Foetal Development

1. Religion and Early Life

2. • 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.

3. Starter: match up the stage
of pregnancy with the
picture.
Day 1 – Conception; sperm joins with the ovum
Week 3 – Heart begins to beat
Week 7 - Limbs begin to show. Eyes & ears
start to form.
Week 9 – The foetus cab move its hands
Month 7 – The foetus can recognise its mother’s
voice
Month 9 - Birth

4. 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

5. DAY 1 Conception
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.

6. 2 weeks
DAYS 10-14
The embryo releases
chemicals and
hormones that prevent
the mother from
menstruating (having a
period).

7. 3 weeks
DAY 21
The heart
begins
to beat.

8. 5 weeks DAY 35
Fingers and toes have
formed. Blood is now
pumping.

9. 6 weeks
DAY 40
Brain waves are
detectable and
recordable.
Nostrils
have
formed.

10. 7 weeks
DAY 28
Limbs and muscles
begin to show. The
spine starts forming.
Eyes, ears and nose
have started to form.

11. 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.

12. 9 weeks
The foetus has
fingerprints and can
move its hands.
The baby has begun
movement (used
to be known as
‘quickening’.

13. 11 weeks
The foetus can now urinate
and make facial
expressions. Hair and nails
have started to grow.

14. 13 weeks
Hair has begun to grow and
sexual differentiation is
apparent.

15. 4 months
The mother
has started
to show.
The foetus
can hear.
Weighs the
same as a
letter.

16. 6 months / 24 weeks

17. 7 months
The baby can use
four of its five senses
and can recognize its
mothers voice

18. When does life begin?

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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…

22. 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.

23. 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

24. Plenary: 5,4,3,2,1
5 - words to describe a baby
4 – things a new born baby needs
3 – stages of development
2 – different views
1 – reason why it is important when life
begins