Lesson Plan: Identifying Ethical Dilemmas

Subject: Ethics Grade Level: High School (9th-12th grade) Duration: 60 minutes

Introduction: - Begin the lesson by asking students to define the term “ethical dilemma” and provide examples of situations they consider to be ethical dilemmas. - Explain that ethical dilemmas are situations where individuals are faced with making difficult choices between two or more morally acceptable options. - Emphasize the importance of recognizing and analyzing ethical dilemmas to make informed decisions.

Lesson Outline: 1. Understanding Ethical Dilemmas (10 minutes) a. Present a brief overview of ethical dilemmas, highlighting their prevalence in everyday life, professional settings, and society. b. Discuss the significance of ethical decision-making and its impact on individuals and communities.

1. Identifying Ethical Dilemmas (15 minutes) a. Introduce various scenarios that present ethical dilemmas, such as:
   • A friend cheating on a test and asking for your help.
   • Witnessing a classmate being bullied and deciding whether to intervene.
   • Discovering a coworker stealing from the company and deciding whether to report it. b. Divide students into small groups and provide each group with a scenario. c. In their groups, students should identify the ethical dilemma in the scenario and discuss the potential consequences of different choices.
2. Questioning and Discussion (15 minutes) a. Engage students in a whole-class discussion by asking the following questions:
   • How did you identify the ethical dilemma in your scenario?
   • What were the different choices available in your scenario?
   • What factors influenced your decision-making process?
   • Were there any conflicting values or principles involved? b. Encourage students to share their thoughts and perspectives, fostering critical thinking and respectful dialogue.
3. Assessment: Worksheet Activity (15 minutes) a. Distribute the “Identifying Ethical Dilemmas Worksheet” to each student. b. Instruct students to read the provided scenarios and identify the ethical dilemmas presented. c. Allow students to work individually or in pairs to complete the worksheet. d. Collect the worksheets for assessment purposes.

Differentiation: - For students who require additional support, provide simplified scenarios or offer more guidance during the group discussions. - For advanced students, encourage them to analyze the ethical dilemmas from multiple perspectives, considering cultural, social, and historical contexts.

Plenary: - Summarize the main points discussed during the lesson, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and analyzing ethical dilemmas. - Encourage students to apply the skills they have learned to real-life situations, both in their personal lives and future careers. - Conclude the lesson by showing a relevant video that highlights the consequences of ethical decision-making or presents a thought-provoking ethical dilemma.

Video Resources: 1. TED-Ed: “What Makes a Hero? - Matthew Winkler” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hhk4N9A0oCA) 2. Ethics Unwrapped: “Ethical Decision Making” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOEF1sFV9g)

Worksheet Resource: - “Identifying Ethical Dilemmas Worksheet” (provide a link to the worksheet resource you prefer to use)

Note: The worksheet resource can be created by the teacher or obtained from various educational websites, such as Teachable Moments (https://www.teachablemoment.org/).