Overview
Through examining various dimensions of dignity, students will engage in critical discussions, analyse real-world examples, and reflect on their own beliefs and values. The resources encourage students to consider various voices and perspectives, including the immense contribution of Christianity to our understanding of the worth of every human.
Learning Activities
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Students will explore the Biblical foundation of human dignity and understand how Christianity has shaped modern expectations.
- Students will understand how the concept of human dignity applies to a range of contemporary issues and contexts.
- Students will identify a variety of ways in which they can affirm the dignity of others in their world through acts of compassion and advocacy.
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
- Students can demonstrate how Christian teachings on human dignity have shaped the values and ethics of the world we live in.
- Students can explain what it means to give others dignity, providing examples of how that applies to real world relationships.
- Students can identify the vulnerable and marginalised in today’s world, evaluating causes of, and possible responses to, inequality and injustice.
Unit Introduction
Understanding 'Human Dignity'
Created Equal
Preserving Human Dignity
Assessment Task
Reflective Essay
Students choose one of the issues covered in the unit and research facts and statistics for the level of injustice or inequality that exists today. They then write a reflective first-person reflective ‘essay’ on their understanding of the issue, their convictions about who is responsible, and their hopes for what could be changed in their lifetime.
Group Discussion Forum
As a whole class or in smaller groups, students discuss what they believe is the greatest threat to human dignity in a modern world. Students are marked on the quality and quantity of their contributions to the discussion. The marking criteria should assess the level of understanding of the issues, as well as the thoughtfulness of the responses and the contribution of each student to developing the tone of the dialogue. The focus should be on the way the discussion elevates human dignity more than on the quality of suggested responses or innovations.
Curriculum Integration
We’ll add more here over time, feel free to let us know which classes these lessons have been helpful for.