Sacred texts

Shared learning and teaching

Before reading

• Make links to previous learning by establishing what the children already know about the six main world religions. Be sensitive to the religious make-up of the class, inviting those of different faiths to act as experts for the rest of the class, if they feel comfortable to do so.
• Talk about which books and texts are important to members of the class. Do the children have special texts that they need to refer to in everyday life? Make a list using the activity sheet below. This could include rule books for sports or games, recipe books, photo albums, diaries, maps and dictionaries as well as religious texts. Discuss why they are important, what their purpose is, and how they are treated – some books are well-used and ‘dog-eared’ while others are revered, kept clean and stored in a special place. Ask the children the question: ‘If you were stranded on a desert island, which book would you take with you?’