Object Spotlight: Religious Symbolism At KS1&2
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This page outlines an introductory session on symbols in religion, centred around an Anglo-Saxon beaver tooth pendant held in the British Museum. It relates to: KS1 - QCA Unit 3A - What do signs and symbols mean in religion?
KS2 - QCA Unit 6F - How do people express their faith through the arts?
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Beaver tooth pendant, Anglo-Saxon, 7th century AD.
From a barrow at Wigber Low, Derbyshire.
See a larger image together with background information on the British Museum's Compass website.
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Aims
To investigate how objects may have symbolic meanings used in different religions.
To begin to ask philosophical questions about objects, and by extension about ourselves (engaging with 'Philosophy for Children' theory - see for example www.sapere.net).
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Objectives
To be introduced to the idea of the 'symbolic' in religions.
To use the Compass website as a way in to this discussion - particularly through the 'Beaver Tooth' amulet and other objects on the 'A Kind of Magic' tour.
To learn about amulets and charms.
To evaluate these objects.
To discuss and democratically decide what to discuss (also addresses Citizenship aims).
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Introducing 'symbols'
Show children symbols with which they may be familiar eg a 'stop' sign, four-leaf clover, horseshoe, heart and so on.
Get them to talk about what these symbols mean to them.
Can they think of any other symbols?
Are there any ideas where the same symbol can mean different things? (e.g. colours may be symbolic in different ways - red for love and anger etc.)
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Looking at the Object What can you see?
What do you think it is? Listen to and share ideas.
Do you have any jewellery? Why do you (not) like to wear jewellery?
Explain something of object's origin, design and meaning.
Why do you think people might have worn these?
Do any of you have necklaces with symbolic meaning?
Do you have any other 'lucky charms'? If so why/why not?
Younger children may like to draw their object; older ones may like to write a few words, a poem etc..
Do you think these objects 'do' anything? Do they have some sort of power?
Ask each child to think of a question that they would like to ask the object.
Write a selection of their questions on board. Then ask children to choose which they think is the most interesting, and is one they'd like to focus on for a while...
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See what happens! This is obviously a very child-centred learning experience.
Follow Up Make a beaver tooth pendant of their own. What materials could they use? How do they think it might have been suspended around the wearer's neck? This encourages children to think about the object's shape, size and physical presence. Write a piece about the power of this object...
What has it seen? Who has it helped? This addresses skills of empathy and imagination.
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Relate the outcomes of this session to other religions...
Can they think of any other religious symbols?
Why do they think symbols might be used in religions?
This would need to be followed up in further sessions, looking at specific religions - e.g. Hindu 'Aum', Jewish 'Star of David' and so on.
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These notes were written by Alexandra Woodall who is currently studying for an MA in Art Gallery Studies at Leicester University.
Go to our main 24 Hour Museum site to read Alexandra's cv and to contact her.
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