Lesson organisation

If possible, provide some artefacts associated with the Guru Granth Sahib for children to look at and touch during the lesson. These could include:

• A bowl of soapy water.
• A head scarf.
• A rumalla or decorative cloth.
• A chauri (yak hair fan).
• Khanda and Ik Onkar symbols.
• A donations box.
• Traditional Indian musical instruments.
• A decorative cushion.

These may be bought from educational suppliers or may be borrowed from a local museum, library or multifaith centre. 

Link: Teacher guidance: Artefacts in the classroom

An alternative to this lesson is to arrange a visit to a local gurdwara and ask a member of the congregation to talk about how the Guru Granth Sahib is treated and used there. The Activity: Practices chart could be completed at the gurdwara or after the visit back in the classroom.

Link: Teacher guidance: Visiting places of worship

Subject knowledge

• A guru is a religious teacher or leader from the Sikh worldview. For many Sikhs, it means someone who takes a person from spiritual darkness into spiritual light. The Sikhs had ten human Gurus from 1469-1708 who all embodied the same light from Guru Nanak. The Guru Granth Sahib, is generally considered by Sikh followers to be sacred scripture and the eternal Guru of the Sikhs and for them embodies this same spiritual wisdom and light. 
• The Guru Granth Sahib is the central religious Sikh scripture, regarded by many Sikhs as the final, sovereign and eternal living Guru following the ten human Gurus of the Sikh religion.
• It was compiled by the Gurus themselves, the first compilation (Adi Granth) was done by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan, in 1604. It contains the teachings of the first five Gurus and the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, as well as hymns from other saints and scholars, including Hindus and Muslims.
• Written in the Gurmukhi script, it is composed of 1,430 pages known as Ang (limbs of the Guru) and all copies have exactly the same contents.
• The text emphasises core Sikh values: that there is One God, the Creator, equality, compassion, love, the importance of Naam (God’s Name) and selfless service.
• Sikhs generally regard the Guru Granth Sahib as their eternal Guru, replacing the lineage of human Gurus.
• It is not just a scripture for many Sikhs; it embodies the presence of the Guru. Hence, it is treated with respect and as a living spiritual leader:
  • in a gurdwara (or Gurudwara – the house of the Guru and the Sikh place of worship), the Guru Granth Sahib is placed on a raised platform in a prominent position, indicating its central role in the Gurdwara and in Sikh worship;
  • before reading from it, a person should have had a full bath and be wearing clean clothes;
  • it is customary to cover one’s head, wash your hands and remove shoes in its presence;
  • Sikhs commonly bow before it as a sign of respect;
  • every morning in a gurdwara, the scripture is ceremoniously opened and in the evening, it is  then taken to a special room and put to rest through a special ceremony;
  • it is often fanned with a yak hair fan whisk (called a chauri) as a sign of reverence;
  • when transported, it should be done with care above the head of the carrier and it is usually accompanied by sacred verses from the Guru Granth Sahib sung by the congregation.
• The Guru Granth Sahib serves as the primary source of theology, practice, and morality for Sikhs:
  • Sikhs are encouraged to read and reflect upon its teachings regularly.
  • Decisions in Sikh life may be made after seeking guidance from a random verse from the Guru Granth Sahib, a practice known as taking a ‘Hukamnama’.

If you know a child has specific issues, consider discussing the lesson with them in advance and adapting it as needed. They might benefit from adult support. If problems emerge during the lesson, consult your Senior Leadership Team. It is the teacher’s responsibility to check all resources and lesson content to ensure it is suitable for their class setting.

Sensitivities

This lesson discusses thoughts and ideas about whether particular texts are sacred or divine. In discussions, it is crucial to foster an atmosphere of respect and open-mindedness, using inclusive language that acknowledges all opinions are valid, that beliefs and facts are different and that both are of value.