Topic outline
- Ethical Education Curriculum and Support Documents
- Teaching Guidelines and Methodologies
Teaching Guidelines and Methodologies
Top recommended resources for teachers of Ethical Education below. Further resources and guidelines in folders. Resources related to specific curriculum strands can be found by selecting from the course menu ----------->
A fantastic resource detailing approaches to managing difficult discussions including ideas for classroom activities. A must-read for Ethical Education teachers.
PDST resource that includes instructions and templates for active learning methodologies including KWL chart, Diamond ranking and Placemat.
Lesson plans, resources and activities relevant to Different Teachings and Perspectives and Diversity in Ireland strands.
Resource relevant to Power and Participation strand.
National Women's Council of Ireland publication "Through the Looking Glass". Lesson plans, information and resources relevant to Gender Equality strand. Highly recommended.
Fantastic resource including activities on the Sustainable Development Goals relevant to the Development Education strand.
- Values
Values
NB! Starter guide for teaching and understanding Ethical Education. Includes activities related to exploring values and understanding the importance of values in decision-making that can be done with students. Accessed from:http://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Ethical-Challenges-PDF-1-Elliott-1.pdf
This presentation by teacher Elaine O'Dea from Celbridge CS links an examination of personal values to Philosophy and invites students to practice Ethical Decision Making by considering a number of scenarios related to honesty and stealing.
Students must help a teacher decide which kind of misbehaviour is worst. Leads to discussion on what is "good" and "bad" and whether punishment is fair.
Form A of this resource is useful for evaluating values in the school/ classroom
This presentation by teacher Elaine O'Dea from Celbridge CS invites students to think about their views on charity and the different values we have for people who are further away.
- Making Moral and Ethical Decisions
Making Moral and Ethical Decisions
Overview of research and approach to teaching ethical decision making. (See p.437 for 1 page summary table of key points and terms) Source: http://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/EthicalDecisionMaking.pdf
Unicef publication containing lesson plans, resources, examples of moral dilemmas and an explanation of ethics.
Ethical behaviour requires: 1. Moral awareness, 2. Moral judgment, 3. Acting in accordance with moral judgment. This page outlines obstacles that can prevent ethical behaviour and ways to overcome them. Useful for discussing and raising moral awareness with students.
Clip explains why thinking about and practising ethical behaviour is important. Also explains some of the information outlined in "Obstacles to Ethical Behaviour" link above. Warning: One participant speaks about taking "study drugs" (non-prescribed therefore illegal drugs) to improve performance at college.
Including Being Your Best Self, Part 1: Moral Awareness; Being Your Best Self, Part 2: Moral Decision Making; Being Your Best Self, Part 3: Moral Intent; Being Your Best Self, Part 4: Moral Action
Resource from www.thephilosophyman.com to get students thinking about philosophical and ethical questions.
- Should you choose to save five people if it means that one will die? The Trolley Problem presents an ethical dilemma that asks you to consider what influences your decision-making process. Lesson idea: Examine in conjunction with Activities 9 and 10- Considering harms and moral responsibility of the Ethical Challenges Toolkit (available in Values section above).
This presentation by teacher Elaine O'Dea from Celbridge CS invites students to explore different individual's right to privacy and think about how their behaviour impacts on others' privacy.
Being aware of fallacies will help students to identify false arguments and aid their critical thinking.
Possible activities:
1. Watch clips of different politicians speaking and identify any logical fallacies used.
2. Pick favourite fallacy and try to find an example of someone using it.
See also https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/
- Beliefs & Worldviews
Beliefs & Worldviews
- Our worldview tends to be influenced by our own experience and place in society but what if we didn't know what kind of society we would end up as part of and our place in that society? Would it change our views of what is just and fair? This is the premise of John Rawls "Veil of Ignorance" experiment.
Discusses the statement: "Violence is never justified in protests, either by protesters or by police.’
Lesson plan using Chimamanda Ngozi's TED Talk. Highly recommended.
In this lesson, students will learn to distinguish between the two different types of background beliefs: beliefs about matters of fact and beliefs about values. Students will work to go beyond specific arguments to consider the worldviews that might underlie different types of arguments. Handouts available to download from http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/page/BackgroundBeliefs.
