Indiana Social Studies 7.H.2
The Standard
Describe, compare, and contrast the historical origins, central beliefs and features, and spread of major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify the early communities and places tied to each religion. They compare beliefs and practices, then use maps to show how each tradition reached new regions.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can locate where all five traditions began and name a belief or practice for each. They can explain one similarity, one difference, and a way at least two traditions spread.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may place Buddhism’s origin in China because it later spread there, or give Hinduism a single founder. They may assume all five teach the same beliefs about God or spread only through conquest.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Mark the origin region of all five traditions on a world map and draw one route of spread. Name one belief or practice for each, then write one similarity and one difference between two traditions.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups origin, belief, and spread cards; have them place each card beside the right tradition on a large world map.
Ask students to write: How did Hinduism and Buddhism begin differently, and what beliefs about rebirth do they share?
Play a card match: students pair each tradition with its origin region, a belief, and one way it spread.
Find two local places of worship on a city map, then locate the historical origins of those traditions on a world map.
Free download
Printable 7.H.2 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 7.H.2, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- GHW.2.1
Map the development over time of world religions from their points of origin, and identify those that exhibit a high degree of local and/or international concen...
- WH.2.1
Review the development and fundamental beliefs and features of major world religions and philosophies, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christian...
- 6.H.2
Describe and compare the beliefs, the spread, and the influence of religions throughout Europe and Mesoamerica.
- WH.2.6
Examine the origins, developments, and major achievements of civilizations in India, such as the Mauryan and Gupta empires. Compare and contrast the influence o...
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.
Also for this standard:Make a WorksheetMake a QuizMake a Sub Lesson