Who were the Sikh Gurus?

Learning objective – to be able to evaluate the role of the Gurus in the Sikh faith.

I can describe the most important Gurus and know what they did.

Level 3

I can explain the significance of some of the Sikh Gurus and able to justify my ideas.

Level 5

I can evaluate the work of the Sikh Gurus and make judgements about how important their work is to the Sikh faith.

Level 6

Starter – What makes a great teacher?

Who was the Guru Nanak Sahib Ji?

Guru Nanak Sahib Ji founded Sikhism and wrote many of the teachings in the Guru Granth Sahib.

He was born in 1469 into a Hindu family but did not want to get tied down in the Hindu faith. He argued that it was internal factors that were more important than external ones in influencing someone’s beliefs.

How did Guru Nanak Sahib Ji experience at the river change him?

Guru Nanak Sahib Ji went with a friend to bathe and relax by the river near his home. However, Guru Nanak went missing and no one could find him.

However, after three days, Guru Nanak emerged out of the river unharmed. He explained while he was in the river, he had a powerful feeling of being swept into God’s presence and that he realised that the only important thing was to follow the One God and religious labels had no significance or meaning.

What did Guru Nanak Sahib Ji after his river experience?

Guru Nanak Sahib Ji travelled 30,000 miles across India spreading the message of One God and worshipping in simple ways.

Many of his teachings are recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Who are the Gurus?

Guru Nanak Sahib Ji nominated his best student to be the next Guru to follow him.

This set a tradition of Gurus nominating their best student to follow them. There were ten Gurus in all lasting right up to 1708.

Each Guru followed Guru Nanak’s teachings but added something new to the Sikh faith.

Main Task

The ten Gurus are all trapped on an island. On the island is a volcano, which has erupted and lava is threatening to cover the entire island. You have a chance to save some of the Gurus. However, there is a catch, your boat is too small to save all the Gurus, there is room for only 5 Gurus – any more the boat will sink.

Which 5 Gurus would you save? Base your judgements on who are the most important and what they have offered to the Sikh faith. Explain each of your judgements based on the information sheet provided.

Extension Task

Design a job description for an ‘Eleventh Guru’.

• What qualities would you be looking for?

• What teachings would you look for the Guru to lead?

• What kind of leadership do you want your ‘Eleventh Guru’ to show?

Plenary

To summarise your learning this lesson, create an acrostic using the words – GURU NANAK