1. Tests – 3 mins
What sort of ‘tests’ do you go through outside/in school? Think of as many as you can.
How many do you ‘pass’ – how do you feel when you pass?

2. Fasting – a test of personal discipline?
LO: I will know what fasting is and why people fast.
Discuss with your family : would you ever fast- what for?

3. Lesson outline Using text books and internet
complete table – 15 mins silent work
Compare with neighbour when finished - 3 mins
Complete question sheet 4 minutes
Both sheets glued in exercise book
Discussion of religious text on fasting…10 minutes
What are the benefits of fasting? Put together guidelines on a work processed document - 10 minutes to put in ex books
Hand in Ex books

4. Table on fasting -10 mins – silent work
Make a table in your books to show what you have learned from research about fasting in six religions. If needed use text books pp 14 – 15 and other text books, or a device to complete the table.
Fasting festival
Religion
How do people fast
What happens
Religious teaching
Yom Kippur
On the tenth day of the appointed month in early autumn, you must deny yourselves ….It will be a Sabbath day of complete rest … and you must deny yourselves. This is a permanent law for you. Leviticus 16
Lent
 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matthew 4
Ramadan
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous . Qur’an 2.183

5. Fasting festival
Religion
+ reason for the fast
How is the fast performed?
What happens during the festival
Religious teaching
Yom Kippur
On the tenth day of the appointed month in early autumn, you must deny yourselves ….It will be a Sabbath day of complete rest … and you must deny yourselves. This is a permanent law for you. Leviticus 16
Lent
 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matthew 4
Ramadan
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous . Qur’an 2.183

6. Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism Fasting festival Religious teaching Religion
+ reason for the fast
How is the fast performed?
What happens during the festival
Religious teaching
Hinduism
Buddhism
Sikhism

7. Complete questionnaire
Does this make you think differently about fasting?

8. What do you think? Write a definition of fasting.
What are the benefits of fasting.
What are the problems with fasting
Discuss: How much is fasting a test? Who sets the test? What happens if you pass or fail???
Do you think fasting is good/bad? Can only religious people fast? Why? Mini debate

9. The Prophecy of Isaiah:
“We have fasted before you,” they say. “Why aren’t you impressed? Why don’t you see our sacrifices? Why don’t you hear our prayers? We have done much penance, and you don’t even notice it!” I’ll tell you why! Because you are living in evil pleasure even while you are fasting, and you keep right on oppressing your workers. Look, what good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarrelling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. Is this what I want—this doing of penance and bowing like reeds in the wind, putting on sackcloth and covering yourselves with ashes? Is this what you call fasting?
No, the kind of fast I want is that you stop oppressing those who work for you and treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor, and destitute. Clothe those who are cold, and don’t hide from relatives who need your help.
The Prophecy of Isaiah:
God speaks to his people about fasting
Taken from the Jewish Tanach and Christian Bible (Old Testament)
What do you think Jews and Christians would say this passage tells them about fasting?

10. Fasting guidelines
Draw up a set of guidelines for people thinking of going on a fast…
Benefits
Warnings and advice