Draft June How did we get here? What do Christians and Humanists say?

Transcription

1 How did we get here? What do Christians and Humanists say? 1

2 Express knowledge and understanding Demonstrate learning in the form of a formal essay giving information about science, religion and evaluating the extent that they are in conflict or not. Create display work on the Design Theory, hold a debate, creatively evolve an animal. Get together with the Biology department for cross curricular activities on evolution. Engage Begin to reflect how big the Universe is and how small we are in comparison. Talk about and show images of space. Find out what they already know. Discuss how they think we came about. Express Engage How did we get here? Enquire Enquiry questions developed Where did we come from? Is the Universe created or did appear through random chance? What do Christians believe? What do Humanists believe? What do the students themselves think? Encourage the students to ask the questions that they can then research the answers. Evaluate, analyse and respond to what has been learnt Make a model to symbolise Science and another to show Religion (e.g. using Model Magic or Play Doh) and place these in the room showing their own opinion about how closely they go together. Use Diamond 9 activities to explain own opinions Evaluate Explore Key Questions KS3: Christianity and Humanism (Religions and Science) LAR&B Christianity How do different Christians view the world and its origins? How do they relate their ideas to those of science? What does Christianity say about the existence of God? Humanism What questions might scientists have in relation to some Christian religious teachings or experiences? What is the humanist view of the world and its origins? LFR&B How do Science and Religion complement each other in the approach to the questions of origins? 2 Why is the idea of God a problem to some scientists? Does it require faith to be an atheist? Why have some scientists set out to test religious experiences? Explore the concept What do Christians believe look at the story of creation Research the Design and Cosmological theories. Investigate the Big Bang and Evolution. Discuss whether Christianity and Science are in conflict, in harmony or are totally separate ideas.

3 LAR&B Christianity How do different Christians view the world and its origins? How do they relate their ideas to those of science? What does Christianity say about the existence of God? Humanism What questions might scientists have in relation to some Christian religious teachings or experiences? What is the humanist view of the world and its origins? LFR&B How do Science and Religion complement each other in the approach to the questions of origins? Why is the idea of God a problem to some scientists? Does it require faith to be an atheist? Why have some scientists set out to test religious experiences (e.g. the power of prayer, faith healing, stigmata, visions, near death experiences)? Engage Enquire Explore Show pictures from space gain an understanding of how small we are and how massive the universe is. Show the YouTube clip the Hubble, Deep Field. Show a picture of a nearby Galaxy. Find statistics to show how long it would take to travel to the moon, to mars, to the next galaxy etc. James May documentary on the size of the universe Use a question matrix to ask ultimate questions about the universe and our existence Questions could be written up on Post-its and put up on the board. Homework could be selecting a question, taking it home and for homework either researching an answer or giving an opinion. Discuss the extent to which Religion and Science are friends or enemies, in conflict or in harmony? See appendix 6 Why is it so common to hear the words I don t believe in God, I believe in Science? Create a resource with different attitudes about Science and Religion and they could plot the cards on an agree/disagree grid or as a diamond nine. See appendix 2 Create a Venn Diagram of Science, Religion and an overlap area in between. Write different ideas in each section and plot where they see themselves Key Question: Does Science mean we don t need God? Key quote: Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence. It will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines. Bertrand Russell Be creative e.g. read the creation story and the class have to make notes only with drawings or symbols. Include the various ways of interpreting this from Creationists to more liberal Christians. For higher ability, compare and discuss the two different creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2. Research/read different creation myths from different cultures to put the Christian/Jewish creation story in literary context. 3

