Lesson video

Hello there, my name is Mr. Robertson, and I want to welcome you to another RE lesson.

Thank you for making the choice to come and learn with us.

Today's lesson is from the unit Memory: what happens to us and our memories when we die?

And in this session we're going to think about when we die, how can we live on through the works we do, the legacies we create, and the memories that people have of us?

I think this is going to be a really powerful and reflective lesson, so I look forward to you joining us in it.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to explain how people may be seen to live on through memories, objects, and legacy.

We have three keywords in this lesson.

Our first word or words are memory/memories.

And by that we mean the way in which we keep someone alive in our minds after their death.

We have the word legacy.

And by that we mean the things a person leaves behind in the world after they die.

And finally, we have the word, values.

And by that we mean the principles or standards of behavior or one's judgment about what is important in life.

So in this lesson about living on through works and memory, we're going to look at two ways of approaching it.

And in the first part of the lesson, we're going to think about living on through objects and memories.

When someone dies, as you will know, their body will have died, and it will be buried or cremated.

We can see a photograph there of a humanist funeral.

The person has died and they have chosen a beautiful wicker coffin, and people who have been there have put flowers to remember this person.

Now, different religions and worldviews have different explanations for what happens after death.

Some religions might teach about a form of a life after death, while other non-religious worldviews, like humanists, might say that the body does not continue, there is no soul to continue after death.

But what about those people left behind?

How can they connect to the person who has died, and how can they continue to remember them?

And do you think that someone can continue to have an impact after their death?

You might want to pause the video just to reflect on those questions and give your initial thoughts, perhaps either to yourself or to someone around you.

So let's think about this a bit more deeply.

What can you see in this photograph?

And how might these connect to objects and memories?

You may have noticed a photograph.

You may have noticed some books which look very, very old.

If I look carefully, I can see the word common prayer on one of them.

Let's meet Charlie.

Charlie is a Baptist Christian.

He's going to talk about these objects, because one of the ways in which we can understand how people think about memories is to talk to some actual people and look at what they say.

Charlie says, "When my granddad died, my family and I were invited to choose some objects to help us remember.

I chose his prayer book and hymn book.

They're really old and he has written his name in beautiful handwriting.

I also have a photograph of him I took when I was really young.

He used to keep it on his desk.

To me, the objects help preserve his memory and remind me how he inspires me still.

" So I wonder what Charlie says here.

What are the objects he chose and why do you think he chose them?

Charlie carries on.

He says, "My granddad was Christian and so am I.

He was also in the army and I looked up to him.

Although I believe he's in heaven, I still miss him.

These objects help me connect with him.

I remember the day I took the photo.

He looks really smart.

He made me feel proud that he kept it on his desk.

The books connect me to him as well.

Sometimes I read the hymns and remember his singing.

" Charlie, thanks for sharing those really beautiful memories with us.

I wonder what you noticed about those memories and how, although what Charlie believes as a Christian, he's still in heaven, he still felt the need for the objects to help connect with the memory of his granddad.

I wonder what you can see in this photograph, and I wonder how you think this might connect to objects and memories.

You may have noticed the words Sheffield Wednesday FC, a football club, and you may have seen a message here about a space being dedicated to Sheffield Wednesday supporters who are longer with us.

Let's find out some more about this object.

Charlie tells us, "My granddad was a big football fan.

Every year on his birthday we bring some flowers and put them outside the stadium where he used to have a season ticket.

We also get the announcer to mention his name at halftime.

Watching the game and laying the flowers helps us all to keep his memory alive.

We remember his values like fairness and bravery.

" So what is it that Charlie does, and how does that keep his memories alive?

Let's check our understanding so far.

Select two ways that Charlie keeps the memories of his granddad alive.

A, reading his hymn book, B, praying for him, C, attending church, D, visiting the football ground on his birthday.

What did you say?

Yep, A, reading his hymn book, and B, visiting the football ground on his birthday.

Brilliant, if you remembered those.

I wonder what you can see in this photograph, and I wonder how you think this might connect to objects and memories.

I can see some really beautiful glasses there.

They also look quite old, so I wonder if they connect to something special for somebody.

