Unit Overview

Within the Christian worldview, God is acknowledged as the source of all goodness. Created in the image and likeness of God, women and men are inherently good, though they are now wounded by sin. In this unit students will explore the implications of God’s will that all people, with the help of God’s grace, should strive to do and pursue what is good, and avoid what is evil.

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Enduring Understanding

God is the source of all goodness, and all people should strive to do and pursue what is good, and avoid what is evil.

Objectives

A student will

value, appreciate and become aware of the various expressions of God’s presence in the world; recognise the religious diversity of humanity; acknowledge the tension between good and evil; be open to the need to integrate religion with life
develop knowledge and understanding of the action of God in creation, the reality of good and evil and the human search for meaning in Christian and other traditions
reflect on the action of God in creation; reason with appropriate information and present coherent viewpoints; recognise the reality of good and evil; make informed responses in their search for meaning

Outcomes

A student

articulates an understanding of how aspects of Christian living can assist people to grow in goodness. (RECKC8)
explores and draws meaning from examples of good and evil in life and in the Scriptures. (RECSC8)
appreciates the Christian belief that good triumphs over evil. (RECVC8)

Essential Questions

What does the Bible and Catholic Church teaching have to teach Christians about freedom? What is my responsibility as a Christian gifted with freedom and free will?
Why is goodness always contrasted with evil? Why do we always talk about good and evil?
Where can we find goodness in our lives?

Learning Focus & Statements of Learning

Students will deepen their understanding of what it means to be human by
- exploring the Church teaching that human nature is essentially good.
- considering the implications of human freedom.
- considering some of the strengths and weaknesses of human nature.
- exploring Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Choose life
Students will develop an awareness of the Christian understanding of good and evil by
- exploring examples of good and evil in the Old and New Testaments
- considering experiences and/or examples of good and evil in a range of life situations.
- considering how Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection defeated sin and evil.
- exploring Matthew 4:1-11 The temptation of Jesus
Students will recognise and value the ways in which people can grow in goodness by
- exploring how aspects of Christian living strengthen one’s moral character and capacity for goodness.
- identifying practical everyday means by which they can pursue good.
- exploring case studies about people who exemplify, and/or Christian organisations which promote good living.
- exploring Philippians 4:4-9 Exhortation of goodness

Compulsory Scripture

Learning Focus 1: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Choose life
Learning Focus 2: Matthew 4:1-11 The temptation of Jesus
Learning Focus 3: Philippians 4:4-9 Exhortation of goodness

Church Documents

CCC 396-409 – Original Sin
CCC 1730-1748 – Man’s Freedom
CCC 1749-1761 – Morality of Human Acts
CCC 1987-2005 – Grace and Justification
CCC 601-622 – Christ’s Redemptive Death in God’s Plan of Salvation
CCC 1762-1775 – The Morality of the Passions

KWL

Year 7 TKWL Chapter 18 A Closer Look at Sin, Conscience and Values
Year 8 TKWL Chapter 7 Experiences of Good and Evil
Year 9 TKWL Chapter 8 Images of Good and Evil

Prayer

We Gather…as a community and prepare to hear the Word of God	Prayer Leader: We gather together as a community and we remember that Jesus said, ‘For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.’ (Mt 18.20 NJB). We take time in our day to pause and spend a few moments acknowledging that Jesus is here with us. Pause. We make the sign of the cross together: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We Listen… to the Word of God as it is proclaimed because Scripture is the heart of a liturgical celebration.	Reader: Philippians 4:4-9 Exhortation of goodness
We Respond… with a ritual action such as a reflection on the Word, Prayers of the Faithful, Powerpoint, a ritual action and/or singing.	Prayer Leader: In St Paul’s letter to the Philippians we are encouraged to be people of joy, to speak to God in prayer and thanksgiving, and to live lives that are pure, honourable and just. An important aspect of living lives of goodness is to be mindful of and attentive to our actions, motives and thoughts. One part of Ignatian spirituality calls us to reflect on our actions and thoughts daily. This is something that many people throughout the world do each day before they go to sleep at night or at another time throughout the day. In the stillness of your heart, take a few moments to think about the past day – Who did you meet? What did you do? How did you treat those you met? And reflect on the following questions: In the last day, when have I shown goodness to another? Pause (1 min-to-whatever your class is comfortable with) In the last day, when haven’t I shown goodness to another? Pause (1 min-to-whatever your class is comfortable with) Meditative song: Taize chant: ‘I am sure I shall see the goodness of the Lord’. The song can be purchased from iTunes, or it can be found on the Taize album Christi Lux Mundi, Track #5. Alternatively, this chant can be listened to from YouTube as an audio track OR the YouTube clip can be viewed (with a range of images from Taize). If used, the clip needs to be downloaded and the advertisement at the start removed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wm_hjF_PO8 Universal Prayers: Prayer Leader: Lord, in our homes, may we be people who love and create peace in the way we speak to, treat and serve our family members. All: May we strive for goodness in our homes. Prayer Leader: Lord, in our school, may we be people who learn and create community in the way we approach our studies and relationships with our friends, peers and teachers. All: May we strive for goodness in our school. Prayer Leader: Lord, in our activities, may we be people who have fun and create teamwork in the way we try to the best of our abilities. All: May we strive for goodness in our activities. Prayer Leader: Lord, in our interaction with others, may we act in a way that is positive toward others, and shows respect for community, the environment and myself. All: May we strive for goodness when we socialise. Prayer Leader: Lord, in our world, may we be people who act with justice and create a world that sees the value in every human being and nature. All: May we strive for goodness in our world.
We Go Forth… into the world to do what we proclaim and to give witness to the fact that we are disciples and followers of Christ. Use a final prayer, a blessing, a song or hymn.	Prayer Leader: May all that is good within us grow, and may we always act in the way we are called by Christ. Prayer Leader: May all that is good within us grow, and may we always act in the way we are called by Christ. Play: ‘Run to the Father – Matt Maher OR Play the clip from YouTube
Useful links

