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Video summary

The Gurus of the Sikhs are founders and leaders within the religion.

Simran explains how the gurus are honoured and their teaching is passed on through stories. Butta Singh, a Sikh storyteller from Birmingham, tells the story of Guru Nanak and the boulder.

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Teacher Notes

In the story of Guru Nanak and the Boulder there’s a lesson about selfishness and pride and how these attitudes can be challenged or changed.

Many children are more familiar with Disney’s stories than those from any religion, but the stories of faith have power which has lasted for centuries.

Point this out to pupils. Ask them to think about the movies they like: examples could include A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc, Toy Story and many others. Are the characters either all good or all bad? Or can they think of a time in these movies where someone changes from selfish to kind?

Religious stories often draw attention to how a person can change. Tell the pupils that Guru Nanak taught: feed the poor. Care for the unwanted. Think about others. Search for God. Care about the truth. What would his message be to the characters in the Disney movies?

The Ten Gurus left their teaching in the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the ‘living Guru of the Sikhs’ today (not just a book!). Over 20 million Sikh people try to follow their Gurus.

Ask pupils: who do you like to try and follow and why? Make a class list. Also list all the qualities that make a persona good leader. Then apply the list to the Gurus. Were they brave, kind, wise, open-hearted? Did they serve others, sort out problems, show strength? How? (Pupils may find it useful to hear a wider range of stories and sayings from the Gurus for this activity.)

This topic will be relevant to teaching Religious Education at KS2 or KS3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 2 or 3 in Scotland.

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