Elementary (Grades 3-5)

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

• Have chart paper and markers.

• Title a piece of chart paper “Definition of Prayer”, another “Where People Pray” and another “When People Pray.”

• On chart paper, post the definitions of secular — any belief or activity that is not connected to a religion; humanism — the belief that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without believing in a religion or a god; ethical — relating to right and wrong conduct or behavior toward others; and integrity – the quality of being honest and having strong ethical principles.

• Have copies of the handout Examples of Non-Religious Expressions of Gratitude, one for each student.

CASEL Core Competencies

• Self-Management

• Social Awareness

• Relationship Skills

• Responsible Decision Making

Common Core ELA-Literacy Standards

• Reading Informational Text

• Writing

• Speaking and Listening

NCSS Social Studies Themes

• Culture

• Individuals, Groups and Institutions

• Define prayer

• Give examples of reasons people pray

• Understand that non-religious people also give thanks

• Compare and contrast when and where people of different faiths pray

• Identify religious faiths that use prayer beads

• Explain why it is important to know about the role prayer plays in some people’s lives

• Secular

• Humanism

• Integrity

• Ethical

Post a blank piece of chart paper. Print the word “Prayer” on the chart paper. Tell the class that as they think about how to explain what prayer is, they need to think about not only what they know from their own experience, but also what they know about prayer related to other religious or spiritual beliefs.

Ask: Who can tell us what the definition of a prayer is? Post student responses until you get a definition that includes:

• it is said to a god (Be sure to add the word gods or an object of worship and remind students that some people in the world believe in multiple gods, some people pray to saints or other forces, and so on.).

• it is serious.

• it can be a request for help of some kind. (Get examples of the kind of help people ask for).

• it can be said to give thanks (to a god, gods, saints, etc.). (Get examples of what people give thanks for.)

• it can be to ask for forgiveness. (Get some examples.)

• It can be said out loud or said silently.

• Sometimes people sing prayers.

• It can be said with others or alone.

• Some religious faiths have prayers that are written down that people learn. (Get examples from students.)

• Some prayers are things a person says in her or his own words.

Post chart titled “Where People Pray” and the chart “When People Pray”

Ask: Where (what kind of places) do people pray? Again, chart responses that should include listing the kinds of houses of worship people pray in – temples, churches, chapels, etc.– as well as specific holy sites, home, or anywhere.

Ask: When do people pray? (You may decide to give an example by asking: When do some people say grace? Why do they say grace?)

Generate and chart a list of responses related to personal prayer, prayer required by different religious faiths, and so on. Ask students to be as specific as possible. (Examples should include particular days of the week, particular holy days or holy times, and times during the day. Be sure to list holy days and times from various religious faiths.)

Ask: At what kinds of ceremonies do people say prayers? (Again, generate multiple examples such as at weddings, at funerals, at baptisms, at bat and bar mitzvahs, at a Bris milah, at the launching of a ship, etc.)

Ask: Why do people ask for help or a blessing at these kinds of ceremonies?

Post the definitions of the following words and review them with the class:

• Secular—Any belief or activity that is not connected to a religion

• Humanism—the belief that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without believing in a religion or god

• Integrity—the quality of being honest and having strong ethical principles.

• Ethical—relating to right and wrong conduct or behavior toward others

Tell the class that some people are non-religious. Some non-religious people believe in secular humanism. Secular humanists believe people can treat other people ethically without religion.

Examples of ethical behavior includes honesty, integrity, fairness, showing compassion, and having empathy. Distribute the handout Examples of Non-Religious Expressions of Gratitude. Read aloud at least one example of gratitude and the poem.

Ask: Why do you think it is important for us to know that people who do not believe in a particular religious faith or a god or gods also give thanks?

Ask: Based on your own experience or the experience of someone (or people you know well), how does giving thanks or asking for help or asking for forgiveness benefit people? Chart responses. Ask students to be as specific as they can.