This element involves students reasoning when making decisions and acting ethically.
Students consider the consequences of and reflect on ethical action. They analyse the reasoning behind stances when making ethical decisions and evaluate the intended and unintended consequences of actions in an increasing range of scenarios. Students articulate understandings of a range of ethical responses in social contexts. In developing and acting with ethical understanding, students:
- reason and make ethical decisions
- consider consequences
- reflect on ethical action.
Level 1
Typically by the end of Foundation Year, students:
Reason and make ethical decisions
identify examples from stories and experiences that show ways people make decisions about their actions
Consider consequences
identify links between emotions and behaviours
Reflect on ethical action
identify and describe the influence of factors such as wants and needs on people’s actions
Level 2
Typically by the end of Year 2, students:
Reason and make ethical decisions
discuss how people make decisions about their actions and offer reasons why people’s decisions differ
Consider consequences
describe the effects that personal feelings and dispositions have on how people behave
Reflect on ethical action
give examples of how understanding situations can influence the way people act
Level 3
Typically by the end of Year 4, students:
Reason and make ethical decisions
explain reasons for acting in certain ways, including the conflict between self-respect and self-interest in reaching decisions
Consider consequences
examine the links between emotions, dispositions and intended and unintended consequences of their actions on others
Reflect on ethical action
consider whether having a conscience leads to ways of acting ethically in different scenarios