Major World Belief Systems
A one-stop shop for teaching the History, Beliefs, Customs and Attitudes, Places of Worship, Artefacts and Holy Books related to Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Humanism, Judaism, Buddhism, Quakers and Atheist/ Personal Beliefs. Includes information fact sheets on each as well as teacher guidelines and lesson outlines. Highly recommended.
Resource produced for teachers to accompany Chester Beatty powerpoints (available under individual Religion headings below). Includes keywords, cross curricular links, background information and lesson plans. Highly recommended. Accessed at http://www.cbl.ie/getdoc/a8834abb-face-47b4-b2d5-507ab2c55f72/Ways-of-Seeing-II.aspx
A Journeys in Film resource linked to National Geographic Channel TV series "The Story of God" featuring Morgan Freeman. Lessons for Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism can be found in the sections below. Episodes from the series can found by searching on Google.
Produced by Chester Beatty Library. Good overview and attractive- includes artwork from Chester Beatty collection. Accessed from http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Ways-of-Seeing-intercultural-Learning-Project-for-.aspx
Buddhism
High quality and detailed lesson plans, handouts and information about Buddhism. Highly recommended.
Produced by Chester Beatty Library. Good overview and attractive- includes artwork from Chester Beatty collection. Accessed from http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Ways-of-Seeing-intercultural-Learning-Project-for-.aspx
Hinduism
High quality and detailed lesson plans, handouts and information about Hinduism. Highly recommended.
Produced by Chester Beatty Library. Good overview and attractive- includes artwork from Chester Beatty collection. Accessed from http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Ways-of-Seeing-intercultural-Learning-Project-for-.aspx
- 14 year old Simian talks about her life as a Hindu explaining the Hindu religion and everyday practices.
Humanism
Developed by North Bay ETNS. Provides an overview of the main principles of Humanism (text heavy).
Islam
High quality and detailed lesson plans, handouts and information about Islam. Highly recommended.
Produced by Chester Beatty Library. Good overview and attractive- includes artwork from Chester Beatty collection. Accessed from http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Ways-of-Seeing-intercultural-Learning-Project-for-.aspx
Judaism
High quality and detailed lesson plans, handouts and information about Judaism. Highly recommended.
Produced by Chester Beatty Library. Good overview and attractive- includes artwork from Chester Beatty collection. Accessed from http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Ways-of-Seeing-intercultural-Learning-Project-for-.aspx
Christianity
High quality and detailed lesson plans, handouts and information about Christianity. Highly recommended.
Produced by Chester Beatty Library. Good overview and attractive- includes artwork from Chester Beatty collection. Accessed from http://www.cbl.ie/Education/Ways-of-Seeing-intercultural-Learning-Project-for-.aspx
Sikhism
Comprehensive information about Sikhism under the headings: Beliefs, Customs, Ethics, History, Holy days, People, Rites and Rituals. Highly recommended.
Other Belief Systems
- Different Teachings and Perspectives
Different Teachings and Perspectives
This resource includes lesson plans, activities and resources relevant to this strand. See in particular p. 27 for lesson involving world maps. Highly recommended.
Unicef publication containing lesson plans, resources, examples of moral dilemmas and an explanation of ethics. See p. 123-137 for stories and myths from different countries.
Lesson plan that uses different versions of Little Red Riding Hood. Recommended.
Lesson plan that teaches students to analyse political cartoons for messages and bias.
A selection of texts that can be used to explore the experience of refugees with students of various ages.
A selection of texts suitable for older students and teachers exploring the experience of refugees and migrants.
This short story with attractive images can be used as a stimulus to talk about different cultures and expectations within cultures.
Invite student to respond to these unusual questions. There is likely to be a variety of opinions and perspectives. This should help demonstrate that different ways of thinking and different perspectives are normal.
- Diversity in Ireland
Diversity in Ireland
Lesson plan that explores similarities and differences using potatoes or stones. Popular with students.
Lesson plan with role play cards. Encourages students to think about how different groups are treated and catered for in society.
Lesson plan including myth and fact statements. Encourages students to think about perceptions and stereotypes of different groups in society.
10 videos on equality and inclusion produced by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI). Dealing with issues relating to LGBT, Migrant, Travellers, Learning Disabilities, Physical and Sensory Disability, Young Parents, Older People etc.
