Year 5 Baha'i Faith. How do Baha'is express unity through prayer and service?
Session 1 - What can you remember about the Baha'i faith?
Recap on any prior learning of the Baha’i Faith – what can pupils remember?
Focus on the facts or interests which you can remember from previous Y3 work.
Who was Baha'u'llah?
Create a list of x6 questions each to find answers as a class as if 'we' were doing an internet search on the Baha'i Faith.
It is the newest world religion. It started in 1844, and the Manifestation of God that Baha’is follow is called Baha'u’lla.
The key teaching is that of bringing about world Unity, especially between the religions.
Session 2 - How can people work towards unity?
The key teaching is that of bringing about world Unity, especially between the religions.
Watch the following video clip on religion through time. What are the similarities and differences between them?
Look at this image to help.
Baha’u’llah taught that if people fight and have wars about religion, it is better not to have any religion. So, we must all learn to love and respect each other no matter what beliefs we hold, which is why it is important to learn about the world religions. Baha’is have many prayers they can read for unity.
Every January, Baha’is hold a World Religion Day celebration, where people from all religions come together to share prayers, readings, music, singing and refreshments. It is a wonderful occasion!
Listen to this Baha’i song:
Activity: write a prayer (or thoughts) for World Unity.
Session 3 - Why is the 19-day Feast important to Baha'is?
In each town or village around the world, Baha’is come together once every Baha’i month (19 days) for a meeting called the “19-day Feast”. It can be held in someone’s home, a garden, a community centre or hall, or in a Baha’i temple. There are 3 parts to the Feast:
1. prayers and readings
2. sharing and discussion on community or global events, activities and plans
3. the social part where everyone has refreshments and chats to teach other. Children often have a separate session where they will do a craft activity. Music and singing are a great part of the Feast which help to bring about Unity and Love. Candles are often lit to make a peaceful atmosphere for the prayers. The Feast is very important to Baha’is as it brings unity to the community, and they try to get along to each one if they can. (N.B. during pandemic, Baha’is held online Feasts or outdoor Feasts!)
Each 19-day Feast has a different name. Listen to this song which is about these names in Arabic and English
Activity: Design a leaflet about the 19-day Feast. Write about the 3 parts of the Feast and draw pictures. Don’t forget about the refreshments and craft activities!
TEACHERS' NOTES
https://1drv.ms/v/s!AsdpxF_smZfWlVGy2fLF4Ksj5kR6 video clip on religions through time
Unite the hearts of Thy servants // Bahá’í Prayer for UNITY - YouTube
Further information: Nineteen Day Feast | What Bahá’ís Do (bahai.org)