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Criticisms of Situation Ethics – KS3 Ethics / Religious Education (RE) / Religious Studies (RS) Lesson (PowerPoint)

Overview:
This fully-resourced KS3 lesson explores the key criticisms of Joseph Fletcher’s ethical theory of Situation Ethics. Students examine how relying on love as a moral guide can lead to confusion, inconsistency, and even harmful decisions. Through real-life examples, discussion, and structured writing, students evaluate whether Situation Ethics is a reliable approach to morality.

What’s Included:

A 19-slide PowerPoint presentation with structured activities
DO NOW starter quiz to activate prior knowledge
Recap of Fletcher’s theory and comparison with Aquinas’ Natural Law
Vocabulary development around key terms like agape, morality, consequences, justify, and absolutism
Case study discussions including refugee law, school rules, and the Aaron Campbell case
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 MWB tasks to support engagement

Learning Objectives:

Understand the main criticisms of Situation Ethics
Explore how love can be interpreted differently and misused
Reflect on the need for clear moral rules in society
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