ETHICAL VIRTUE GROUP

Because I value moral excellence as Christ's way, I choose to make decisions based on ethical principles.

How To Make Good Decisions

Humaneness

God made and loves all living things. He asks me to care for them.

Definition

Humaneness means: care for animal life and preservation of the species

See flipchart

His Sheep Am I, AYS, 62
This is My Father’s World, AYS, 188
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, AYS, 159, 160

Student Life Applications

1 Student feeding straw to a carabao
2 Student sprinkling bread crumbs for the ducks
3 Student setting out a dish of milk for the cat
4 One child pulling the tail of the cat, a student shaking finger as “no, no”
5 One child getting ready to throw rocks at dogs, a student holding him back from it
6 Student saying “stop” to child who will sling shot at birds
7 Student saying “No” to boy whipping his ox pulling the cart
8 Boy gently leading carabao
9 Student bandaging the broken leg of a goat

Bible, E.G. White

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father’s consent.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Psalm 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
Psalms 104:20-25 20Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 21The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 22The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 25So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

“The laws he gave to his ancient people were wiser, better, and more humane than those of the most civilized nations of the earth..” 1T 166

Reinforcing Stories

Growing Kids God's Way, Chapter 9, by Gary & Anne Marie Ezzo
"Battle in the Night", "Policeman and the Pup", Book Three, The Children's Hour by Arthur S. Maxwell
"The One-legged Robin", Book Four, The Children's Hour, pg. 143
"How Polly came to stay", Book Five, The Children's Hour, pg. 133 by Arthur S. Maxwell
"New Kid in the Fort", "Who shot Shadow?", "Those Kinds of People", "Under the Skin", "Enemies and Friends", Book Five, Great Stories for Kids, pgs 62, 68, 75, 82, 89, by Jerry Thomas
"Spot's New Collar", "Tinker --- the tale of a puppy", Volume One, Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories by Arthur S. Maxwell
"Feeding the Animals", Volume Four, Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories, pg. 29, by Arthur S. Maxwell
"Lem", "Rosa Bonhuer and Her Lion", Treasury of Devotional Aids for Home and School

Student Activities

1. Set up an aquarium at school
2. Talk about students pets and their care
3. Discuss the days that God created animals
4. Have an animal art show.

Links to the Curriculum

Art: Portray animals caring for each other to remind us of God's care for us.
Biology: Animals are often helpful to each other. We can help care for animals.
Chemistry: Jesus saved us from the sin disease, we can search for cures to animal diseases.
Home Economics: As we think of God's care for us, we should take care of our animals.

Resources

Primary:
Tell or write two ways that show that God is humane.
Tell or write about a time when you saw someone show humaneness.
Tell or write about when you showed humaneness like God would do.
Tell or write about when you saw the hurt and unhappiness when someone was not showing humaneness.
How do you think God feels when He sees people who are humane?
How do you feel when you are humane?
Tell two ways that you can show humaneness.
What makes you want to be humane?
What is the opposite of humaneness? Who makes us act that way?
Finish the sentence: We can show humaneness when we..........

Middle:
Why does God care if I show humaneness?
What difference does it make whether I show humaneness or not?
What effect would it have on my future if I did not choose to show humaneness?
How would people treat me differently if I did or didn’t choose to show humaneness?
How would I feel about myself if I did or did not choose to show humaneness?
Give some reasons why you think it is best to show humaneness. Why would someone do differently?
What makes choosing to show humaneness better than the opposite?
List some ways that a person might show humaneness without anyone noticing?
List 3 situations where a person could show humaneness in his work, home, or at the shopping mall.
Is it possible for a person to get better at showing humaneness? Explain.
Can you think of someone who seems good at showing humaneness? What makes them better at it?
How could you learn to be better at showing humaneness?
How often do you show humaneness? Think of the last three times and tell me.
Do you like to join in when people are showing humaneness? How have you joined in?

High school:
Would you practice humaneness if no one was checking on you? Your parents, school, or the law?
What is the alternative to humaneness and what do you see as the results of that choice?
Would you keep quiet if someone paid you a lot of money not to be humane?
Are you proud to show humaneness and willing to tell others how you feel?
If someone in a group spoke out against humaneness would you speak up to give the other side?
Are you willing to put some of your money toward supporting humaneness in your city, class, work?
What effect do you think humaneness will have on your future life?
Do you see your family practicing humaneness? How about your church, city, or nation?
What do you think should be done to promote humaneness in your family, friends, church, city, nation?