Lesson Plan : Moral Dilemmas
Teacher Name: | Miss Rodgers |
Grade: | Grade 3 |
Subject: | Other |
Topic: | Are there situations where right and wrong aren't perfectly clear? Yes! These are called "moral dilemmas" and sometimes we have to "step into someone else's shoes" in order to come to an agreement. |
Content: | Key vocabulary: Moral dilemma, morals, perspectives Key concept: Perspective taking |
Goals: | Students will evaluate a moral dilemma both on their own and as a group. Because this may be the first time many of them have been asked to consider a dilemma like this, questions will be specific and discussion will be largely guided. |
Objectives: | Students will independently consider a moral dilemma and make independent initial judgements on the situation. Students will engage in discussion weighing the different perspectives in a story involving a Moral Dilemma. Students will be introduced to the terms "morals," "moral dilemma" and "perspectives." |
Materials: | One copy of the story of Holly and the kitten, with directions to the students, to put on the overhead. A copy of the story with accompanying questions for each student. |
Introduction: | Students will have very little introduction for this activity. When they enter the class in the morning (for Morning Work time) they will have the story with instructions on the overhead and the worksheets on their desks. They will be given 15 minutes to consider the story and answer the questions. |
Development: | When 15 minutes have passed and the students have all had time to at least read the story, I will ask them all to close their eves and give a show of hands regarding answers to the worksheet questions. I will then re-read the story to them and open the floor to comments from the class. |
Practice: | I will lead the class in a discussion about the different opinions and views of the story. I will use the term "perspectives" and reinforce its meaning casually in conversation. I will work to subtly ask the students to consider other perspectives, ideas, and/or solutions to the dilemma. As the discussion ends, I will introduce the terms "morals" and "moral dilemma" and tell the class that we will be looking at more of these as the week progresses. |
Accommodations: | Students with reading challenges will have the story read to them and will have an opportunity to discuss the story with the teacher while the others are writing their responses on the worksheet. All students will be involved in the class discussion so that all perspectives can be considered. |
Checking For Understanding: | On day 2, students will be presented with another moral dilemma story, this one requiring a little more intense thought. During the discussion, I will assess whether or not the students have progressed in their ability to consider other perspectives. |
Closure: | At the end of the discussion of Holly and the kitten, we will re-introduce the terms morals, perspective and moral dilemma. Students will be asked to keep an eye out in real life for situations like these. |
Evaluation: | By the end of the week-long unit, I hope to see students: -more involved in discussion -bringing real-life events into the discussion -making more attempts at considering the viewpoints of others, in stories as well as in real life All students will not be at the same level of moral development when this unit ends, but I would like to see each student progress from when the unit began. |
Teacher Reflections: |
| Create New Lesson Plan | Lesson Plan Center |