Different religious views about animal experimentation
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain different religious and non-religious views on animal experimentation, focusing on key ethical arguments and the impact on suffering and human health.
Key learning points
- Animal experimentation uses animals for scientific research, such as medical testing and safety assessments.
- Ethical concerns include the justification for animal suffering and the intrinsic value of animals.
- UK laws regulate harmful animal experimentation and promote the three Rs (replace, reduce, refine).
- Most Christian denominations support limited animal testing, while others, like Quakers, emphasise animal welfare
- Non-religious arguments focus on animal suffering versus potential human benefits.
Keywords
Animal experimentation - the use of animals in scientific research to study biological processes, test medical treatments, or assess product safety
Speciesism - the belief that humans are superior to other animals, justifying their use for human benefit, seen by Peter Singer as morally equivalent to racism
Suffering - the experience of pain or distress
Common misconception
Animal experimentation always harms animals.
While animal experimentation can involve harm, modern practices aim to minimise suffering by using alternatives, reducing the number of animals used, and refining procedures to ensure humane treatment.
Teacher tip
This lesson focuses around the use of animals for scientific research to study biological processes. The debate could be widened to include cosmetic testing and to discuss why this is no longer legal in the UK.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why do some Christians choose to follow a vegetarian diet?
Q2.What does the Christian concept of 'dominion' suggest about the use of animals?
Q3.Which of the following is not a reason Christians might avoid eating meat?
Q4.The belief that humans should take care of the Earth and its creatures is called ...
Q5.Many Christians believe that causing animals to suffer unnecessarily goes against being ...
Q6.A Christian who only eats plant-based foods is likely to follow a diet.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the main ethical concern about animal experimentation?
Q2.Which Christian denomination is most likely to oppose animal experimentation?
Q3.What is the significance of the Thalidomide case in discussions about animal experimentation?
Q4.The belief that humans have authority over animals and can use them for their benefit is called ...
Q5.Many scientists and religious leaders agree that suffering in animals used for research should be ...
Q6.According to Peter Singer, the belief that humans are superior to animals is known as ...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Different religious views about animal experimentation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Different religious views about animal experimentation, 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 4 religious education lessons from the Religion and life unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.