I'm Head of Department and AQA examiner for Religious Studies. I teach the AQA spec and provide tried and tested resources. I'm uploading resources all of the time; my newest collection is the #FUN LESSONS range which are engaging, exam focused, challenging and getting great results. Lessons are fully resourced and easy to follow with minimal printing. I hope you enjoy teaching them.
I'm Head of Department and AQA examiner for Religious Studies. I teach the AQA spec and provide tried and tested resources. I'm uploading resources all of the time; my newest collection is the #FUN LESSONS range which are engaging, exam focused, challenging and getting great results. Lessons are fully resourced and easy to follow with minimal printing. I hope you enjoy teaching them.
CREATION (ORIGINS OF UNIVERSE. AQA THEME B) LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL CONTRASTING VIEWS WITHIN AND BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND HUMANISM ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B RELIGION & LIFE
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: HOLY BOOKS OF ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY. SOME KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENTIFIC/GENESIS ACCOUNT OF CREATION USEFUL BUT NOT ESSENTIAL
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Christianity: creationists and liberals
Islam: creationists and liberals
Humanism / Science
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
Slides
Target Grade descriptors for 12 mk question
Model Answer
Paired ‘we do’ task
Quotes/Key term bank
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
• Customisable Do Now followed by a short engaging starter considering both the start and the end (big freeze) of the universe according to science.
• Interactive reading of a model answer with planned questioning
• Partners complete short work sheet based on the model answer to prepare them to later write their own independently
• whole class assessment (planned questioning) to check for misconceptions before the end task
• End Task: students work independently in silence to write a response to a 12 mark question using success criteria
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
• Challenge
EASY TO DELIVER
• Concise and logically sequenced
• Minimal printing
• Accessible for specialists and non-specialist teachers.
• Date on slide updates automatically.
• Task time indicators.
**I HOPE YOU ENJOY TEACHING THIS LESSON. YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME. **
**FOR MORE LESSONS AND RESOURCES VISIT MY SHOP: **
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Examined_Life
Christian Response to Persecution: Christian Practices. An engaging lesson with a variety of games, tasks and use of multimedia to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ focused. You’ll find it concise and easy to follow making it suitable for specialists and non-specialists alike. It covers GCSE content as well as advanced material to stretch and challenge.
Assessment and extra challenges throughout
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
‘Christian Response to Persecution – Christian Practices’
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Explain How and WHY Christians respond to persecution
Activities/resources include:
Recap do-now starter: Sort events of Jesus life in chronological order
a variety of tasks e.g. World map activity, letter writing, discussion, video, discussion. To gain an in-depth understanding of:
• Persecution in early Christianity
• prevalence of persecution of Christians in the world today
• Christian responses to Persecution
• Bible teachings related to responses to persecution
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation – Christian Practices (#FUN LESSONS) A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of games, tasks and use of multimedia to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused. You’ll find it concise and easy to follow making it suitable for specialists and non-specialists alike. It covers GCSE content as well as advanced material to stretch and challenge.
There will be an emphasis (and modelling) of key skills needed in exam questions. Assessment and extra challenges throughout
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
Forgiveness and Reconciliation – Christian Practices’
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
With reference to Bible teaching, The Trust and Reconciliation Committee and the Community of the Nails of the Cross:
• Create a collage entitled ‘Reconciliation and Peace” in Christianity
• Answer Exam Question: Two reasons Christians should focus on reconciliation.
Activities/resources include:
Customisable recap do-now starter
a variety of tasks e.g. student presentations, collage, video, discussion, exam questions. To gain an in-depth understanding of:
• Bible teachings about forgiveness and Reconciliation
• Difficulties and advantages of reconciliation
• Case studies: Desmond Tutu and apartheid / Community of the Nails of the Cross
• How Christian teachings have influenced those to work for reconciliation
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Pilgrimage: Christian Practices #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of games, tasks and use of multimedia to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused. You’ll find it concise and easy to follow making it suitable for specialists and non-specialists alike. It covers GCSE content as well as A Level material to stretch and challenge.
There will be an emphasis (and modelling) of key skills needed in exam questions. Assessment and extra challenges throughout
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
‘Pilgrimage – Christian Practices’
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• To explain reasons for pilgrimage in Christianity
• To explain two contrasting examples of Christian pilgrimage
• Evaluate which is the most important practice in Christianity
Activities/resources include:
Customisable recap do-now starter
a variety of tasks e.g. Tour Guide presentation, quiz, discussion, exam questions. To gain an in-depth understanding of:
• Importance of pilgrimage
• Three places of pilgrimage: Lourdes, Iona, Jerusalem
• A level stretch: religious experience
• recap all Christian practices along with reasons why they are important and relevant sources of authority
• Evaluate which are the most and least important Christian practices
•
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
This assessment lesson complements the ‘Islam Beliefs #FUN LESSONS’ bundle and can also be used independently.
