What is humanity?

Humanity can mean so many things, our Primary school spent some time looking into it and we found that Nursery and Reception, Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 took very different perspectives on it.

The definition of humanity can be compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behaviour or disposition: the quality or state of being humane or the quality or state of being human. Nursery and Reception tackled what is perhaps the core question: what is a human? What makes humans special? The children ended up framing the question about a comparison between animals and humans.

Emma: “People can walk on two feet, they can talk, and people wear clothes”.

Margarita: “People can smile and dance and earn money.

Expanding further on the idea of dancing and doing things for the sheer joy of it, Alisa said: “We can do ballet, but animals can’t, and animals can’t read but children and nanny and father and mummy can.”

The children made something that they felt showed what being human is like, they used any material they wished, most used pencils and paper to draw and some children created 3D models of people. They were asked to show their creation and the end of the project.

Year 1 investigated being compassionate and generous, learning how helping our planet by recycling can make life better for all who live on it. They sorted items into recyclable and non-recyclable so that they could go home and make a difference! Our school green committee is using ideas such as this to help our children become better citizens of the world.

Year 2 also explored the idea of compassion and kindness. Being kind can mean so many different things! It can be as simple as hugging someone, making something for a friend or sharing. In school, we can show compassion by being polite and helping friends when they feel sad. Compassion is about thinking outside yourself and considering the way other people feel and making sure that everyone can enjoy their lives. The children discussed this in terms of actions, how can we be a bucket (someone who affects others positively) filler? They choose different actions that could help people feel worthwhile, sorting them from other less kind actions.

Year 3 considered what the priorities are in being human. They took some key ideas and worked together to prioritise them before discussing how it made them think about the idea of humanity. Helping others and being a good friend is important, as well as having a positive outlook. Unlike other creatures, humans can do jobs, do their very best and enjoy the process at the same time.

“Making things is so important, it means you can create things that others can enjoy.” Common to all of these is the idea of thinking of others, planning and being a better person for it. People can support each other and develop and grow, just like our students’s ideas develop and grow as they move through CIS.