Big Questions Big Answers Vol. 6 -Investigating Good and Evil
Theme: Investigating Good and Evil
The sixth volume in the Big Questions Big Answers series offers clear and knowledge rich substantive content about some aspects of good and evil: rites of passage through baby welcoming, beliefs helping in difficult times, food, Muslim worship and Eid-ul-Adha festival, and the gurdwara and the local community. There is clear substantive content about aspects of living for some non-religious people, Sikhs, Hindus, Jews, Muslims and Christians.
Units in the book feature case studies, interviews and photos from generous members of several communities.
The multidisciplinary or, to use Ofsted language, ‘ways of working’ unit for 9–11s reintroduces religious studies and sociology with our disciplinary experts Dr Chris Cotter and Dr Rachael Shillitoe.
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Select a topic to explore resources
- Investigator briefing: good and evil
- Why and how people say sorry when they have done something wrong?
- When people make bad choices how can they put right?
- What is good? What is evil?
- How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma?
- If there is God why is there evil and suffering? A philosophical and theological exploration
Interesting texts to introduce philosophy into the primary classroom: B
- ExternalBig Ideas for Little Philosophers series of board books by Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry, suitable for 3-5s
- ExternalThe Three Questions by Jon J. Muth
- ExternalI am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde – preview it on the publisher’s website
- ExternalPhilosophy: A Visual Encyclopaedia by Robert Fletcher et al
Messages within a story
- ExternalWonder by R.J. Palacio
Andy Goldsworthy: a digital catalogue with some of his work
eResource
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Investigating good and evil Unit 1: Investigator briefing BQBA6
- Internal
Investigating good and evil Unit 1: Investigator briefing BQBA6Introduction to foundational questions about good and evil, exploring influences on moral beliefs and ethical frameworks.
External links
Subject knowledge for teachers on the shofar (you may show short extracts from the PBS film to pupils)
- ExternalChildren’s Shofar factory (PBS, Public Broadcasting Service)
- ExternalThe Jewish Museum London
- ExternalThe Lord’s Prayer with actions (YouTube)
eResource
- ExternalSORRY letters BQBA6 (2.1)
- ExternalJewish and Christian ways of saying sorry to God BQBA6 (2.4)
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Why and how do people say sorry when they have done something wrong?
- Internal
Why and how do people say sorry when they have done something wrong? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint on apology, forgiveness, and understanding moral responsibility. - Internal
Investigating good and evil Unit 2: Why and how do people say sorry when they have done something wrong?Exploring apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation in moral behaviour, highlighting cultural and religious practices.
External links
eResource
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
3.4 The six pictures of the Jacob and Esau story on one sheet, for easy cut-out; supports Activity 3
- Internal
Jacob and Esau story pictures BQBA6 (3.4)Big Questions Big Answers vol 6: Investigating good and evil. Resource 3.4: pictures from the Jacob and Esau story to print and cut up. Supports activity 3 on p. 11. - Internal
When people make bad choices, how can they be put right? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint exploring forgiveness and redemption for young students. - Internal
Investigating good and evil Unit 3: When people make bad choices, how can they be put right?Exploring restorative actions and accountability after poor decisions, with a focus on forgiveness and personal growth.
External links
- External‘Why Should I Be Good?’ video from the BBC series ‘What Makes Me, Me? And Other Interesting Questions’
- ExternalA useful book for teachers (also mentioned in Section 1): Philosophy: A Visual Encyclopaedia
eResource
- External4.2 Good and Evil game board
- ExternalGood and Evil game cards BQBA6 (4.3)
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Powerpoint presentation: What is good? What is evil?
- Internal
What is good? What is evil? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint introducing concepts of good and evil for primary students. - Internal
Investigating good and evil Unit 4: What is good? What is evil?Introduction to moral philosophy with a focus on understanding 'good' and 'evil' from diverse perspectives.
External links - Child-friendly versions of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita
- External‘The Vedas and Upanishads for children’ by Roopa Pai (Hachette India 2019, available on Amazon etc.
- ExternalAvailable from UK publisher Swift Press from April 2023
- External‘The Gita for Children’ by Roopa Pai (Hachette India 2015;
- ExternalThe Gita: For Children available from UK publisher Swift Press from October 2022)
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma?
- Internal
How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint on how Hindus follow dharma in their lives. - Internal
Investigating good and evil Unit 5: How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma?Exploration of Hindu ethical concepts, focusing on dharma and the role of duty in guiding moral decisions and actions.
External links
- ExternalSubject knowledge on different kinds of arguments that are good and bad
- Internal
Investigating good and evil Pupil booklet (BQBA6)Structured activities on understanding good and evil, exploring religious, cultural, and ethical perspectives on morality. - Internal
Investigating good and evil Unit 6: If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering?Examining the problem of evil and suffering, exploring religious and philosophical responses to questions of faith and compassion.