Anti-racism
A blog written by Dr Laura Dooley and Dr Emer Nowlan from Educate Together National Office (June 2020)
Educate Together teacher Emer O'Neill talks with Ryan Tubridy about her experience of racism in Ireland including the recent racist graffiti targeting her in her hometown of Bray.
This presentation contains images from an Instagram post by author and activist Emma Dabiri in June 2020. Following the positive reaction to this post, Emma wrote a book expanding on the ideas put forward. It will be published in March 2021.
The presentation contains images taken from Emma Dabiri's Instagram. She discusses race as a social construct, eugenics and some of the history and laws that created and supported racial inequality and slavery.
This is an excellent source of information, resources and lessons for teachers interested in anti-racism teaching approaches and topics including Black Lives Matter.
- Diversity in Ireland LGBTQI+
Diversity in Ireland LGBTQI+
Includes glossary of key terms helpful for preparing for discussions on Gender with students of all ages
Artist iO Tillett Wright has photographed 2,000 people who consider themselves somewhere on the LGBTQ spectrum and asked many of them: Can you assign a percentage to how gay or straight you are? Most people, it turns out, consider themselves to exist in the gray areas of sexuality, not 100% gay or straight. Which presents a real problem when it comes to discrimination: Where do you draw the line?
Rory O'Neill aka Panti Bliss is given a standing ovation at the Abbey theatre in February 2014 (following a performance of James Plunkett's 1913 Lockout) when s/he speaks about being gay in Ireland and the issue of prejudice and homophobia.
- Migration
Migration
Resources and lesson plans suitable for Migration strand of Ethical Education. More resources at: http://www.unhcr.org/search?cid=56406f014&scid=56406f0e4&tid=56406f184&tags=English&tags=12-15
Video clips, information sheets, definitions, infographics and suggested discussion topics and walking debate statements.
Role play activity that highlights how inclusive society is for different groups.
Encourages students to consider the perspective and experience of someone who has had to flee their country at short notice.
This book uses powerful images to demonstrate the experience and treatment of being a newcomer. Good for sparking discussion about migration and how we treat "Others".
The Lost Thing is an animation based on Shaun Tan's story which tells the story of a boy who discovers a bizarre lost creature at the beach and sets out to find somewhere it can belong.
The Lost Thing Study Guide is available at: http://www.acmi.net.au/media/428194/shaun-tan-ed-kit.pdf Student activity sheets are available at: http://www.acmi.net.au/media/428197/shaun-tan-activity-kit.pdf Teacher support notes are available at: http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Sites/Web/13647/documents/teachnotes_tan.pdf.
Shaun Tan's books The Arrival and The Rabbits also suitable for exploring issues of emigration/ immigration/ displacement/ identity. See http://www.shauntan.net/books.html for more.
Includes definitions of migrant, refugee, asylum seeker, direct provision as well as information on history of migration and current situation in Syria. Has lesson plans and resources relevant to Migration strand. Highly recommended.
Young migrants talk about their experiences of living in Ireland and making it their home.
Young, paperless and powerless"I've never told anyone that I'm undocumented. None of my friends know. I feel like I have to hide a part of myself from the people I care about."
Direct Provision
A great resource for teachers with lesson plans and activities linked to the RTE Radio documentary "The Outsiders" (link below).
Looks at life in the Irish direct provision system, told by two 13-year old girls.
A compilation of 3 short stories written by Nigerian writer Melatu Uche Okorie who lived for four years in the Direct Provision system in Ireland.
Includes glossary of key words and follow up questions and activities for lesson.
Over three years, the filmmakers lived in Mosney, a Direct Provision centre outside Dublin. From Congo, Kurdistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, we hear why people are forced to leave everything they have and move to a country where they are total strangers. And we learn of the trauma of waiting – living in fear in this bizarre no-mans-land.
Directed By Paul Rowley and Nicky Gogan
Produced By Maya Derrington Paul Rowley and Nicky Gogan
Music By Dennis McNultyVicky Donnelly CPD Oct/Nov 2020
A great exercise for critical thinking and identifying biases/ Eurocentric perspectives.
- Power and participation
Power and participation
- Through our exploration of values and the ethical decision making process (Ethical Curriculum Strands 1 and 2), we know that acting in an unethical way just because someone in authority tells us to, is not a justifiable reason. What can we do then if we believe a law is unethical and wish to change it? Civil Disobedience is one way people (including Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and Gandhi) have responded.
