siddhartha came to be known, taught that by seeking the Middle Way between asceticism and materialism and following the 8-Fold Path, a person could achieve Enlightenment and end suffering and selfishness. Over the next 500 years, Buddhism spread from India to China and throughout much of the rest of Asia along the Silk Road. Over the centuries, Buddhism has been one of the major influences in Asian societies. It remains a vibrant faith today, even in the face of periodic governmental repression.

2 class periods

• Student Activity Sheet
• Concept Map Graphic Organizer
• Performance Rubric

Students have the opportunity to write an Analytical Essay (see Extension below).

What impact has the Buddhist religion had on people's daily lives in Asia? How does the practice of this religion vary from country to country?

Synthesize Students will participate in group presentations in which they share with the class different aspects of Buddhist life. Group members will research the ways in which Buddhism has influenced education, gender roles, and family life, among other topics.

Have students research the topic using the provided links. Encourage them to use the suggested graphic organizer, as they read the articles.

Worshipers at the Dabei (Great Mercy) Temple, in Tianjin, on the first day of the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year's Day) 1998. The burning of sticks of incense, which many worshipers are holding, is not only a part of Buddhist rituals but also of ancestor worship and most other commemorative rituals. Courtesy of Thomas DuBois.

Buddhist monks receiving alms. (Courtesy of Tourism Authority of Thailand)

To start students thinking about the impact of Buddhism on daily life, have them examine the photographs.

Key questions students should answer are:

• What Buddhist values are being depicted in these photographs?
• What purpose might these rituals and holidays serve?

Distribute the Student Activity sheet. Have students work in groups to conduct their research. Tell students they will write speeches introducing different aspects of Buddhist life to the class.

Assign topics to each group of students, reminding them to consider the impact of each on daily life.

• Morality
• Education
• Pilgrimages and Festivals
• Family Life
• Women
• Food
• Business and Trade
• Temples and Prayer

Explain to students that each group member will write an engaging, fact-filled speech addressing an assigned topic. Group members will then compile their speeches to make a 5-7 minute presentation to the class.

Use the Performance Rubric to assess the students' performance. Have students reflect on their performance and use the list of expectations to judge how well they met the criteria.

Ask students: What are the greatest differences in how Buddhism is practiced in these countries?

Have students use World Cultures Today to research and write an analytical essay about the cultural influence of Confucianism on the daily life of East Asians.