General Capabilities

Australian Curriculum
Cross Curriculum Priorities		The General Capabilities
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures		Critical and creative thinking
	Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia		Ethical understanding
	Sustainability		Information and communication technology capability
Other important learning identified by the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA):			Intercultural understanding
	Civics and citizenship		Literacy
	Difference and diversity		Numeracy
	Work and enterprise		Personal and social capability

Life Skills

Religious Education for students studying a Life Skills program is developed from the unit outcomes, resulting in the Learning Focus and Statements of Learning. Students may demonstrate achievement of these learning statements independently or with support designed to meet the needs of the student. Such support may include:

the provision of extra time to complete tasks
physical and/or verbal assistance from others
the provision of technological support
the assistance of a scribe
participating in a group task
providing verbal or artistic responses along with written ones.

Outcome

A student

locates and describes stories from Scripture or everyday life which depict good defeating evil. (LRECKSC8)

Content

A student studying a Life Skills program will be able to:

deepen their understanding of what it means to be human
- develop a checklist of some of their own personal strengths and weaknesses, suggesting ways to address each weakness.
- describe a story from Scripture or an everyday life situation which depicts good defeating evil.
- develop a prayer journal.

Examples of Essential Questions

What does good and evil look like in the world?
Why should people try to be good and/or bring about goodness in the world?

Examples of Teaching and Learning Experiences

LSC8 1.1

Students spend some time in quiet personal reflection, thinking about the things they are good at (strengths) and the things that need work (weaknesses). Students could use this T-Chart for the activity. For each strength and weakness students are to write a real life example of an action they have performed that shows these strengths and weaknesses. (e.g. Strength – I always remember to take the dog for a walk/do the washing up etc. Weakness – When I find Maths problems too hard I give up and get distracted in class)
Students now take each weakness and write down one practical strategy for overcoming the weakness. (e.g. When I find the Maths problems too hard I need to put up my hand and ask my teacher for help).
Students design a motivational poster for themselves (perhaps using Glogster), using pictures and words that will help them to remember their strategies for overcoming their weaknesses.

LSC8 1.2

Choose 1 example from either the Old or New Testament passages below. Locate and read the passage (NB: it may be more appropriate to use a passage in story form such as one found in The Children’s Bible) and students complete a 5 W’s worksheet about the passage (Who, what, when, where, why – where ‘why’ is how this passage shows good defeating evil).
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17:20-51 (David triumphing over Goliath).
New Testament: Matt 4:1-11 (The Temptation of Jesus)

OR…

Look through a current tabloid newspaper at the pictures and headlines, and categorise the articles into examples of good or examples of evil. Choose one article that is an example of good defeating evil and complete a 5 W’s worksheet about each of the articles (Who, what, when, where, why – where ‘why’ is how this passage shows good defeating evil).

LSC8 1.3

Students are provided (or purchase) a small notebook for the purpose of creating a prayer journal. In it, students can write down their favourite prayers, favourite reflections, draw pictures of him/herself talking to God, illustrate the gifts God has given for which he/she is thankful. They can glue in pictures or photos of people, places or activities he/she is involved in, that helps him/her grow closer to God and write journal entries that explain why this helps them grow closer to God.
Students are encouraged to cherish this prayer journal and to make it their own personal “place” where they can spend time writing prayers or journal entries talking to God about life, the good things encountered and the challenges faced.

References to KWL

Year 8 TKWL Chapter 7:
7.6 The Nature of Good and Evil in Scripture, pp 87-88.
7.7 The Triumph of Good, p89.
Year 9 TKWL Chapter 8:
8.4 Images of Good and Evil in Film and Story, pp 171-175.
8.6 Symbols of Hope in Christianity, pp 177-178.

Scripture

1 Samuel 17:20-51 David triumphing over Goliath
Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus

C8 – Striving for Goodness