This is Nell, and Nell is a humanist, and she talks about these objects.

"When my granddad died, my family and I also decided to keep some objects that reminded us of him and my grandma.

We chose these beautiful glasses, 'cause my grandparents would always offer us food when we went to stay.

They loved any excuse for a celebration.

The glasses remind me of happy times, like Christmas and birthdays.

" That's beautiful, isn't it?

I love the way that those glasses help remind her of happy times.

Nell says, "As a humanist, I think that death is the end of our lives and there is no afterlife.

But I still think people can live on through the memories of those who survive.

As a family, when we drink from these glasses, we often make a toast to my grandparents.

We try to live their values of hospitality and enjoying this one life as much as we can.

" I wonder how, what Nell says, might connect with our humanist values.

What do you notice about what they do and how that might connect with her beliefs about the afterlife or lack of afterlife?

We've got two more photographs here.

I wonder what you can see in these photographs, and I wonder how you think this might connect to objects and memories.

I can see a photograph of a bench and a tree, and also some beautiful wild flowers as well.

Nell says, "My grandparents loved nature and being outdoors.

We had a bench with a plaque made with their names on.

It was placed on one of their favorite parks.

Sometimes I go and sit there.

Watching the birds and smelling the flowers reminds me of them.

I like to see other people sitting there as well.

I wonder if they ever read the plaque?

I like to think they live on, inspiring other people to love nature.

" Again, thanks for sharing that, Nell, that's really, really beautiful.

So, what does Nell do, and how does this keep her memories alive?

Well, you may have noticed that Charlie's family go to a football match each year, whereas Nell's family have created a bench in a park and they like to go and sit there, and sitting there help them connect with the memories of the grandparents.

Let's just check our understanding, true or false?

Humanists do not believe people can live on through memories.

Think about what Nell just told us.

Excellent.

It's false, isn't it?

Because Nell explained she believes, although the physical body is gone, memories can live on in other people.

So, well done if you've got that right.

Okay, let's bring these ideas together.

I want you to think about what Charlie and Nell said about remembering their grandparents.

I wonder what they would agree on?

And I wonder what they would disagree about?

And I wonder how their religion or worldview affects this?

You might want to create a conversation between them or a role play to show how they might discuss living on through objects and memories.

Think about what was similar in terms of what they did, the objects they had, the things they did after their granddads' death.

What is similar that they would agree was important, and perhaps what would they disagree on, maybe connecting to Nell's humanist beliefs and Charlie's Christian beliefs?

Really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Good luck.

So, you may have role-played this conversation, you may have scripted it.

You might have said something like, Charlie says, "I agree with you Nell, that objects can help remember people who have died.

I love looking through my granddad's hymn book and going to the match reminds me of his passion for football.

" Nell says, "Yes, definitely.

I think for me as a humanist, the fact I believe that death is the end makes memories really precious.

I like to think that people may sit on my grandparents' bench and reflect on their love for nature.

It reminds me life is short, and we must make the most of it.

" Their conversation continues.

Charlie says, "That's where we disagree then, Nell.

As a Christian, I do believe there is a life to come.

I think of my granddad looking down at me and sometimes the photo I took helps me remember him.

" Nell says: "Certainly we disagree in that way, but I think we both find physical objects an important way of allowing the memories of someone to live on in us.

" I wonder if your conversation reflected the fact that they shared a huge amount, didn't they, about the belief of physical objects helping to preserve memories and also the fact that they'd done extra things, like dedicated a bench or going to a football match to remember their grandparents as well.

But one big difference was Charlie's Christian beliefs that there is a soul and that people live on in an afterlife in heaven, whereas Nell, as a humanist, believes that this life is all we have.

I wonder what your conversations look like.

In the second part of this lesson, we're gonna build on this idea of living on through memories to look at the idea of living on through a legacy.

Lucas and Laura are discussing the idea of living on.

Lucas says, "So people might be said to live on through objects that help people remember them.

Can people live on in other ways?

" And Laura says, "I think the idea of a legacy is important.

People may be set to live on through having an impact after death.

" I wonder what you think about the idea of a legacy.

And I wonder if you think about how could people have an impact after death.

