Ms. Michelle Minkus

Exploring World Religions

Introduction

The world, like our class, is filled with people many different belief systems. While we may know our own religion very well, we tend to not know a lot about the other religions that exist. This web quest is going to teach you about religions other than your own so that we can understand each other a little better.

The Task

During this web quest, you will:

1. Learn about different world religions

2. Write a comparative essay

3. Create a map showing where the religions started and how they spread

4. Create a timeline showing when the different religions started

The Process

In the web quest you will be in groups of three. Each group will:

1. Pick two religions that are different from your own

2. Learn the basic beliefs of these religions including:

a. When did each religion start?

b. Where did they start?

c. How did each religion begin?

d. What are the major beliefs of each religion?

e. What are the rules of each religion?

f. Is each religion monotheist, polytheist, or do not believe in any

type of gods? Why do these religions have these beliefs in the

supernatural?

g. How do they worship their god(s)?

h. What are the special holidays of each religion?

i. What is the name of the scriptures? Who is believed to have

written them? What is written in them?

j. What is the religion's philosophical belief?

k. How does the religion view the creation of the earth?

l. What are the major holidays of the religion?

m. How are these holidays observed?

n. What are the major life cycle practices? (Birth, adulthood, marriage

o. death, etc.)

p. How do the most religious members of the religion dress?

q. Are there different denominations within the relgion?(different

types?)How did these different denominations begin? Why did they

begin?When did they begin? Where did they begin? How do these

denominations differ?

3. Write a comparative essay that discusses the similarities and differences of the two religions you chose.

4. Write at least five journal entries discussing the project and the web quest

5. You are going to want to divide the questions up among your group members so that each member has a different aspect of the two religions to cover.

Each group will:

1.Create a timeline showing when the different religions began and at

least five important dates within each religion

2.Create a comparative chart of the different religions which should include:

a. polytheist or monotheist

b. name of scriptures

c. where it started

d. Basic beliefs about life

e. basic beliefs about how the earth was created

The religions you may choose from are:

Buddhism

Christianity

Hinduism

Islam

Judaism

Sikhism

Links to Religion Websites

Below is a list of websites about the different religions. You will also need to find more websites and use some book sources.

World Religions Project Rubric

Beginning

	Beginning 1-6	Developing 7-12	Accomplished 13-17	Exemplary 18-20	Score
Essay Content	No product produced.	Information was incomplete or contained many errors.	Information was complete and accurate. All major aspects of the subject addressed.	Information is comprehensive and worthwhile without being overly long. Subject was explained in detail.
Essay Mechanics	No product produced. Or not typed	Writing was confusing or difficult to read. Text contained many errors in grammar and/or spelling.	Writing was clear and interesting with a moderate amount of errors.	Writing was easily understandable and exciting to read. Text contained few or no errors.
Journals	0 to one produced	Two to three produced	Four or five produced but were not complete, not informative	Five journals were completed and informative and at least a page long
Timeline	No product	Dates were not labeled well, disorganized, messy	Neatly done but missing some dates and/or not very informative	Neatly done, informative, not cluttered
Comparative Chart	No product	Missing information, disorganized, messy	Neatly done but missing some important information and/or provides misinformation	Neatly done, informative, correct information provided

Project Score_________

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