Member Only Content
This content is available exclusively for members. Not yet registered? Sign up today.
Pupil booklet: If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering?
- Internal Investigating good and evil Pupil booklet (BQBA6)Structured activities on understanding good and evil, exploring religious, cultural, and ethical perspectives on morality.
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 6: If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering?Examining the problem of evil and suffering, exploring religious and philosophical responses to questions of faith and compassion.
Select a topic to explore resources
Investigator briefing: good and evilWhy and how people say sorry when they have done something wrong?When people make bad choices how can they put right?What is good? What is evil?How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma?If there is God why is there evil and suffering? A philosophical and theological exploration
Interesting texts to introduce philosophy into the primary classroom: B
- ExternalBig Ideas for Little Philosophers series of board books by Duane Armitage and Maureen McQuerry, suitable for 3-5s
- ExternalThe Three Questions by Jon J. Muth
- ExternalI am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde – preview it on the publisher’s website
- ExternalPhilosophy: A Visual Encyclopaedia by Robert Fletcher et al
Messages within a story
- ExternalWonder by R.J. Palacio
Andy Goldsworthy: a digital catalogue with some of his work
eResource
Member Only Content
Investigating good and evil Unit 1: Investigator briefing BQBA6
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 1: Investigator briefing BQBA6Introduction to foundational questions about good and evil, exploring influences on moral beliefs and ethical frameworks.
External links
Subject knowledge for teachers on the shofar (you may show short extracts from the PBS film to pupils)
- ExternalChildren’s Shofar factory (PBS, Public Broadcasting Service)
- ExternalThe Jewish Museum London
- ExternalThe Lord’s Prayer with actions (YouTube)
eResource
- InternalSORRY letters BQBA6 (2.1)
- InternalJewish and Christian ways of saying sorry to God BQBA6 (2.4)
Member Only Content
Why and how do people say sorry when they have done something wrong?
- Internal Why and how do people say sorry when they have done something wrong? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint on apology, forgiveness, and understanding moral responsibility.
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 2: Why and how do people say sorry when they have done something wrong?Exploring apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation in moral behaviour, highlighting cultural and religious practices.
External links
eResource
Member Only Content
3.4 The six pictures of the Jacob and Esau story on one sheet, for easy cut-out; supports Activity 3
- Internal Jacob and Esau story pictures BQBA6 (3.4)Big Questions Big Answers vol 6: Investigating good and evil. Resource 3.4: pictures from the Jacob and Esau story to print and cut up. Supports activity 3 on p. 11.
- Internal When people make bad choices, how can they be put right? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint exploring forgiveness and redemption for young students.
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 3: When people make bad choices, how can they be put right?Exploring restorative actions and accountability after poor decisions, with a focus on forgiveness and personal growth.
External links
- External‘Why Should I Be Good?’ video from the BBC series ‘What Makes Me, Me? And Other Interesting Questions’
- ExternalA useful book for teachers (also mentioned in Section 1): Philosophy: A Visual Encyclopaedia
eResource
- Internal4.2 Good and Evil game board
- InternalGood and Evil game cards BQBA6 (4.3)
Member Only Content
Powerpoint presentation: What is good? What is evil?
- Internal What is good? What is evil? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint introducing concepts of good and evil for primary students.
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 4: What is good? What is evil?Introduction to moral philosophy with a focus on understanding 'good' and 'evil' from diverse perspectives.
External links - Child-friendly versions of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita
- External‘The Vedas and Upanishads for children’ by Roopa Pai (Hachette India 2019, available on Amazon etc.
- ExternalAvailable from UK publisher Swift Press from April 2023
- External‘The Gita for Children’ by Roopa Pai (Hachette India 2015;
- ExternalThe Gita: For Children available from UK publisher Swift Press from October 2022)
Member Only Content
How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma?
- Internal How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma? PPT (BQBA6)PowerPoint on how Hindus follow dharma in their lives.
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 5: How might some Hindus try to follow their dharma?Exploration of Hindu ethical concepts, focusing on dharma and the role of duty in guiding moral decisions and actions.
External links
- ExternalSubject knowledge on different kinds of arguments that are good and bad
- Internal Investigating good and evil Pupil booklet (BQBA6)Structured activities on understanding good and evil, exploring religious, cultural, and ethical perspectives on morality.
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 6: If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering?Examining the problem of evil and suffering, exploring religious and philosophical responses to questions of faith and compassion.
Member Only Content
Pupil booklet: If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering?
- Internal Investigating good and evil Pupil booklet (BQBA6)Structured activities on understanding good and evil, exploring religious, cultural, and ethical perspectives on morality.
- Internal Investigating good and evil Unit 6: If there is a God, why is there evil and suffering?Examining the problem of evil and suffering, exploring religious and philosophical responses to questions of faith and compassion.