Can you think of any examples of your own?

I wonder what you came up with.

Let's talk to Nell again.

Nell talks about one of her heroes, Marie Curie.

We can see a photograph of Marie there.

Nell says: "Marie Curie had a non-religious worldview.

She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Her research on radioactivity has led to new ways to treat cancer and advanced medical imaging.

Sadly though, her work meant she was exposed to radiation and she died in 1934 when she was 66.

" So Marie Curie, an extraordinary woman, a scientist, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

And despite the amazing things that her scientific discoveries did, she actually died herself relatively young from the exposure to the radiation that she worked with.

Nell explains how the legacy of Marie Curie has inspired her.

She says, "Marie Curry's legacy can be seen in the charity, Marie Curie.

They support people who are dying and provide special nurses.

They fund research into cancer.

So her life has an impact today.

She has inspired me to pursue a career in medical research when I leave school and university.

" So in what ways does Nell see Marie Curie having a legacy, I wonder?

Well, she talks about despite the fact she died of cancer, a charity using her name was set up and that charity raises funds to help other people get over cancer and care for them.

So trying to build on the good stuff that Marie Curie brought into the world, and also her legacy has had a personal inspiration for Nell, because she now wants to work in medical research when she leaves university.

Let's check our understanding so far.

I've got a true or false question for you here.

A legacy refers to the physical things a person leaves behind in the world after they die.

Is that true or false?

Excellent.

It's false, isn't it?

Because it can refer to the physical things that a person leaves behind, but it also refers to the impact they might have in the world, like the impact of Marie Curie, for example.

Let's talk about another case study.

You may have heard of someone called Sir Chris Hoy.

He is a British six-time gold Olympic medalist in track cycling, which makes him one of great Britain's most successful Olympians.

It's extraordinary, isn't he?

Six gold medals.

He's known for his dedication, hard work and determination, especially in track cycling, which was his adopted sport.

However, in 2024, Chris Hoy revealed he'd been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the prostate, which is found just below the bladder, and it's one of the most common cancers in men.

A terminal diagnosis means that Sir Chris knows he will die and he's not going to be able to be cured with this condition.

Since his diagnosis, Sir Chris Hoy has been raising awareness about the risks of prostate cancer in men.

He's done this through speaking publicly about the signs to look out for and advocating for early screening.

In other words, men being checked to see if they have signs of prostate cancer early.

He also raises funds for cancer charities, including for Prostate Cancer UK, through events like the Tour de 4, which is a major cycling challenge, and we can see an illustration of him doing it there.

So what an extraordinary man.

Despite having this diagnosis, he'd carried on and using his energy to raise awareness, and he's also carried on cycling as well.

Chris Hoy said, "I've realized I can make a difference.

" I wonder how we might connect those words with the idea of legacy.

We might think Chris Hoy already has a legacy, the legacy of being an amazingly decorated Olympian, but he wants to make more of a difference.

He wants to make sure that his life, his remaining life, is there to make a difference, to help other people.

Lucas and Laura are discussing the legacy of Sir Chris Hoy.

Lucas says, "Sir Chris Hoy has inspired me to speak to my dad.

I want to check he knows about prostate cancer and the signs.

" Laura says, "Sir Chris Hoy is really inspirational.

He must be facing a lot of challenges both mentally and physically, but he's still helping others by raising awareness and supporting important charities.

What a wonderful legacy he is making.

" So actually a legacy could be something you create in life as well.

It doesn't just have to be something that happens when you die.

Let's just check our understanding.

Select two ways that Sir Chris Hoy is raising awareness of prostate cancer and leaving a legacy: A, setting up a running challenge.

B, advocating for early screening.

C, raising funds for cancer charities.

Excellent.

It's B and C, isn't it?

He's advocating for early screening and he's raising funds for cancer charities.

Well done if you got that right.

We have an image, an illustration for you here.

I wonder what you think might be going on here, and I wonder how this might connect to legacy and memory.

You might see a group of women together; you might see the fact they have medals on; it looks like they're running together.

I wonder what this is about.

Nell says: "My auntie died from cancer last year.

She was only 36, and it was really sad for all of us.

