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Year 4

The legacy of Guru Nanak

I can explain how Guru Nanak’s teachings continue to inspire Sikhs today.

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New
New
Year 4

The legacy of Guru Nanak

I can explain how Guru Nanak’s teachings continue to inspire Sikhs today.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sikhs pray and worship at the gurdwara and at home.
  2. Never forgetting the poor is a key belief in Sikhi.
  3. Equality, including gender equality, is important to Sikhs.
  4. Seva, or service, is something all Sikhs hold as important.

Keywords

  • Seva - selfless service

  • Gurdwara - Sikh place of worship, meaning 'door of the guru'

  • Langar - a community kitchen and free meal service provided in gurdwaras

Common misconception

Sikhs believe prayer is more important than practical service.

Practical, selfless service (sewa) is an essential part of being a Sikh.


To help you plan your year 4 religious education lesson on: The legacy of Guru Nanak, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If possible, visit a gurdwara to experience langar and seva or interview some Sikhs at the gurdwara about what seva means to them and how Guru Nanak inspire them.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does 'Mool Mantar' mean in Sikhi?
Correct answer: essential teaching
wonderful teacher
sacred text
Q2.
Why do Sikhs meditate by repeating the word 'Waheguru'?
Correct answer: to focus and connect with God
to improve their health
to prepare for worship at the gurdwara
Q3.
What does the word 'Ik' in 'Ik Onkar' mean?
creator
truth
Correct answer: one
Q4.
What is the Guru Granth Sahib?
a prayer said in the gurdwara
Correct answer: the holy book in Sikhi
a script used to write hymns
Q5.
The Mool Mantar teaches that God is without and hate.
Correct Answer: fear, Fear
Q6.
Guru Nanak compared God to - there everywhere but not always visible.
Correct Answer: light, Light

4 Questions

Q1.
What does the word 'seva' mean in Sikhism?
praying for others
Correct answer: selfless service
eating food at the gurdwara
Q2.
Why do Sikhs participate in langar?
to teach people how to cook
Correct answer: to serve food to the poor and promote equality
to celebrate religious holidays
Q3.
What did Guru Nanak teach about helping the poor?
that they should be ignored
Correct answer: that Sikhs should always help and care for the poor
that the poor must help themselves
Q4.
The practice in Sikhi of giving 10% of earnings to help others is called .
Correct Answer: Dasvandh, dasvandh