New
New
Year 2

Humanist choices: The Fox and the Stork

I can explain how humanists make good choices based on empathy.

New
New
Year 2

Humanist choices: The Fox and the Stork

I can explain how humanists make good choices based on empathy.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Humanists have a non-religious worldview. Stories can help illustrate how humanists make choices.
  2. In the story of The Fox and the Stork, both animals do not treat the other how they would like to be treated.
  3. Humanists try to make good choices based on reason and empathy for other people.

Keywords

  • Humanist - someone who believes we should be kind, fair, and help each other, without belief in God

  • Empathy - understanding how someone else feels and caring about their feelings

  • Consequences - the results of the choices you make

Common misconception

Humanists don't believe in anything.

Humanists do have beliefs! They believe in people, kindness, fairness, and making good choices. But they believe without faith in a god.


To help you plan your year 2 religious education lesson on: Humanist choices: The Fox and the Stork, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Use images of different emotions to help children identify feelings, then ask what they could do to help in each case. Follow up with real-life or story-based tricky situations, and encourage pupils to think about what a reasonable and kind choice would be.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What does the story of Ganesha teach us?

winning is always most important
Correct answer: wisdom can be shown through love and respect
only fast people succeed

Q2.
Hindus believe that means doing what is right and loving.

Correct Answer: dharma, Dharma

Q3.
Which of these is an example of compassion?

laughing when someone falls
walking away from a problem
Correct answer: helping someone who is sad

Q4.
In the story, Ganesha walked around his to show they were the most important to him.

Correct Answer: parents, Parents, mum and dad

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is a fable?

a real story from history
Correct answer: a story with a hidden meaning
a story told only in religious books

Q2.
Humanists use empathy to help them understand how others ...

Correct Answer: feel, Feel

Q3.
What is the golden rule many humanists follow?

always win
think for yourself
Correct answer: treat others the way you want to be treated

Q4.
Humanists think about the of their actions before making choices.

Correct answer: consequences
mistakes
feelings

Additional material

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