My mom and I decided to run a 5k this year to raise money for the Marie Curie charity.

When we ran, we both thought about my auntie.

Losing her was such a tragedy, but raising money like this means she could still have an impact after her death.

Her legacy is carrying on.

We plan to run this event next year as well.

" So, this is really sad, isn't it?

that Nell's auntie died and so young.

How is she trying to keep her memory of her auntie alive?

So you might have talked about the fact they're trying to run a 5k race this year and that will raise money for the Marie Curie charity, and that enables her to think about her auntie as they run, but also feel like that raising money will help other people as well.

" Why is Nell running the 5k race?

A, to get fitter, B, to find a cure of cancer, C, raising funds to remember her auntie.

Excellent.

It's C, isn't it?

To raise funds to remember her auntie.

Okay, I've got a statement for you here I'd like you to think about.

And the statement is this: When a person dies, they no longer have an impact.

In pairs, I'd like you to discuss that statement.

You might like to use your own ideas, but also some of the evidence from the case studies we've looked at.

We've looked at Sir Chris Hoyle, we've looked at Marie Curie, we've looked at Nell and Charlie as well and their stories about their grandparents and auntie.

I wonder how far you agree with this statement and how far you might disagree with it, and what reasons you might give to either agree with it or disagree with it, using the evidence that we've looked at.

Be ready to report back.

So you might have said, that you agree to a certain extent, because as Nell said, "Death is the end of the physical body and people don't survive beyond it.

" On the other hand, you might have said, people like Charlie, who's Christian, believes in a life after death and can feel connected to the dead.

You might have said furthermore, Marie Curie continued to have an impact after death as her memory and works carry on in the work of a Marie Curie charity.

You might have talked about Sir Chris Hoy and the fact that he's building a legacy by saving others from prostate cancer and that will continue after his own death.

And you might have talked about people like Nell, who's trying to keep the memory of her auntie alive through charity so that that person's life can have an impact on others.

I wonder where you thought you could find the evidence and whether you tended to agree more or disagree more with that statement.

And the second thing I'd like you to do is this: I'd like you to think about the different sorts of legacy we've seen in this lesson.

We've looked at how the legacy of Marie Curie lives on through her charity that's set up in her name and in some of the scientific discoveries that she made.

We've also learned about Sir Chris Hoy, who's leaving a legacy for after his death, by despite his diagnosis, trying to help people now.

And we've also looked at Nell's auntie and how when she died, Nell and her mom are running a 5k race in memory of her and also to raise money as well.

I wonder what kind of legacy you might hope to leave.

I wonder what you would want to be remembered for.

To help you with this, you might want to think about what your interests or passions are now.

You might want to think of any values or things that are really important to you, or maybe you have family members that you might want to think about a legacy and ways you can help them now.

You could do this how you like.

You might want to talk about it, you might want to draw it, you might want to write it as a paragraph.

But have a think about this idea of legacy and what it might mean to you.

I wonder what you came up with.

So, I have an example for you here.

I imagine yours will look very, very different.

You might have said, "I would want my values of love for the planet to be remembered.

Some of my money could go to charities that help campaign for protecting and restoring nature.

My interests include hiking and wildlife photography.

Spending time in nature is what made me value it so deeply, and through photography, I've tried to share that beauty with others to inspire them to care for it too.

" I wonder what you thought was an important legacy that you might want to leave.

I wonder if there are particular charities that you're passionate about.

I wonder if there are particular interests that you have, any particular values you would want to continue.

But thank you for sharing those and I wonder if that's made you think about them a bit more deeply.

So in this lesson, we've learned that when a person dies, their physical body may go, but many people believe memories of that person can live on.

We've learned that people with a religious worldview may feel connected to people in an afterlife, whilst people with a non-religious worldview may feel they can live on in their memories.

We've talked about the fact that objects can be important carriers of the memory of the dead.

And finally, we thought about the idea of a legacy referring to the things that a person leaves behind in the world after they die.

And we've noted that legacies can be created by people living today.

I hope this has been a useful and interesting lesson for you and made you reflect on the idea of memory and legacy.

I look forward to seeing you in another lesson soon.

Thank you.