icon-background-square
New
New
Year 4

Symbols instead of words

I can describe different ways people may express beliefs in ways other than words.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 4

Symbols instead of words

I can describe different ways people may express beliefs in ways other than words.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Sometimes it is difficult to express feelings and beliefs with only words.
  2. People of faith have often used other ways of expressing deep thoughts.
  3. These may include symbols, patterns, poetry and art.

Keywords

  • Symbol - an object or picture that represents something else

  • Non verbal - saying things without speech

  • Express - to make thoughts or feelings known by saying or doing

Common misconception

Words are the only way of explaining things.

People express thoughts and feelings in lots of different ways.


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

It would be great to link this learning about symbols and poetry to your classes work in English.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

copyright

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

Loading...

5 Questions

Q1.
What are the ten rules called in Judaism and Christianity?
Correct Answer: The Ten Commandments, Commandments, Ten Commandments, 10 Commandments
Q2.
What word means a promise between God and humans?
testament
Torah
Correct answer: covenant
Q3.
Many Christians believe in stewardship. This means …
we can treat the world how we want
we can use the world for our own needs
Correct answer: we should look after the world
Q4.
What is a deeper meaning of the story of the blind men and the elephant?
there is only one truth
you can believe whatever you want
Correct answer: people have different ideas about truth
Q5.
Jews believe in tikkun olam. This means …
destroying the world
Correct answer: repairing the world
creating the world

5 Questions

Q1.
What symbol do many Christians use today?
fish
Correct answer: cross
moon and star
Q2.
What symbol do Muslims use?
Correct answer: moon and star
sun and moon
sun and star
Q3.
What does the circle represent in the Sikh symbol?
the shape of the earth
their belief in reincarnation
Correct answer: that God is eternal
Q4.
What book of poetry is there in the Bible?
gospels
parables
Correct answer: psalms
Q5.
Match the keyword with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:symbol ,an object or picture that represents something else
tick

an object or picture that represents something else

Correct Answer:non-verbal,saying things without speech
tick

saying things without speech

Correct Answer:express,to make thoughts or feelings known by saying or doing
tick

to make thoughts or feelings known by saying or doing