It includes:
Assessment sheet with 5 questions worth 24 marks.
Mark scheme: Easy to follow suitable for specialists and non-specialists
Support slides: 10 minute revision exercise and writing frames and success criteria to display during the test.
REVELATION (FAITH & GRACE) KNOW. OF GOD’S EXISTENCE (DCT) A LEVEL
• A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of multi-media, games and tasks and to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: assessment and extra challenges throughout.
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
Explain the view that Christians can know God by revelation through faith and grace
Fully resourced activities include:
Customisable recap starter, Video learning: what is faith? What does faith reveal about God? Explain different philosophical perspectives on faith. Draw illustrations to show Bonaventure’s view on how God is known. Bible quote analysis task, comparative analysis: Kierkegaard/Bonaventure, A01 writing task, A02 writing challenge.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
FAITH THEOLOGY EVALUATION: KNOW. OF GOD’S EXISTENCE (DCT) #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks, games to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY):
EVALUATE WHETHER KNOWLEDGE OF GOD CAN BE KNOWN THROUGH FAITH
**
Fully resourced activities include: **
Customisable recap starter, paired discussion (using support resources) how can faith give us knowledge of God? Mindmap: Aquinas/Catholic Church view of faith with Bible quotes, Quote interpretation: sola fide. Comparative analysis: Protestant/Catholic view on faith, Peer discussion: do you agree with the claims of the key philosophers? Why/why not? Explain and evaluate Dawkins claim, Explain and evaluate Hume’s claim, Essay planning mind map task. A02 writing task: “Faith is all that is necessary to know God.” Evaluate with reference to success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
NATURAL THEOLOGY: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S EXISTENCE (DCT) A LEVEL. #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks and to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: assessment and extra challenges throughout.
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
Explain the view that Christians can know God through Natural Theology
Fully resourced activities include:
Customisable recap starter, create illustrations to demonstrate views of Polkinghorne and Boyle, sort quotes into natural / revealed theology, group discussion (sensus divinitus, conscience as proof of God), mind-mapping of key thinkers and claims, A01 writing task, A02 evaluation challenge.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
ISLAM PRACTICES: SALAH - PRAYER # FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks, multi-media and games to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY):
• Explain why Muslims pray
• Explain how Muslims pray
• Explain why Friday prayers are important
• Explain differences of prayer between Shia and Sunni Muslims
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
REVEALED THEOLOGY: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S EXISTENCE (DCT). #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks and to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: assessment and extra challenges throughout.
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
Explain the view that Christians can know God through revealed Theology
Fully resourced activities include:
Customisable recap starter, Matching: truth claims to revealed/natural theology, Matching: Biblical examples to immediate/mediate revelation, quote interpretation, Bible Analysis and evidence task: how is God revealed through: Biblical events, wisdom literature, Prophets, visions, the person of Jesus, creation accounts. Study and discussion of Old Testament prophecies, essay planning (mindmap). A01 writing task and A02 writing challenge.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
EXISTENCE OF GOD: GENERAL REVELATION & EVALUATION #FUN LESSON
A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks, multi-media and games to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY):
Explain 4 kinds of General Revelation and:
a. How each might prove the existence of God
b. What each might reveal about the Nature of God
c. Strengths and weaknesses
Answer 12 mk question: General revelation is a reliable source of knowledge of the divine (God). Evaluate.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Fun and Games Revision lesson #FUN LESSONS. A concise and easy to follow, fun lesson. Students should be learning without realising it!
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Engage in lots of fun game to revise for end of topic assessment/exam.
• Prepare and present multiple views on a variety of statements with a strong religious reference.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (FULLY RESOURCE)
• Knowledge audit starter and end task (to reveal gaps in knowledge and show progress)
• Articulate game (key terms)
• Quotes master game (matching)
• Presentation game: students are required to give reasons for and against variety of 12-mark statements and include a strong religious reference
• Pub quiz (without the beer!) and peer assessment
PLUS HOME LEARNING TASK WITH PAST EXAM QUESTIONS
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
PROPHET MUHAMMAD - LIFE, DEATH & LEGACY # FUN LESSONS.
