Religion and Early Life

• At what stage would you regard it as a human life? Give a reason for your opinion

• At what stage would you regard it as acceptable to perform an abortion. Give a reason for your opinion.

Starter: match up the stage of pregnancy with

the picture.Day 1 – Conception; sperm joins with the ovumWeek 3 – Heart begins to beatWeek 7 - Limbs begin to show. Eyes & ears start to form.Week 9 – The foetus cab move its handsMonth 7 – The foetus can recognise its mother’s voiceMonth 9 - Birth

When does life begin?

L.O:To explore different beliefs about when life really begins and understand why these beliefs are important.

Starter: Mark your own out of 6 as we look at the different stages

ConceptionDAY 1

The sperm and ovum join. The cell is smaller than a grain of salt,but has all 46 chromosomes, a complete genetic blueprint.DAYS 3-4

The fertilised egg travels towards the uterus through the fallopian tube. Cells divide.

2 weeks

DAYS 10-14

The embryo releases chemicals and hormones that

preventthe mother from menstruating (having

aperiod).

3 weeks

DAY 21

The heart begins to beat.

5 weeksDAY 35

Fingers and toes have

formed. Blood is now pumping.

6 weeks

DAY 40

Brain waves are detectable and recordable. Nostrilshaveformed.

7 weeks

DAY 28

Limbs and muscles begin to show. The spine starts forming. Eyes, ears and nose have started to form.

2 months

8 weeks

It is now termed a foetus. It contains everything that a fully grown human being has. The foetus is touch sensitive.

9 weeks

The foetus has fingerprints and can move its hands. The baby has begun movement (used to be known as ‘quickening’.

11 weeks

The foetus can now urinate

and make facial expressions. Hair and

nailshave started to grow.

13 weeks

Hair has begun to grow and sexual differentiation is apparent.

4 months

The mother has started to show. The foetus can hear. Weighs the same as a letter.

6 months / 24 weeks

7 months

The baby can use four of its five senses and can recognize its mothers voice

When does life begin?

Why does it matter?

This question is important because once a person is alive they have human rights.

Most importantly the right to life which means that killing them is against the law.

It is a complicated issue because people think that life begins at different points.

When does life begin?

There are different views on when the foetus becomes a separate person:•At conception – the moment the sperms unites with the egg.•When the heart starts beating•When the foetus could survive outside the womb if born prematurely.•Moment of birth

What do you think? Go and stand in the area of the room which has the view displayed that you agree with.

Muslims believe…

That a foetus receives a soul after 120 days. Therefore is is when human life actually starts.

What is a soul?

The soul is…

Christians believe…

Many Christians particularly Roman Catholics believe that life begins at conception (when sperm and egg unite).

They speak of the embryo (foetus before 8 weeks) as a person.

Task: When does life begin?Based on our discussion you are going to explain at which stage you think life begins.

Remember to: •State which stage you think life begins at•Explain why you think this – give reasons & evidence•Compare and contrast your view with one of the religious views

Plenary: 5,4,3,2,1

5 - words to describe a baby4 – things a new born baby needs3 – stages of development2 – different views1 – reason why it is important when life begins