51����

Engage your KS2 students in profound discussions about life’s biggest mysteries with “What Are the Big Questions? KS2 RE”! This compelling PowerPoint presentation introduces young minds to philosophy and encourages critical thinking about existence, creation, and the afterlife.

Spark Curiosity & Introduce Philosophy: The presentation begins by inviting students to ponder universal questions like “Why am I here?”, “Where did the world come from?”, and “What happens when we die?”. It defines these as “Big Questions” that have intrigued people for thousands of years and introduces philosophy as the “love of wisdom” – the study of these very inquiries.

Explore Creation Theories: Delve into the origins of the universe by exploring two major viewpoints:

Religious Creation Stories: Learn how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam teach that God created the universe, with the Bible describing creation over six days, offering a divine plan and purpose for believers.

The Big Bang Theory: Discover the scientific explanation that the universe began as a tiny, hot, dense point that rapidly expanded about 14 billion years ago. Evidence like expanding galaxies and cosmic background radiation is presented to support this view.

Ponder Existence and the Afterlife: The presentation tackles the complex question “Is There a God?”, acknowledging that while many believe in an all-powerful creator, others are unsure or do not believe at all. It highlights the diversity of answers across cultures and religions, promoting respect for different viewpoints.

Next, explore “What Happens When We Die?”:

Religious Views: Understand concepts like heaven in Christianity and Islam, where souls can live forever with God , and reincarnation in Hinduism and Buddhism, where the soul is reborn into new life.

A Scientific View: Consider the perspective that consciousness ends when the brain stops working, encouraging focus on making the most of the one life we have.

Introduce Humanism as a Worldview: For those who don’t follow a religion, the presentation introduces Humanism as a non-religious worldview. Humanism emphasizes kindness, reason, and living a fulfilling life, finding meaning through science, compassion, and positive choices. Humanists accept the Big Bang theory for creation , remain skeptical about the existence of God due to lack of evidence , and focus on making this one life meaningful through ethical actions.

Foster Respect and Reflection: The PowerPoint stresses the importance of respecting different viewpoints, emphasizing that it’s okay to have different answers to these big questions. It encourages students to reflect on their own answers and the power of wonder to inspire curiosity, creativity, and deeper understanding.

This engaging and thought-provoking resource is perfect for your KS2 RE curriculum, promoting open discussion and critical thinking skills in a respectful learning environment.