Faith Curriculum Library: Tapestry of Faith: Building Bridges: A World Religions Program for 8th-9th Grades

Activity 6: Time Line

Activity time: 5 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Religions Time Line from Workshop 1
  • World map or globe
  • Sticky notes and fine-point marker

Preparation for Activity

  • Display the Religions Time Line where all participants will be able to see it.
  • Write a sticky note saying "Taoism, 550 BCE."

Description of Activity

The Religions Time Line is updated to include Taoism.

Ask participants if they remember where Taoism was born. Mark China on the map or globe with a sticky note.

Ask who remembers the founding date of Taoism. If they do not remember, ask them to guess. After they have finished guessing, put the "Taoism, 550 BCE" sticky note at the appropriate spot on the Religions Time Line.

Say, in these or your own words:

There are almost a thousand years between the founding of Judaism and the birth of Taoism. But then, something amazing happens right here in history: the birth of three major world religions in only fifty years' time. Between 550 BCE and 500 BCE, we see the birth of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, all of which are still major world faiths, and together represent almost 400 million people.