Big Questions
Humans have been asking ‘big’ questions for millennia: ‘How did the world come to be?’, ‘What happens after we die?’ and ‘Is there a meaning to life and, if so, what is it?’, to name just three. Many such questions are central to religions and worldviews, meaning that RE is a natural place to explore big questions and responses to them with pupils.
Primary-aged pupils can be encouraged to be excellent young philosophers: this book covers a number of topics from personal identity to the concept of peace, and provides strategies to embark on and develop philosophical enquiries, which are popular in many primary classrooms.
Activities within this book allow pupils aged from 4–11 to explore various big questions in a range of ways.
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Big Questions Unit 1: Ready Steady REIntroduction to key concepts in religious education, fostering engagement and critical thinking.
External links
- ExternalToilet twinning
e-Resources
- Internal
Illustrations of Hannah, Grace, ImranIllustrations of diverse characters for RE lessons on empathy and values. - Internal
Outline drawings of schoolchildrenSchoolchildren Drawings RE resource. A structured tool for exploring identity, self-expression, and belonging in religious education.
Member Only Content
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- Internal
Abigail gets BaptisedStory of Abigail's baptism, highlighting its significance in the Christian faith. - Internal
The Good Samaritan KS1 (home learning)A home learning resource on the Good Samaritan for KS1 students, focusing on kindness, compassion, and applying the lessons of love in daily life. - Internal
Big Questions Unit 2: Exploring identityExploring identity in religious education, encourages aging personal reflection and understanding.
External Links
- ExternalHumanists UK website
- ExternalThe Planet in our Eyes (2004) by Andra-Alida Baban from the Global Art Project (for Activities 3 and 6)
- ExternalHow we should treat others - a film from RE Matters, Westhill and NASACRE on YouTube (Activity 5)
- ExternalThe Peace Book by Todd Parr (Little, Brown 2009) for Activity 3
eResources
- Internal
Patchwork thinking gamePatchwork Thinking Game RE resource. A structured tool for promoting critical thinking about religious beliefs and worldviews.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal
Patchwork thinking game – teacher instructionsPatchwork Thinking Game Instructions RE resource. A structured guide for educators on facilitating interactive learning about religion. - Internal
Peace quotation cardsPeace Quotation Cards RE resource. A structured tool for exploring religious and ethical teachings on peace through key quotations. - Internal
Big Questions Unit 3: What if everyone was peaceful?Reflection on peace across cultures and religions, fostering critical thinking in RE.
e-Resources
- Internal
STARS frameworkThe STARS framework for primary RE, offering a structured approach to guide students through critical religious and philosophical questions with reflection and discussion. - Internal
How to run philosophical enquiry in classGuide for conducting philosophical enquiries in primary RE classes.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal
Finding philosophical questionsGuide to identifying and exploring philosophical questions in RE. - Internal
What is philosophical enquiry and what is notGuide on distinguishing philosophical enquiry from other question types. - Internal
Big Questions Unit 4: Philosophical thinkingencourages aging philosophical thinking in religious education, promoting engagement with fundamental questions.
External Links
- ExternalClip from BBC's My Life, My Religion: Hindus about the cycle of birth and rebirth
- ExternalCruse bereavement charity: resources for schools
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal
What do young British Hindus say about life after death?Explore different interpretations of God across religions, examining how views on God shape religious practices and worldviews. - Internal
Reflections on samsaraA primary RE resource on samsara, using questions and reflective activities to explore Hindu beliefs about life, death, and rebirth. - Internal
Hindu beliefs quizQuiz on Hindu beliefs for primary students learning about Hindu teachings. - Internal
Life is a circleResource on the cyclical nature of life, exploring birth, life, death, and rebirth across cultures and religions. - Internal
Life is a circle: illustration and text boxesExamining life ís cyclical nature, exploring rebirth, continuity, and interconnectedness in various cultures and religions. - Internal
Big Questions Unit 5: What do Hindus believe happens when you die?Exploration of Hindu beliefs about death and its spiritual significance.
External links
e-Resources
- Internal
My worldviewMy Worldview RE resource. A structured learning tool for exploring personal beliefs, values, and worldviews. - Internal
Parts of a religionParts of a Religion RE resource. A structured tool for analyzing key components of different religious traditions. - Internal
Our worldviewsOur Worldviews RE resource. A structured tool for exploring personal and religious worldviews through self-reflection and discussion.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
- Internal
What are religions and worldviews presentationIntroduce primary students to the diversity of world religions and worldviews to foster critical thinking and empathy. - Internal
Big Questions Unit 6: What are religions and worldviews?Exploration of religions and worldviews, fostering critical thinking about faith and beliefs.