To introduce Islam through the life and legacy of the ‘Seal of the Prophets’
Lots of engaging activities for students to be able to:
Explain the key events in the life of Prophet Muhammad
Explain his teachings
Explin Why he is important in Islam
Explain the diversity of believers in Islam
Explain why the imamate is important and Shia Islam
OCR A LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHICAL INFLUENCES
A GRADE MODEL ANSWER: Critically discuss Plato’s realm of the forms (understanding of ultimate reality)
This answer meets success criteria:
Breadth and Depth drawing (scholars)
Numerous synoptic links
Sources of authority (Bible)
Evaluation throughout
Thesis and Conclusion
This essay is aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic and to demonstrate success criteria for an A grade
TASK IDEAS
Students could highlight the above criteria in the answer. Discuss how it meets the success criteria and if it could be improved. They could then copy the highlighted criteria to form an essay plan; take away the model answer and they form their own answer based on the plan.
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD: ISLAM, BUDDHISM & ATHEISM #FUN LESSONS
A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks, multi-media and games to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY):
Explain Islam views about natural revelation.
Explain Islam responses to the problem of evil and arguments from science.
Explain Islam views about General revelation: scripture.
Explain Islam beliefs about Special revelation and how these contrast with Christianity.
Explain Buddhist beliefs about Knowledge of Ultimate Reality: Enlightenment
Explain atheist beliefs about all types of general and special revelation.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
BECOME AN EXPERT IN ALL TYPES OF EXAM QUESTIONS. #FUN LESSONS
This is revision lesson 2 of the Bundle: Theme C # Fun Lessons
This lesson focuses on how to get top marks in each type of question worth marks: 1,2,4,5,12
By the end of the lesson students will be able to:
Know what each type of question is asking them to do
Understand ALL command words of the various types of questions including references to British contemporary society, religious traditions etc.
Spot common misconceptions and reasons students might not achieve full marks
Explain the success criteria for each question type
Practice each type of question - timers included
Peer Assess using success criteria
OCR A LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES: PERSON OF JESUS
A GRADE MODEL ANSWER: Jesus was merely a political liberator. Discuss
This answer meets success criteria:
Breadth and Depth drawing (scholars)
Numerous synoptic links
Sources of authority (Bible)
Evaluation throughout
Thesis and Conclusion
**This essay is aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic. **
**TASK IDEAS **
Students could highlight the above criteria in the answer. Discuss how it meets the success criteria and if it could be improved. They could then copy the highlighted criteria to form an essay plan; take away the model answer and they form their own answer based on the plan.
Theme C. Knowledge of God’s Existence. Scheme of learning provides minute details of: Learning objective/Task details/Differentiation/Assessment (proof of learning) and Homework (research/recap rotation)
This SOL incorporates all content for the GCSE syllabus. It is based on the spiral model so there is plenty of recap throughout as well as challenge, mastery and ongoing assessment.
This SOL corresponds to the bundle: Theme C #FUN LESSONS@ https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/theme-c-pack-12470112
The main religion studied is Christianity and there is a separate lesson on Islam/Buddhism/Atheism.
Lessons:
Design argument + evaluation
First cause argument + evaluation
Argument from miracles + evaluation
General revelation + evaluation
Special revelation + evaluation
Knowledge of the divine in Islam Buddhism and atheism + evaluation
Revision lesson 1 - fun and games to recall content.
Revision lesson 2 - Become an expert in all types of AQA RS questions
I hope you enjoy delivering this SOL. Your feedback is most welcome.
AQA Theme C: Knowledge of God’s Existence. 1 sheet of key terms & definitions for this topic that can be glued in book.
This resource + scheme of learning + sheet of scripture quotes is free when bought with the Theme C #FUN LESSONS pack available in my shop at the link below.
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/theme-c-pack-12470112
ORIGINS OF UNIVERSE AND LIFE: SCIENCE AND RELIGION. AQA RELIGION & LIFE . FUN & ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA & GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGING, MASTERY & EXAM SKILLS FOCUSED. SUITABLE FOR SPECIALISTS & NON-SPECIALISTS.
Emphasis on exam skills. Assessment and Extra challenges throughout.
Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY)
Explain origins of universe and life according to: Science
Explain origins of universe and life according to: Religion (Christianity & Islam)
Explain contrasting views within Christianity on the origins of the universe and life
Evaluate: God created the universe and life
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.