This 2007 publication, by the Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) provides useful strategies for organising class elections and other activities related to activating democracy in the classroom.
Citizens' Rights and Responsibilities in a Democracy
Students from Bremore ETSS were involved in the creation of this child friendly resource.
- Gender Equality
Gender Equality
Includes glossary of key terms helpful for preparing for a discussion about Gender with any age group.
This presentation by teacher Elaine O'Dea from Celbridge CS explores gender stereotypes with regard to films, jobs and children's toys.
- Use as a follow up/ part of the difference between gender and sex lesson. Good links to #LetToysBeToys campaign also.
Resource includes introductory activities and case studies to discuss gender issues.
Tony Porter makes a call to men everywhere: Don't "act like a man." Telling powerful stories from his own life, he shows how this mentality, drummed into so many men and boys, can lead men to disrespect, mistreat and abuse women and each other. His solution: Break free of the "man box."
- Global Citizenship Education
Global Citizenship Education
Fantastic Worldwise Global Schools Programme resource with suggested activities to raise students' awareness of their global citizenship.
NYCI resource containing practical lesson plans on justice and development education issues.
Climate Change
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Under the Global Citizenship Education Themes section on this page, find multiple resources, further information and teaching guides linked to each of the Sustainable Development Goals. An excellent source of information.
END EXTREME POVERTY.
FIGHT INEQUALITY AND INJUSTICE.
TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE.
There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to achieve these aims by 2030. Each year the World's Largest Lesson focuses on one of the SDGs. It encourages students and teachers around the world to teach the same lesson to increase awareness and knowledge of the SDGs with the aim of promoting action to achieve these aims. The link contains lesson plans, resources and further information about the SDGs.
Useful charts and infographics on areas related to 17 SDGs. Cross curricular links to Geography & Maths. Also available online: http://datatopics.worldbank.org/sdgatlas/
Content for each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Highly recommended.
A girl's view of the 17 sustainable development goals - in pictures
This Guardian article relates each of the SDGs to a photograph while also highlighting the importance of gender equality.
An illustrative guide to the Code of Conduct.
Follow-up lesson plan to Using Photos to teach about SDGs- analyse the photos from the Guardian article "A girl's view of the 17 sustainable development goals- in pictures" (above) in light of the Dochas Code of Conduct.
Do these photos meet the requirements? Why? Why not?
Who is responsible for making sure the Code of Conduct is kept?
Is there anything we can do as consumers/ citizens to encourage all media outlets and companies to comply with this Code?
A two part holistic workshop based on looking after ourselves while working towards a safe ecological future. This is especially geared towards teens who may be experiencing ‘Eco-Anxiety’ and those who have been involved/or would like to be involved with climate activism. It's advised to do the first & second parts of the workshop roughly within a week of each-other.
Fairtrade
Food Waste
Embedding Global Citizenship Education at second-level: A Principal's Guide
A webinar with three principals from the Educate Together Network discussing how they have embedded Global Citizenship Education in their schools:
Sarah Molloy, Principal Galway Educate Together Secondary School
Ashling Kenevey, Principal Dublin North East Educate Together Secondary School
Colm Kehoe, Principal Educate Together Secondary School Wicklow
With thanks to funding from Irish Aid's WorldWise Global Schools programmeA webinar with three principals from the Educate Together Network discussing how they have embedded Global Citizenship Education in their schools:
Bernie Judge, Principal Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School
Kathy Jones, Principal Bremore Educate Together Secondary School
Niall Hare, Principal Kishoge Community College
With thanks to funding from Irish Aid's WorldWise Global Schools programmeStudent lessons
These Global Citizenship Education lessons are designed so that students with a personal device can access and follow them outside a school environment. Each of the slides contain narration which can be activated by clicking on the speaker icon. It is also possible to read the text rather than listen to the narration.
This series of five lessons were created with funding from WorldWise Global Schools in response to the closure of schools in Ireland from March 2020 as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Teachers are also welcome to access and/or edit them for use in their teaching, whether online or in person. The ideas, opinions and comments herein are entirely the responsibility of its author or the authors featured and do not necessarily represent or reflect WWGS and/ or Irish Aid policy.