Outcomes and impacts: a progression grid in relation to Big Questions in RE
- Internal
Progression Grid for Inspiring RE: Big QuestionsBig Questions Progression RE resource. A structured tool for tracking student development in religious and ethical inquiry.
Select a topic to explore resources
Ready Steady REWho am I? Where do I belong? Exploring identityWhat if everyone was peaceful?Philosophy STARSWhat do Hindus believe happens when you die?What are religions and worldviews?Progression grid
External links
Member Only Content
- Internal Big Questions Unit 1: Ready Steady REIntroduction to key concepts in religious education, fostering engagement and critical thinking.
External links
- ExternalToilet twinning
e-Resources
- Internal Illustrations of Hannah, Grace, ImranIllustrations of diverse characters for RE lessons on empathy and values.
- Internal Outline drawings of schoolchildrenSchoolchildren Drawings RE resource. A structured tool for exploring identity, self-expression, and belonging in religious education.
Member Only Content
- Internal Abigail gets BaptisedStory of Abigail's baptism, highlighting its significance in the Christian faith.
- Internal The Good Samaritan KS1 (home learning)A home learning resource on the Good Samaritan for KS1 students, focusing on kindness, compassion, and applying the lessons of love in daily life.
- Internal Big Questions Unit 2: Exploring identityExploring identity in religious education, encourages aging personal reflection and understanding.
External Links
- ExternalHumanists UK website
- ExternalThe Planet in our Eyes (2004) by Andra-Alida Baban from the Global Art Project (for Activities 3 and 6)
- ExternalHow we should treat others - a film from RE Matters, Westhill and NASACRE on YouTube (Activity 5)
- ExternalThe Peace Book by Todd Parr (Little, Brown 2009) for Activity 3
eResources
- Internal Patchwork thinking gamePatchwork Thinking Game RE resource. A structured tool for promoting critical thinking about religious beliefs and worldviews.
Member Only Content
- Internal Patchwork thinking game – teacher instructionsPatchwork Thinking Game Instructions RE resource. A structured guide for educators on facilitating interactive learning about religion.
- Internal Peace quotation cardsPeace Quotation Cards RE resource. A structured tool for exploring religious and ethical teachings on peace through key quotations.
- Internal Big Questions Unit 3: What if everyone was peaceful?Reflection on peace across cultures and religions, fostering critical thinking in RE.
e-Resources
- Internal STARS frameworkThe STARS framework for primary RE, offering a structured approach to guide students through critical religious and philosophical questions with reflection and discussion.
- Internal How to run philosophical enquiry in classGuide for conducting philosophical enquiries in primary RE classes.
Member Only Content
- Internal Finding philosophical questionsGuide to identifying and exploring philosophical questions in RE.
- Internal What is philosophical enquiry and what is notGuide on distinguishing philosophical enquiry from other question types.
- Internal Big Questions Unit 4: Philosophical thinkingencourages aging philosophical thinking in religious education, promoting engagement with fundamental questions.
External Links
- ExternalClip from BBC's My Life, My Religion: Hindus about the cycle of birth and rebirth
- ExternalCruse bereavement charity: resources for schools
Member Only Content
- Internal What do young British Hindus say about life after death?Explore different interpretations of God across religions, examining how views on God shape religious practices and worldviews.
- Internal Reflections on samsaraA primary RE resource on samsara, using questions and reflective activities to explore Hindu beliefs about life, death, and rebirth.
- Internal Hindu beliefs quizQuiz on Hindu beliefs for primary students learning about Hindu teachings.
- Internal Life is a circleResource on the cyclical nature of life, exploring birth, life, death, and rebirth across cultures and religions.
- Internal Life is a circle: illustration and text boxesExamining life ís cyclical nature, exploring rebirth, continuity, and interconnectedness in various cultures and religions.
- Internal Big Questions Unit 5: What do Hindus believe happens when you die?Exploration of Hindu beliefs about death and its spiritual significance.
External links
e-Resources
- Internal My worldviewMy Worldview RE resource. A structured learning tool for exploring personal beliefs, values, and worldviews.
- Internal Parts of a religionParts of a Religion RE resource. A structured tool for analyzing key components of different religious traditions.
- Internal Our worldviewsOur Worldviews RE resource. A structured tool for exploring personal and religious worldviews through self-reflection and discussion.
Member Only Content
- Internal What are religions and worldviews presentationIntroduce primary students to the diversity of world religions and worldviews to foster critical thinking and empathy.
- Internal Big Questions Unit 6: What are religions and worldviews?Exploration of religions and worldviews, fostering critical thinking about faith and beliefs.
Outcomes and impacts: a progression grid in relation to Big Questions in RE
- Internal Progression Grid for Inspiring RE: Big QuestionsBig Questions Progression RE resource. A structured tool for tracking student development in religious and ethical inquiry.
