New
New
Year 6

Humanist values

I can explain how humanists decide what is good.

New
New
Year 6

Humanist values

I can explain how humanists decide what is good.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. As a non-religious worldview, humanists believe that ideas of right and wrong are human values.
  2. Humanists look to reason and empathy to decide what is good.
  3. Humanists aim to promote happiness and reduce suffering.

Keywords

  • Ethical - relating to moral principles that shape behaviour

  • Reason - to think about something in a logical way

  • Empathy - to understand and share someone else’s feelings

  • Humanist - a person with a non-religious worldview based on humanist values

Common misconception

Humanists make decisions based on what suits them personally.

Humanists use empathy to make a decision that helps as many people as possible.


To help you plan your year 6 religious education lesson on: Humanist values, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Invite a humanist into the class to talk about how they apply humanist principles to their daily lives. Pupils could plan deep, philosophical questions in advance. These can be shared with interviewees so they have time to prepare worthwhile answers.
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 is the Qur’an?

a history book
a book of tales
Correct answer: the holy book of Islam

Q2.
The Hadith and the show Muslims how Prophet Muhammad lived.

Correct Answer: Sunnah, sunnah

Q3.
Muslims make ethical choices using the Qur’an and the example of the ...

Correct Answer: Prophet, Prophet Muhammad

Q4.
How did Prophet Muhammad show kindness?

by ignoring people
Correct answer: by helping those in need
by taking all the wood

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is Humanism?

a belief in one god
Correct answer: a non-religious worldview
a type of school

Q2.
Where do Humanists believe ideas of right and wrong come from?

from religious rules
Correct answer: from human values and understanding
from magic

Q3.
What is empathy?

reading books quickly
Correct answer: understanding how someone else feels
a magical power

Q4.
If a Humanist sees someone in pain, what are they likely to do?

walk away
blame them
Correct answer: use empathy to help if they can