values education curriculum to
Appendix 7 Life event approach to values education curriculum
During primary and secondary schooling, students encounter various types of life events at different stages of their personal and social development. These life events, which may be quite different for different individuals, provide appropriate junctures at which the teaching of values and attitudes can be linked up with their personal and social experiences to develop into a values education programme. This life event approach to values education will have the benefit of generating students’ ownership and motivating them to understand their personal experiences and reflect upon the values and attitudes embedded in their life experiences.
Taking into account Hong Kong’s local context, the following are some suggested life events at different stages of schooling to help students develop positive values and attitudes from their personal and social experiences. The organization of the suggested life events is developed from students’ perspective.
The life events are not meant to be encountered by every student but they are included with a futuristic orientation with a view to developing among students positive values and attitudes to face the challenges that may emerge during their course of personal and social development. The proposed values and attitudes as well as the life events are by no means exhaustive in content and can be arranged in different sequence or spiral up at next key stage to develop a deeper understanding of the values and attitudes. They can be modified and refined according to the school context. Teachers can add on and adapt as appropriate the list of life events and values and attitudes according to the needs of their students as well as situations of the schools when designing a school-based values education programme. Reference can also be made to relevant personality theories when determining the life events to be included in the programme. A survey on major life events commonly encountered by students in their daily life can be conducted in school to enhance the relevance of the programme.
Level Life Event Suggested values
and attitudes to be developed KS1 & 2 • Adapting to new life in primary
school
• Respect for rules and regulations, Self-discipline, Willing to adapt to changes, Be positive, Openness
• Meeting new friends • Openness, Initiative, Caring, Sharing, Respect for others, Being considerate, Sincerity
Appendix 7
Level Life Event Suggested values
and attitudes to be developed
• Participating in the election of class association
• Honesty, Truth, Trust, Democracy, Fair play, Participatory
• Handling problems in peer relationships
• Harmony, Friendship, Cooperation, Peace,
Reciprocity, Assertiveness, Rationality, Tolerance, Respect for others,
Forgiveness, Compromise
• Encountering problems in studies • Perseverance, Industry, Self-acceptance, Initiative to ask questions, Honesty, Willing to learn, Confidence, Self-reflection
• Receiving the first report card • Diligence, Self-reflection, Be positive, Honesty, Be responsible, Endurance, Perseverance, Self-acceptance, Self-esteem
• Receiving prizes/punishment • Modesty, reflection, Self-improvement, Self-esteem, Self-discipline, Integrity, Responsibility, Honesty, Competency
• Taking lunch in school • Cleanliness, Tidiness,
Orderliness, Politeness, Table manner, Simplicity, Healthy lifestyle, Thankfulness, Independence,
Self-discipline, Conserving the environment
Appendix 7
Level Life Event Suggested values
and attitudes to be developed
• Serving others in
class/school/community
• Sense of responsibility,
Caring, Independence, Sense of belonging and
commitment, Service, Participatory, Contribution
• Changes in Puberty • Appreciation of growth, Self-acceptance, Self-esteem, Independence, Individuality
• Selecting extra-curricular reading materials (avoid reading unhealthy materials e.g. pornography, violent comic books)
• cultivation, Self-discipline, Be critical
• Worshipping idols • Individuality, Rationality, Self-esteem, Independence, Respect for others
• Having pocket money • Self-discipline, Be responsible, Simplicity, Independence, Honesty, Economy use of money
• Handling undesirable peer pressures (e.g. drug taking,
smoking, law-breaking activities)
• Self-determination,
Independence, Rationality, Assertiveness, Courage
• Going on a school outdoor trip / picnic
• Self-discipline, Safety,
Healthy lifestyle, Simplicity, Conserving the environment, Appreciation of the nature, Cooperation, Sharing of responsibility
• Developing green habits • Frugality, Simplicity, Saving resources, Conserving the environment, Thankfulness
Appendix 7
Level Life Event Suggested values
and attitudes to be developed
• Hurting oneself / suicide • Sanctity of life, Be
responsible, Be positive, Self-esteem
• Handling sex harassment • Assertiveness, Self-esteem, Confidence, Courage
• Surfing the web • Truth, Honesty, Integrity, Be responsible, Self-discipline
• Graduation from primary school • Acknowledgement of self achievement, Thankfulness, Readiness for future
challenge
KS3 & 4 • Adaptation to secondary school life • Willing to adapt to changes, Self-discipline, Confidence, Independence
• Making choices among different co-curricular activities
• Participatory,
Self-cultivation, Individuality, Self-determination
• Running election for student union/house
• Readiness to assume
leadership, Democracy, Fair play, Honesty, Service, Participatory, Cooperation, Responsibility, Conserving the environment
• Holding responsible post in Student Association/House/Club
• Commitment, Readiness to assume leadership,
Participatory, Service, Rights and responsibility, Be
responsible, Cooperation
• Leading a ‘green life’ • Sustainability, Conserving the environment,
Commitment, Betterment of human kind and the
environment
Appendix 7
Level Life Event Suggested values
and attitudes to be developed
• Dating experience and resisting temptation of casual sex
relationships
• Friendship, Affection, Love, Sharing, Respect for others, Courtesy, Rationality, Be responsible, Assertiveness
• Living with media • Be critical, Rationality, Self-cultivation, Self-discipline
• Home alone • Self-discipline,
Independence, Safety, Be responsible, Sharing of responsibilities
• Subject choice • Appreciation and acceptance of one’s strengths and
weaknesses, Individuality, Self-determination,
Rationality
• Organizing a school activity • Conserving the
environment, Responsibility, Readiness to assume
leadership, Cooperation
• Coping with changes in peer relationships
• Individuality,
Self-determination, Friendship, Assertiveness, Respect
• Requesting for autonomy from parents
• Respect, Filial piety, Love, Affection, Autonomy, Harmony, Compromise, Rights and responsibility, Independence,
Interdependence
• First blood donation experience • Sanctity of life, Sacrifice, Kindness, Service,
Commitment, Concern for others
Appendix 7
Level Life Event Suggested values
and attitudes to be developed
• Visit to the mainland • Love and concern for the motherland, Commitment, Sense of identity and pride of being Chinese,
Appreciation of Chinese culture and landscape
• Having a part time job • Punctuality, Safety, Self-discipline, Cooperation, Be responsible, Prudence
• Being in love/lovelorn • Love, Affection, Rationality, Self-esteem, Respect, Be responsible, Commitment
• Facing death/serious illness • Sanctity of life, Concern for other, Health, Be positive
• Preparation for public examination • Diligence, Self-discipline, Confidence, Caring for Self, Be positive
• Making choice between further study or work
• Self-acceptance, Rationality, Individuality, Be responsible, Self-determination