Living Well Together
Primary 2 · Social and Religious Studies
Living Well Together
Lesson 2 of 3
12 min
Let's begin
On Sunday morning, Keza hears a bell ringing across the hill. She puts on her best dress and walks up the path with her mother.
On Friday at midday, her friend Amina walks the other way with her father, towards a building with a tall tower.
Two different buildings. Two different days. Both girls come home happy. Today you will learn why.
Inside Keza's building there are long wooden benches. Everyone stands and sings together. Then the room goes quiet, and people close their eyes.
They are praying. To pray means to talk to God.
A building where people come together to pray is called a place of worship.
Keza's building has a bell and a big book on a table at the front.
It is a church. People who pray in a church are called Christians. Their holy book is the Bible. Most Christians go to church on Sunday. Some go on Saturday.
There are churches all over Rwanda — on the hills, in the villages, and in Kigali.
Now follow Amina. Outside her building, she and her father slip off their shoes and leave them neatly at the door. They wash their hands and their faces. Inside, soft mats cover the whole floor. They kneel down on the mats and pray.
Amina's building is a mosque. People who pray in a mosque are called Muslims. Their holy book is the Quran. Friday is their special day to pray together.
In some countries, people pray in a building called a temple.
Some families pray at home instead — before they eat, or before they sleep. And some people do not pray at all.
All of these people are Rwandans. All of them can be your neighbours and your friends.
Every year there are special happy days.
Look at what these celebrations have in common. On all of them, people put on their best clothes. They cook special food. They visit their family. They forgive people they were angry with. And they share with neighbours who have very little.
Different prayers — but the same happy hearts.
At Eid, Amina brings a plate of sweet cakes to Keza's house. Keza says, "Happy Eid!" and eats two.
At Christmas, Keza takes Amina a card she drew herself. Amina says, "Happy Christmas!"
Neither girl laughs at the other. Neither one says, "My way is the only right way."
That is respect: being kind about what other people believe, even when you do not do it the same way.
Mugisha goes with a friend to a place of worship for the first time. He wants to run to the front and touch everything. He stops himself, sits down, and watches the calm people beside him.
Copy Mugisha:
Tip
In a place you do not know, be a mirror. Find the calmest grown-up near you and quietly do what they do. Sit when they sit. Stand when they stand. Be quiet when they are quiet.
And remember four small words: different is not wrong.
Answer out loud, then tap Show answer to check.
Amina takes off her shoes and kneels on a soft mat to pray. Which building is she in?
Answer: a mosque.
Which holy book do Christians read?
Answer: the Bible. Muslims read the Quran.
Ramadan is a month when Muslims do not eat in the daytime. What is that called, and what do they celebrate when it ends?
Answer: It is called fasting. When the month ends they celebrate Eid.
Your friend is celebrating a day you do not celebrate. What can you say to her?
Answer: Something kind, like "Happy Eid!" or "Happy Christmas!" You do not have to celebrate it yourself to be glad for your friend.
You are inside a place of worship and you want to call to your friend across the room. Should you shout?
Answer: No. Use a quiet voice, or wait until you are outside. People are praying and want to listen.
What you learned today
Quick check
Match each place of worship to its holy book.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
