ETHICS (PHILOSOPHY) What’s the Right Thing to Do?: KS3 RE
NON SPECIALIST FRIENDLY PICK UP AND GO LESSON.
What’s the Right Thing to Do?: KS3 Ethics / Religious Education (RE) / Religious Studies (RS) Lesson (PowerPoint)
Overview:
This fully-resourced KS3 lesson introduces students to moral decision-making through real-life case studies and philosophical thought experiments. Students explore whether consequences matter more than actions, using the famous Trolley Study by Philippa Foot and the historical case of Dudley & Stephens. The lesson encourages critical thinking, ethical debate, and personal reflection.
What’s Included:
A 22-slide PowerPoint presentation with structured activities
DO NOW starter quiz with moral statements for discussion
Case study: Dudley & Stephens (1884) – survival, murder, and moral justification
Thought experiment: Philippa Foot’s Trolley Study – sacrifice and the greater good
Vocabulary development around key terms like morality, consequence, action, superego, and justified
Structured writing support using PEE (Point, Example, Explain)
A Blue Zone independent writing activity with success criteria, key words, and a challenge question
Model answer for review and improvement
Video links and discussion prompts to deepen understanding
Learning Objectives:
Understand how philosophers and courts approach moral dilemmas
Explore the difference between actions and consequences in ethical decision-making
Reflect on personal values and how they influence moral choices
Develop extended writing skills through structured response tasks
Target Audience:
Key Stage 3 (KS3) students
Suitable for Year 9 or high-ability Year 8
Can be used as a standalone resource or part of a wider Ethics / Religious Education (RE) / Religious Studies (RS) curriculum










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