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History, Civics & Social Studies · Grade 9

Belief Systems and Intellectual Traditions

Learners study the origins, core teachings and spread of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the intellectual traditions of Greek philosophy and medieval Islamic, Indian and Chinese scholarship. They read short public-domain texts, examine how traditions adapted as they spread, and compare ethical teachings across traditions, always describing beliefs accurately and respectfully.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 125 minutes
  • Belief and thought check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, highlight a text, match pairs, put in order and sort into groups
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What learners will discover

  • Describe the origins and core teachings of major belief systems accurately and respectfully.
  • Explain how belief systems spread and adapted to new cultures, with specific examples.
  • Explain key intellectual traditions and how knowledge was transmitted between cultures.
  • Analyze and compare short primary texts from different traditions, noting context and translation.

Lessons

  1. Traditions from South and East Asia 5 steps3 practiceabout 30 min
  2. The Abrahamic traditions 5 steps4 practiceabout 30 min
  3. How traditions spread and adapted 5 steps3 practiceabout 32 min
  4. Intellectual traditions and shared questions 6 steps4 practiceabout 33 min
  5. Belief and thought check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

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Guide for grown-ups