4 Create your own creation myth about how we came to be. Design Theory how does our world appeared designed William Paley and his clock analogy Use Louis Armstrong s What a wonderful World perhaps with pictures of beauty in nature then show in contrast pictures of natural disasters perhaps with REM Everybody hurts, or Donny Darko s Mad World Evidence to support design theory and criticisms Causation theory how did we come to exist? Does everything have a cause and effect? Is Thomas Aquinas right? Using evaluative skills to think critically. Use dominoes set up around the room to illustrate cause and effect. Cut out strips of paper and create paper chains, they start with an event and work backwards writing down as many links as they can in their chain of cause and effect. Science and Faith Videos on YouTube with Professor Russell Stannard Research/explore Humanist ideas about how we came to exist look at the Big Bang and Evolution. Use Richard Dawkins resources on YouTube Evidence for the Big Bang and Evolution Have we evolved to become moral people Explore the idea that morality has evolved not come from God Evaluate Look at Christians who are scientists e.g. Jocelyn Bell Burnell a Quaker and Astro-Physcist Rev Dr John Polkinhorne was professor of Mathematical Physic at Cambridge University and is an Anglican Priest Q&A here Make a model to symbolise Science and another to show Religion (e.g. using Model Magic or Play Doh) and place these in the room showing their own opinion about how closely they go together. They then have to justify. They could work in pairs and explain their partner s opinion to the class Use Diamond 9 activities to explain own opinions- see appendix 4 & 5 Express Write an essay with the title Science means we don t need God. Create a discussion between an Atheist, Creationist and a Catholic. Summarise what you think of each of their points of views Create a visual of the Design Theory or Causation that illustrates the main points and gives a personal evaluation. Create an art display with the good and bad of nature Film a class debate on Science and Religion Evolve an animal create a scenario where an animal is removed from its natural environment and ask them to draw how it would evolve in a million years. See Appendix 3,7,8 4

5 Appendix 1 Science and Religion Key words Belief Atheist Agnostic Theist Something that you feel to be true but cannot prove. Someone who does not believe that God exists. A person who is not sure if God exists. A person who believes that God exists. Omnipotent All-powerful Design Theory The idea that the universe appears so well designed, it must have a designer and that designer must be God. Cosmological The study of the universe Causation argument The idea that everything that exists has a cause; the universe exists therefore the universe must have a cause which is God. William Paley A Christian Philosopher who tried to prove the Design theory with the example of a watch Creator Someone who brings something into existence Charles Darwin Evolution The scientific theory that all life has changed and adapted to its surroundings over millions of years The man who collected enough evidence to prove that evolution takes place. Published his work in On the origin of Species in 1859 Creationist Christians who believe God literally created the universe in six days as it says in the Book of Genesis in the Bible Liberal Christians Christians who believe the Bible has an important message but is not literally true. The Big Bang The scientific theory of how the universe began with an explosion of energy which created all the matter in the Universe 5

6 Appendix 2 Science and Religons Arguments Science and Religion are friends Science and Religion are enemies God created the world God started the Big Bang but then left the world to develop The Big Bang and Evolution happened by random chance There must be a cause of the universe God is the First Cause The world does appear well designed If God designed the world he didn t do it very well There must be other life out there Maybe God created life on other planets One day God will create a new Earth The Earth is far more important than humans Humans are destroying the Earth Science explains how, Religion explains why How the world began is of no interest to me How the world began is the most important question we can ask Darwin is the most important Scientist that ever lived The Creation story is a Metaphor The Creation story must be taken literally If God did create the world, He can t be omni-benevolent God over-sees what goes on but doesn t get involved God is involved in the smallest details of our lives Evolution happens but it doesn t mean we evolved from Apes 6

7 Appendix 3 Science and Religion Assessment Essay Using all the information you have learnt this term, your mission is to write an essay about the debate between science and religion. Title: Science means we don t need God 1 Introduction Do you agree with the statement? 2 Religious beliefs Level 5 Explain what Science and Religion both say about the origins of the universe Use a wide range of keywords, good reasons and examples Use paragraphs Creation story the meaning Different Christian interpretations of it Evaluation of the design theory Level 6 Analyse what Science and Religion both say about the origins of the universe Express my own opinion on the different theories Use reasons and examples, keywords and evidence to back up my ideas Use paragraphs, and connect my paragraphs together 3 Scientific Theories The Big Bang and evolution Evidence for both 4 Christians and Science Different Christian opinions Jocelyn Bell Burnell Level 7 Level 8 Evaluate the debate between science and religion Express my own ideas on the different theories Use reasons, examples, evidence, quotations and philosophical language Use paragraphs, and connect my paragraphs together drawing my own conclusions Create my own interpretation of what I have learnt about science and religion Critically evaluate the different theories Use convincing reasons, examples, evidence, sources and philosophical language Create a well structured, coherent essay 5 Your own Opinion 6 Conclusion Briefly sum up or summarise what you have written 7