- Education for Sustainability
Education for Sustainability
The Earth Charter
Plastic-free Communities
Developed by Kate Minnock, teacher at North Wicklow ETSS
- (Dis)Ability
(Dis)Ability
‘View From Here’ (2009) has been produced by the Irish Wheelchair Association to provide a disability awareness educational resource for young people. The purpose of this resource is to raise awareness among students and teachers of the simple steps they can take, the attitudes they can choose and the decisions they can make that will improve how young people with disabilities are treated. The resource includes a booklet and a short film (12:18 mins - available: http://www.iwa.ie/information/dvd-section).
- Philosophy
Philosophy
Guide to structuring philosophical discussions in class with students.
Using the picture as a stimulus and providing the students with the statements attached you could get the group to read out the questions and then do a Vote With Your Feet where they stand by the question that interests them most. Talk about why they thought it would be interesting. Allow them to add their own questions and home in on the most popular question. This will let them start to develop a taste in questions, and to see the difference between philosophical questions and ones that have simple factual answers, such as, "Where was the picture taken?"
- Stereotyping
- Other resources
Other resources
Council of Europe Resource. Good overview of intercultural theories and some activities outlined.
A set of toolkits to support the junior cycle key skills. Of particular relevance to Intercultural Learning in Action are the toolkits relating to working with others, communicating, being creative.
- Suggested texts for Ethical Education
Suggested texts for Ethical Education
- Subject Specific Teaching Resources
Subject Specific Teaching Resources
- Example of Ethical Education Lesson
Example of Ethical Education Lesson
Filmed in Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School 4th March 2016
Teacher: Hayley McCann
Students talking about Ethical Education
- Background policy and framework documents
Background policy and framework documents
Readings: Intercultural Education
- Ethical Education Cross Curricular Posters (created by Ciara McMackin Kishoge Community College)
Ethical Education Cross Curricular Posters (created by Ciara McMackin Kishoge Community College)
- Planning Ethical Education
Planning Ethical Education
Lesson planning resources shared by teachers of Ethical Education in our Educate Together second-level schools.
- Senior Cycle Ethical Education
Senior Cycle Ethical Education
In a wide ranging lecture, Muldoon discusses a range of complex issues such as cultural appropriation, identity politics and race and asked “What are the duties, if any, of the artist? Does he or she have any rights?”
A series of podcasts including: "1918 and the New Europe"; "In Conversation with Catherine Corless"; "What it means to be Human in the 21st Century". Could be used as a part of a flipped classroom approach to teaching Senior Cycle Ethical Education.
Topics: Ethics and AI; Genomics; Future Cities; Vaccines
Includes easy to understand videos for topics including: the nature of reality (Nozick's Exeprience Machine); Kant and the Categorical Imperative; Identity; Aristotle; Justice.
- Transition Year Ethical Education
Transition Year Ethical Education
Cultural Relativism and Online Case Study
Focuses on Wikileaks and Julian Assange as a case study
Gender Equality and Gender Quotas
Great clip for prompting discussion on the changes in society relating to gender roles and norms, activism, current and previous protests
Some questions to prompt discussion:
How many things are mentioned that women "can't" do?
Are there any things that women are still prevented from doing by law or custom locally, nationally or globally? What are the reasons for this?
What are the three ladders referred to in the ad that women "can't" climb?
What movements do the hashtags at the end of the video relate to? (#HeForShe #BossNotBossy #TimesUp #WomenInTech #MeToo #ThisGirlCan #ChangeTheRatio #BodyPositivity)
The Royal Irish Academy commissioned Eavan Boland, Hon. MRIA to write a new poem to celebrate 100 years since the women of Ireland, Mná na hÉireann, were granted suffrage and first cast their ballots in the 1918 election.
Critical Thinking Skills: Soldier and Scout Mindset
Educate Together Transition Year Symposium 12th February 2019
EEN Event: Teaching Transition Year Ethical Education by Aaron Kenny 14.10.2020
- Ethical Education Network
Ethical Education Network
An introduction to Ethical Education – Planning, Resources and Assessment (October 2017)
Exploring Beliefs Through Experiential Learning, Dr. Patricia Kieran (November 2017)
Values, Education and Values Education, Dr. Colm Kenny (April 2018)
Amnesty International CPD on Migration and Power and Participation (February 2019)
EEN Workshop at Religion Teachers Association of Ireland Conference (9th March 2019)
Fighting Fake News: Media Literacy in the Ethical Education Classroom (5th Nov 2020)
