KS3 PRE - Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Year 7 Units
Introduction to Worldviews
An introduction to the concept of worldviews and the idea that no-one stands nowhere. This unit encourages students to examine a diverse range of views looking at similarities and differences.
Assessment: Baseline test.
Christianity
An introduction to the diverse beliefs and practices of the Christian religion. This unit encourages an understanding of the core features of Christianity.
Assessment: End of unit test.
Islam
An introduction to the diverse beliefs and practices of the Muslim religion. This unit encourages an understanding of the core features of Islam.
Assessment: End of unit test.
Themes
How do religious beliefs impact attitudes towards social justice issues?
Assessment: Creative task.
Year 8 Units
Hindu Dharma
An introduction to the beliefs and practices of Hinduism. This unit introduces pupils to the fundamentals of Dharmic religions including the concepts of reincarnation, karma and ahimsa. There is a particular focus on the range of Hindu beliefs about god.
Assessment: In class end of unit written test about Hindu beliefs.
Buddha Dharma
An introduction to the beliefs and practices of Buddhism. This unit develops an understanding of the core Dharmic principles through a Buddhist lens. Looking at no-god religious belief and practice. There is a particular focus on Buddhist philosophy.
Assessment: End of unit written test about Buddhist beliefs.
Sikhi
An introduction to the beliefs and practices of Sikhism. This unit brings together students’ understanding of monotheistic and Dharmic religious beliefs and practices through understanding of Sikh beliefs and practices. There is a particular focus on seva (service).
Assessment: End of unit- create a guide to Sikhi for a visitor to a Gurdwara.
Themes
Bringing together everything students have learnt about the beliefs and practices of Dharmic religions to investigate the question - How do religious beliefs impact attitudes towards animals and the environment?
Assessment: Creative task - create an advertising campaign for an environmental charity to encourage religious people to help.
Year 9 Units
Ethical Theory
Considering different responses to the question ‘how can we know how to be good?’ looking at religious and non-religious answers.
Practical Ethics
Applying ethical theories to a contemporary moral issue in an individual project.
Assessment: Personal study into an ethical issue.
Philosophy
Exploring the traditional philosophical arguments for the existence of God and the ancient philosophical problem of evil as a challenge to belief in God.
Assessment: Written task.
Problem of Evil
Exploring the philosophical and theological responses to the problem of evil. Does the existence of evil in the world make it less likely that God exists?
Spirited Arts
Exploring the power of art, poetry and creativity to communicate deep religious and philosophical ideas.
Assessment: Creative task.