VAND CHHAKNA SIKHISM - KS1 This presentation aims to introduce children at KS1 to the concept of Vand Chhakna in Sikhism. Explain that this can be defined as, ‘sharing what you have and enjoying it together as a community’. Sikhs share food, time, earnings and talents within their community (Khalsa) and with others in need.

Why do Sikhs like to share? The Big Question Why do Sikhs like to share? This introduction to the idea of vand chhakna in Sikhism begins with a big question. In this case, the question is ‘Why do Sikhs like to share?’ Show this picture to children and encourage them to think about what is happening. Ask them to respond to such questions as: Why is food being shared? Why are children helping? Why is food being served by both adults and children? Why is the food vegetarian? Why are their heads covered? Point out that sharing things helps everyone…

What do you think this building is used for? Show the children this slide and ask them what they think the building is used for? Draw out the point that it’s a place of worship first and ask them to respond to such questions as, What features are there? What things make it look unlike a house? What would you like to know about this building? The focus is the EAG KS1 Question 18.  What can we find out about Sikhism by exploring a Gurdwara? [http://www.reonline.org.uk/religious-education-in-the-new-curriculum/section-4-question-bank/] - you can reveal this on the next screen.

What can we find out about Sikhism by exploring a Gurdwara? Explain to the children that they are finding out why Sikhs like to share by investigating what happens in a Gurdwara – the Sikh place of worship. [If this comes during a unit on Sikhism children could think of what they might find in the Gurdwara, e.g. Some pictures of Guru Nanak or the other Gurus, a room to pray, the holy book etc.]

Some rooms are set up for worship like this one… This slide should be returned to so that children can look at features of the prayer room (but this activity uses sharing as the focus) – if this is towards the start of a unit you could rest this on the screen for a while and ask the children a question like ‘Why might there be no chairs in this room?’ Otherwise this is just to show that religious activities take place in the building.] Some rooms are set up for worship like this one… …but other rooms have a different use.

What might this room be used for? What might this tell us about Sikhs? In another part of the building is this room… Leave this slide up on the screen and ask the children to work in pairs or small groups and look for 5-10 objects. Encourage them to then decide why there is a fully working kitchen inside a place of worship, and to note down ideas or write on sticky notes so they can share their answers on the next screen. What might this room be used for? What might this tell us about Sikhs?

What did you see? Keep this slide on screen and invite individual children to come up and point/label what they saw. They can bring ideas up and/or stick sticky notes to a flip chart. Go through children’s ideas and bring out the point about sharing: having a kitchen in a place of worship means that food can be prepared and made ready to share with anyone who comes to the Gurdwara.

Sikhs believe in sharing. At the end of every service a meal is prepared for the community in special kitchens at the Gurdwara Show this slide and reveal the statements one by one. Pause after each text box and ask the children for their responses or questions. In particular, ask why Sikhs might like to share things – where did the original idea come from? A person? A book? What might this tell us about Sikhs? Sikhs believe in sharing.

Guru Nanak started this. He believed that people should share everything with those who are less fortunate. This is known as ‘Vand Chhakna’. So now there is a LANGAR – Free Community Kitchen. Everyone sits together and shares a meal after services, no matter who you are. Show this slide to put the idea of sharing into a particularly Sikh context. Explain that the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, believed that people should not be separated at all – that all people are equal to God – so, in Gurdwaras all around the world this practice happen. Point out the term ‘vand chhakna’ and remind them that this is a term in the Sikh language of Gurmukhi meaning sharing everything, not just food, but also your time, talents and money. As a follow up activity ask children to think of five reasons why sharing everything might be a good idea. Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and understanding of Sikhism: say something about how and why Sikhs try to help others; provide a good reason for the views they have and the connections they make. Children could then explore the idea of vand chakkna further with clips or photos of the Golden Temple of Amritsar where thousands of people are fed every day: http://www.reonline.org.uk/sikhnet-the-golden-temple/ or follow this link to an RE:ONLINE buffet on the Gurdwara: http://www.reonline.org.uk/gurdwara/ This includes a page on the Langar. Why might having a meal together be a good idea?