8 Appendix 5 Intelligent designer diamond 9 8

9 Appenidx 5 Believing in God Diamond 9 9

10 Appendix 6 starter activity Science vs Religion/ Evolution vs Creation. Is there an argument? Starter activity Different ways of explaining the same thing 1. What is being described in the following two statements a) An exchange of microbes in the saliva of 2 people. b) An expression of love used to greet friends, family and partners 2. What sort of person was a) written by? 3. What sort of person was b) written by? To find out if you are correct, move this text box after you have written your answer to question 1 4. Which is the most accurate explanation? Why is it more accurate? 5. Which is the most meaningful explanation? Why is it more meaningful? 10

11 Appendix 7 God as Creator Create a poster /powerpoint/video of what happens on each of the 6 days of creation. Find / draw creative pictures separately for each day and write what happened- (do not just copy a diagram from the internet) Before you start read/watch the Bible passages below to start you off. (a more modern version of the Bible) and then watch this one here ( an even more modern version of the Bible) Pattern in the creation story The pattern Day 1 Day 2 Day3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Command from God Let there be light The command is carried out and light appeared The created thing is named The day is named God named the light day and the darkness night Evening passed, and morning came. This was the first day This pattern in the creation story leads Christians to believe that it is a poem- not a scientific account. It is not meant to describe HOW the world was created but it was designed to show...(finish the sentence) 11

12 Appendix 8 Discussion template Three people... A creationist a Christian who believes God created the world in 6 literal days An atheist who believes in evolution A Catholic who believes that God worked through evolution to create the world and everything in it...were given a statement to discuss It is impossible that the world could have come into existence without a creator God. Read the information here Write the discussion they would have had. Use different shaped text boxes to differentiate between the speakers. Find pictures of people to be your characters. You can set your discussion out how you like here is an example Creationist Catholic Atheist Chuck Norris - Actor Pope Francis Richard Dawkins - Biologist Creationist Catholic Atheist 12

13 Attainment Target 1: Learning about Religion Attainment Target 2: Learning from Religion Level I can I can Create my own interpretation of what I have learnt about science and religion Critically evaluate the different theories Use convincing reasons, examples, evidence, sources and philosophical language Create a well structured, coherent essay Evaluate the debate between science and religion Express my own ideas on the different theories Use reasons, examples, evidence, quotations and philosophical language Use paragraphs, and connect my paragraphs together drawing my own conclusions Analyse what Science and Religion both say about the origins of the universe Express my own opinion on the different theories Use reasons and examples, keywords and evidence to back up my ideas Use paragraphs, and connect my paragraphs together Explain what Science and Religion both say about the origins of the universe Use a wide range of keywords, good reasons and examples Use paragraphs

14 Religious Education requirements This unit fulfils requirements for the KS3 learning theme Religion and Science: Issues of truth, explanation, meaning and purpose which arise in the debate between science and religion in relation to Christianity and Humanism Concept - God as Creator (Christianity) Concept Evolution (Humanism) 14

15 Resources for this unit The Tree of Life David Attenburgh great for clear explanation of evolution including William Paley and Design idea as well as Darwin s religious beliefs Science and Faith Videos on YouTube with Professor Russell Stannard for higher ability great short videos explaining issues around Science and Religion as well as showing discussion among students How the Universe Works half hour documentary with James May good fun and very informative Fat Boy Slim Evolution music DVD Right here, right now Charles Darwin Autobiography great chapter on his religious beliefs good to read out in class or for higher ability to read Richard Dawkins numerous DVDs RE today Secondary Resource Autumn 2013 Essential RE: God Edited Stephen Pett