How Can Teachers Explore Religions in the K-5 Classroom?

Guest Blog: Rev. Dr. Vicki Garlock

Teaching About the World’s Religions (K-5)
World Interfaith Harmony Week: Sacred Spaces

World Interfaith Harmony Week is a United Nations event that takes place during the first week of February (Feb. 1-7) every year. The goal is to promote peace, mutual understanding, and cooperation across faith traditions. One way to approach this with K-5 students is by exploring sacred spaces.

Sacred spaces are simply the places where members of a particular religious community gather together. Typical examples include Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, Islamic mosques, and Buddhist temples. Kids can easily recognize some of the typical features of sacred spaces, and it’s a great way to share the religious diversity that probably exists in your very own neighborhood.

Here are a few tips to get you started, or simply click here for our free, age-appropriate PowerPoint presentation.

And be sure to let us know if you have questions, concerns, or comments!

Common Features

Sacred spaces vary widely both within and across religious traditions. Some spaces are large, while others are small. Some spaces have been around for thousands of years, while others are more modern. Some spaces are extremely ornate, while others are quite simple. And some spaces are used for religious purposes only part of the time. For example, some Christian congregations now meet in schools, Y’s, or theaters, and many religious communities share their space with other companies or organizations.

Despite all the variability, there are some common features – both outside and inside – that kids can easily recognize. Here are some you can mention.