Subject Leader: Ms L. Canistri
In Ethics lessons, pupils learn about Christian beliefs and religious rituals for approximately 50% of the school year. The remainder of their lessons are focused on other religions and associated rituals.
Key Stage 3 Topics
Christianity:
- God: What do Christians believe about God? – What do I believe?
- What are the key principles of the Christian faith?
- Why are these ideas so important to Christians?
- How do Christians practice their faith?
Islam:
- Allah – oneness.
- Faith.
- Worship / belief in action – the five pillars.
- Behaviour attitude and ethics.
- Family life.
Judaism:
- What do Jewish people believe?
- How do Jewish people pray?
- To know about the Synagogue.
- To know how Jewish people worship.
- To know about the Jewish Sabbath.
- To know about Jewish festivals.
- To be aware of Jewish family life.
Famous People with a Faith:
- Identify famous people who they know of.
- What do we want to know about chosen people?
- How do we research?
- What can we find out to begin with?
- What faith does he / she follow?
- How is their faith shown in their life?
- Main features of their faith.
- How can I present my information to others?
Christianity:
- Christian Ways of Life: What challenges do Christian ways of living present to people like me?
- What influences people in making decisions?
- How do I forgive others?
- What does Christianity teach about forgiveness?
- What is meant by reconciliation?
- Martin Luther King.
Hinduism:
- Oldest Religion.
- Hindu worship / gods / idols.
- The Mandir.
- Stories and festivals i.e. Krishna, Rama and Sita.
- The importance of family.
Where Have We Come From and Where Are We Going?:
- What do people who have a faith believe about how the world began?
- What do the major faith groups believe about how the world began?
- What beliefs do people who are not religious hold?
- Can we extend our understanding of Humanism?
- What do Humanists believe about key life events?
- To know what reincarnation is and which faiths believe in it
- To know which faiths believe in Heaven?
- Is a belief in Heaven important to us?
- What do people believe in they do not believe in an afterlife?
Buddhism and Values:
- What can Buddhism and Christianity teach us about values?
- Why are values important?
- What values do I have?
- Why are these values important to me?
- How do I show that I have these values?
- Do you have to be ‘religious’ to have values?
Sikhism:
- The Gurus.
- The Gurdwara.
- The Guru Granth Sahib.
- The 5 Ks.
- The Sikh way of life.
Key Stage 4
Diversity in Society:
- To know what diversity means.
- To identify diverse groups.
- To identify how groups may differ from one another.
- To identify different practises in relation to these differences.
- To identify a similarity between a number of groups.
- To identify a contribution of a group to society.
- To indicate an advantage of living in a diverse society.
Religion and Ethics- Part 1:
- Are animals important to us?
- How should animals in different settings be treated?
- Do animals have less rights because they are ‘only’ animals?
- Should all animals be protected?
- What do we think about testing on animals?
- Is it right to interfere with nature to help people have a baby?
- Is IVF ethical?
- What do Christians believe about IVF?
- Why might people choose to have a saviour sibling? Is this ethical?
- Is surrogacy ethical?
- What problems can occur with surrogacy?
Stories of Faith (The Holocaust and Beyond):
- What can we learn from stories shared by Christians, Jews and Muslims?
- The Holocaust.
- ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ in Cambodia and Bosnia.
- How can genocide be prevented?
Religion and Ethics- Part 2:
- Why do people choose to have an abortion?
- What is the Christian view of abortion?
- When may abortion be necessary, if ever?
- Euthanasia – what is it?
- Should euthanasia ever be allowed?
- How does Christianity approach euthanasia?
- To consider the arguments for and against euthanasia