Divorce and Remarriage

Overview

Duration: 60 minutes
Class size: 9 students
Age group: KS3 (11-14 years)
Subject: Religious Education
Topic: Divorce and Christian Attitudes to Divorce and Remarriage

This lesson focuses on understanding Christian views regarding divorce and remarriage, engaging students through discussion, critical thinking, and worksheet activities. It aligns with the UK Religious Education Curriculum, including the Locally Agreed Syllabus for RE and the PSHE curriculum links on relationships and marriage.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain different Christian perspectives on divorce and remarriage.
• Identify key biblical teachings about marriage and divorce.
• Discuss how divorce impacts individuals and communities from a Christian viewpoint.
• Reflect on and express their own views respectfully, supported by religious teachings.
• Complete worksheets capturing key ideas and personal reflections.

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Curriculum Links

• Religious Education (NASACRE Model Syllabus and Locally Agreed Syllabus):
  • Understanding Christian teachings on marriage and divorce.
  • Exploring moral and ethical issues.
• PSHE (Social and Emotional Wellbeing):
  • Recognising challenges in relationships.
  • Developing empathy and respect for diverse viewpoints.

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Resources

• Printed Divorce and Remarriage worksheet (with sections for notes, Bible quotes, and personal reflections)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Bibles (or printed Bible excerpts) — Matthew 19:3-9, Mark 10:2-12, 1 Corinthians 7:10-16
• Scenario cards depicting different divorce and remarriage situations
• Projector (optional) for displaying key points or video clips about Christian marriage teachings
• Reflection journals or notebooks

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Engage: Begin with a quick whole-class poll – “What do you think marriage means in the Christian faith?” Record responses.
• Set the scene: Brief explanation of why divorce is a sensitive and important topic in Christianity.
• Contextualise: Explain key biblical passages that form the basis of Christian views on divorce.
• Show: Display and read Matthew 19:3-9, highlighting Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce.

2. Group Activity – Exploring Attitudes (15 minutes)

• Divide the class into 3 groups of 3 students.
• Give each group one of the following:
  • A biblical passage related to divorce and remarriage.
  • A scenario card describing a Christian family dealing with divorce.
  • A set of Christian denominations’ statements on divorce (e.g., Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican).
• Each group reads their materials and discusses questions:
  • What does this teach about divorce or remarriage?
  • How might this affect someone going through divorce?
  • Are there differences between denominations?
• Groups fill in the worksheet section summarising their findings.

3. Class Discussion and Worksheet Completion (15 minutes)

• Groups share findings.
• Teacher leads a discussion on the variety of Christian views: strict, forgiving, pastoral approach.
• Discuss the impact of divorce on individuals/church communities.
• Students complete the worksheet with personal reflections and key ideas from discussion.

4. Individual Reflection and Empathy Exercise (10 minutes)

• Students write a short diary entry or letter from the perspective of a person facing divorce in a Christian community.
• Focus on feelings, faith, and potential support.
• Share some reflections voluntarily for class empathy building.

5. Plenary and Assessment (10 minutes)

• Quick quiz (verbal or written) to recap key Biblical teachings and differing attitudes.
• Ask students to write one question they still have or something new they learned on a post-it note.
• Collect worksheets for formative assessment.

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Worksheet Structure (included for printing)

Divorce and Remarriage Worksheet

1. Key Bible Quotes:

   • Write or summarise the Bible passages your group explored.

2. Christian Attitudes:

   • What are the main Christian views on divorce and remarriage based on your readings?

3. Scenario Reflection:

   • How might the Christian family in your scenario feel? What challenges do they face?

4. Personal Reflection:

   • Write your thoughts on divorce and remarriage. How do you think faith helps people in this situation?

5. Group Summary:

   • What did your group agree on? What was surprising?

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Differentiation

• Provide sentence starters or writing scaffolds for less confident writers.
• Encourage more able students to explore denominational differences in more detail.
• Use the empathy writing task to support emotional literacy across the ability range.

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Extension Ideas

• Invite a local Christian leader or counsellor to talk about pastoral support for divorced Christians.
• Create a class display exploring marriage, divorce, and forgiveness in world religions.
• Link to PSHE by discussing how communities can support people through difficult family situations.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Monitor student engagement with different activities.
• Note differing viewpoints and readiness to discuss sensitive subjects.
• Use worksheet responses to shape next lessons on relationships and ethics in Christianity.

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This lesson plan integrates biblical understanding, critical thinking, empathy, and expression, designed specifically for KS3 students in the UK school context. By blending group work, reflection, and targeted worksheets, you offer a varied and memorable learning experience on a complex topic.