TEACHING NON-RELIGIOUS WORLDVIEWS
Introduction
This agreed syllabus includes the requirement for the teaching of a non-religious worldview, such as Humanism, specifically at Key Stage 3 or 4. But non-religious worldviews can be incorporated into the learning opportunities at all key stages.
Links
Since the last version of AMV, many more resources for teaching and learning about non-religious worldviews have become available. Here are a few that will support good learning in the context of the AMV agreed syllabus:
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/ The education pages of the British Humanist Association (BHA). Here you will find a guide to Humanism, ideas for teaching, including lesson plans, videos and other resources and a contact point for arranging a Humanist speaker to visit your class.
https://www.solarity.org.uk A set of 82 sessions written by the Sea of Faith Network (a non-religious network that explores religion ‘as a human creation’) intended for use by primary and secondary school teachers or youth group leaders wishing to run out-of-school-hours religion and philosophy clubs.
https://www.reonline.org.uk/resources/voices-from-humanist-worldview-traditions/ A humanist blog with reflections on how a Humanist lives their life.
A Humanist Contribution to the Programme of Study
Humanists UK has put forward a set of planning guidelines with ideas about Humanism that could be incorporated at each key stage. There is a wealth of ideas here, with links to teaching resources, built around the following questions (with potential links to the AMV units of study) and links to materials on the Understanding Humanism website.
To access online links and resources, see the resources section on the Understanding Humanism website: https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/resources/
Key Stage 1
Unit 1 Who are we ?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Human-beings-overview-5.pdf
Unit 5 How do we celebrate our Journey through Life?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Naming-ceremony-activities.pdf
Key Stage 2
Unit 1 What is important to me?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Society-overview-7.pdf
Unit 6 How do we make Moral Choices ?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Humanist-ethics-overview-7.pdf
Unit 8 What do people believe about life?
Unit 14 What does in mean to be a Humanist?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/What-is-humanism_-overview-7.pdf
Key Stage 3
Unit 1 What experiences and beliefs are important to me and to others?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/What-is-humanism_-overview-11.pdf
Unit 2 Does our planet have a future?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Environmental-Issues-perspective.pdf
Unit 3 Where are the answers to life’s big questions? [C&F]
Unit 6 How might beliefs affect my thoughts, ideas and actions?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Championing-change.pdf
Unit 8 What do people believe about life and the place of religion and beliefs within it?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/One-life-overview-11.pdf
Unit 9 What’s to be done? What really matters in religion and beliefs?
https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Society-overview-11.pdf
The full ‘Core Knowledge’ Guide can be downloaded here: https://understandinghumanism.org.uk/planning-guidelines/