The unit of work demonstrates one approach that can be taken with Year 11 students and the Christian Beliefs Key Idea A Christian worldview is shaped by the biblical teaching of sin and grace together with the Christian Living key idea Christians have a responsibility in and for the world.
Christians live their lives in response to the amazing grace of God. To the non-Christian who hasn’t experienced this grace, the whole thing can be quite confusing. Thus the title ‘What’s so amazing about grace?’ Students begin their ‘grace journey’ with a concept map and an introduction to grace via a modern day version of The Prodigal Son. The Amazing Grace movie is then used to illustrate the dark, sinful side of human nature within the world of slavery in Britain. Students gain knowledge of the central characters to the cause of slavery abolition, and walk through the events that took place in the lead up to abolition in 1833. They also experience (to an extent) the inhumane conditions experienced by slaves aboard ships and reflect on why a group of human beings would inflict such suffering on another group of human beings. Through partner activities, analysing case studies, and reflecting in diary entries, students recognise that slavery exists on a large scale today in many forms and identify the impact it has on individuals and communities. Students brainstorm ideas to support ex-slaves who need to re-start their lives and use their creative skills to create a poster or leaflet to raise awareness of modern day slavery. They then return to the movie and consider the amazing grace experienced by the slave trader John Newton before considering the role of grace in their own lives by responding to the Nooma DVD ‘Luggage’. Finally, students finish their journey by searching for grace in other religions and aspects of society in completing the summative task ‘Where can the world go to find grace?’
Author: Matt Schirmer
Issue date: 22 Apr 2010