Humanist ceremonies
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how and why many humanists choose to have ceremonies to mark stages in life.
Key learning points
- Many humanists believe that having a ceremony to mark different stages in a human’s life is important and meaningful.
- Humanist celebrants are people who are trained to carefully design a ceremony that is personal and meaningful.
- Naming, wedding and funeral ceremonies celebrate the connection of people to each other and the natural world.
- Humanist ceremonies will be non-religious and celebrate the one precious life they believe humans have.
Keywords
Connection - the responsibility and care a person might feel towards something or someone
Celebrant - a person who leads or performs a religious or formal ceremony, such as a wedding, or funeral
Ceremony - a formal event performed on a special occasion
Common misconception
Ceremonies are only marked by people who believe in god.
Humanists do not belive in god, but have ceremonies to mark meaningful events in life.
Teacher tip
Be sensitive to pupils' experiences of death and loss with some of the lesson content. You may have a local humanist celebrant who could come and talk to the class. The Understanding humanism website has other resources and case studies to help with this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Humanists believe we have life to live, so we should make the most of it.
Q2.Humanists believe that humans have the capacity for good and ...
Q3.What do humanists use to understand the world?
Q4.Why might some humanists become vegetarian?
Q5.What do humanists aim to do when making ethical decisions?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Why might humanists choose to have a ceremony?
Q2.What does a humanist celebrant do?
Q3.Humanists believe children should be free to what they believe.
Q4.Which of these actions might happen at a humanist ceremony?
Q5.Humanist ceremonies always include religious prayers.
To help you plan your 5 religious education lesson on: Humanist ceremonies, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 religious education lesson on: Humanist ceremonies, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 religious education lessons from the Humanists: How can you lead a happy and meaningful life? unit, dive into the full primary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.