Welcome to @Home bulletin for Term 2 2025, where we let families know what your children, from kindergarten into secondary school, could be exploring in their ethics lessons this term.
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The topics we show below are based on classes which begin at the beginning of the year. Schools start at different times of the year, some lessons go faster or slower than others, some schools skip ethics for the first and last weeks of the term while others teach every single week – and so on.
We hope the students talk about ethics with you at home – ask them questions about it!
If your child tells you they are discussing a topic you don’t see in this bulletin, you can also look at the Curriculum section of our website.
Kindergarten: Making things up and showing off
Young children are learning to navigate social situations – and this term, they’ll explore why people sometimes make things up or show off. Is it wrong to invent a story to hide a mistake? Why do people brag when they win? Students will reflect on honesty, pride and how our words make others feel.
Stage 1 – Years 1 & 2: Different kinds of animals and different kinds of needs
Most kids know pets need food and water – but what about play, space and freedom? Is it just as important to play with a fish as it is to play with a dog? And is it okay to keep a wild animal as a pet, as long as it has everything it needs? This term, Stage 1 students will explore the needs of different animals and think about how we care for living things – even when their needs are very different from our own.
Stage 2 – Years 3 & 4: Persuading
Children are often natural persuaders – but not all persuasion is equal. This term, students will explore how we try to influence others and what makes persuasion fair or unfair. Is it okay to exaggerate a little? Or only tell part of the truth? And what about advertising – should companies be allowed to use tricks to make us want things? These conversations will help students think about honesty, fairness and how far to go when trying to persuade someone.
Stage 3 – Years 5 & 6: Being vain
As children grow, appearance often starts to matter to them more – both how they see themselves and how they think others see them. This term, Stage 3 students will explore questions about vanity and appearance. Is it okay to want to look good – or better than others? Where do we draw the line between taking pride in how we look and caring too much? And how do our choices about appearance affect the people around us?
Stage 4 – Years 7 & 8: Giving and accepting apologies
Every day, all around the world, people apologise – sometimes sincerely, sometimes awkwardly, sometimes because they have to. But what makes an apology genuine? Can you really apologise if you don’t understand what you did wrong? And do people always have to accept a good apology? This term, Stage 4 students will reflect on what it means to say sorry – and explore more complex questions about group responsibility and when, if ever, someone can apologise on behalf of others.
Each term brings new ideas and questions and we hope these topics spark interesting conversations at home as well!