The unit of work demonstrates one approach that can be taken with Year 10 students and the Christian Beliefs Key Idea ‘A Christian worldview is shaped by the biblical teaching of sin and grace.’
Seasons is designed to equip students with attitudes and skills to cope with change and loss throughout their lives. It opens with a series of metaphors illustrating the impact of stress in our lives and how situations can be seen as a challenge or opportunity. The film ‘Life is Beautiful’ is used to further illustrate this concept and promote discussion on bullying behaviours and strategies to deal with bullying. Students then identify their own reactions to change and loss, recognising also that grief is a ‘normal’ part of life. They view death operating in the film ‘Ghost’ and also consider Jesus’ death and the impact it had on key people in his life. Students learn about stages of grief and consider death from alternate viewpoints, before identifying how they can help someone who is grieving, or find support if they struggle with their own grief. Finally, students look beyond death within the task ‘What happens to me when I die?’ After learning about Christian views on life beyond death, they compare and contrast other religious and philosophical beliefs about life after death, and investigate how funerary practices reflect these beliefs.