This lesson explores surrogacy: what it is, the issues it raises, look at specific case studies and explore religious responses. It includes a moving article about an infertile woman, as well as 3 real life case studies of people who have gone through surrogacy. Plenary, starter and differentiated task included. Some printing is needed here to get the best out of the lesson, but not 100% necessary. Learning Objectives are: To know what surrogacy is and the issues it raises To debate the ethics of specific case studies To evaluate religious arguments about surrogacy

An introductory lesson to medical ethics focussing on embryology. This powerpoint explains what embryology is, as well as giving an introduction to one of the key questions behind most medical ethics issues: when does life begin? It includes high definition photographs of embryos in development and an embedded video which shows these stages. It also includes a case study, a research homework, plenty of information (including some religious opinions). These are developed more in the second lesson. Information can be printed out and Learning Questions include: What is Embryo Research? What are some potential problems and positives of Embryo Research? What are some religious opinions? What is my opinion? All feedback welcome! :)

Gender and sexuality can be confusing for students (and teachers!), many of whom do not understand the idea of gender being a spectrum rather than a binary role connected to biological sex. Indeed, most do not understand that gender and sex are different things. This presentation aims to present the different arguments around gender, varying from people who feel that their gender is different from their biological sex (transgender) or those who are biologically intersex (about 1-2% of the global population). It acknowledges that some people are very closed to the idea of transgenderism, whilst acknowledging the biological fact of intersex. It includes and article about Caster Semenya, the South African runner banned from competing in events because her testosterone is too high and told she would need to take medication to address this, as well as youtube videos, graphics, group discussion activities, opinion lines/corners, and written comprehension questions. There are also definition tasks too. Ideal for KS3-5 students. (11-18yr old) A range of tasks that will not fit into an hour, so pick which work for you. Learning questions include: What is gender? What is the difference between ‘intersex’, ‘transgender’, ‘transexual’ and ‘non-binary’? What is a ‘patriarchy’? Is gender a choice? Is gender a spectrum? This is a new resource on a tricky issue: feedback warmly, warmly welcomed. Many thanks.

This resource looks at Jewish identity, and is part of a scheme of work about the Shoah/Holocaust. It includes some basic beliefs about G-d (including why Jews often write G-d, instead of God) as well as a brief overview of 1000 years of anti-semitism. It puts the anti-semitism that flared into the Shoah into perspective and I’ve used it mainly with KS3 students. It includes a clip of some survivors testimonies which speak about their experience of antisemitism, and has differentiated tasks that explore quotes from the Torah and Talmud in more depth. Extension tasks also included. Easily adaptable for KS4. Ideal for religious studies, SMSC, citizenship and PHSE. Learning Questions (Objectives) include: Can I imagine the possible impacts of the Holocaust on a Jewish person? How may the Holocaust have influenced or challenged Jewish beliefs? What are some key Jewish Beliefs? EXTENSION: Can I evaluate how the Holocaust may effect Jewish people today?

This lesson is an exploration of the incredible human beings who risked (and sometimes lost) their lives working to rescue Jews from the Holocaust. It is an inspiration from Philip Zimbardo who encourages us to educate children about the psychology of heroism. This powerpoint and collected resources aims to help students understand and be inspired by the incredible acts of bravery these people engaged with. I greatly encourage you to play the video linked to this lesson to students: it moves me to tears every time! Learning Questions include: How did some people act heroically in the Holocaust? How did these heroes’ beliefs affect their actions? Can you evaluate the motivations for people’s actions? EXT: What is the psychology of Heroism? What can we do to help ourselves become more heroic? Great for PHSE, Citizenship, Religious Studies and History. Extension tasks and differentiated activities included.

An entire 6 lesson bundle about science and religion. Includes videos, youtube links, wordsearches, assessment AND an alternative 5 lesson SEND series of lessons with simpler language and more visual activities. All for £3. Bargain.

This is a resource, with scaffolding options for SEND, for students to understand Muslim and Christian Attitudes to Justice. It involves an independent study task, built around the concept of co-operative teamwork filling in a 'beehive' as bees do when filling in cells of honey. There are also scaffolded paragraph tasks. The objectives addressed are: Why is Justice important to Muslims and Christians? What are some examples of Islamic and Christian teachings about justice? What is your opinion of Muslim attitudes to Justice? EXT: Why might someone disagree with you? Teachers should aim to really push evaluation, examining why different people believe different things and the benefits and pitfalls of different beliefs.

A lesson to help students explore religious laws in Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Differentiated by activity and outcome with independent learning resources that can be used for a variety of year groups and abilities, as well as links to youtube videos. Learning Questions: What are religious laws? (l.4) What are the religious laws of two different religions? (l.5) What are the challenges and benefits of following Religious Laws? (l.6) Included is a powerpoint, plan, pdf and .pub file of the resources for editing if necessary. Enjoy! :)

A lesson designed to explore the Just War Theory in a collaborative, group work activity that emphasizes team work. This leads on to a creative activity where students create a poster, poem or rap to exemplify the Just War Theory’s 7 aspects. Learning Questions include: What is the Just War Theory? Do I agree with it? Why? Differentiated learning outcomes included, which evaluate why Christians may or may not agree with the Just War Theory. All activities are clearly explained in the Powerpoint, and a variety of extension activities for more able students are included.

This lesson explores Nuclear war: the affects of nuclear weapons, if they can ever be justified, if there are any specific examples students know of, and how Christians might respond to the idea of nuclear war using the just war theory. SEND worksheet included, and a variety of extension activities (including how to make a peace crane) are included. As well as this, youtube videos and plenty of discussion activities, as well as an online ‘nuke map’ which explains how a nuke would affect the area you are, anywhere in the world. I know, right? An amazing resource. Learning Questions: What do Nuclear weapons do? Can Nuclear War ever be just? Are there any examples you know? How may Christians respond to Nuclear war?

A powerpoint, with flash embedded slides that narrate the creation story and youtube videos discussing different opinions on the creation story. This lesson aims to encourage debate and students to explore their own opinions on creation, evolution and if the two theories could be compatible. An SEND alternative included here too. Learning Questions and Objectives: Comparing the Big Bang and Christian ideas of Creation (Level 3-4 Commmunicate) With scientific understanding of the Big Bang, is it still possible to think of a creator God? (level 4-5 Enquire) Why is there something rather than nothing? (level 5 Evaluate)

A differentiated activity with Marketplace, opinion line and video clip which explores these key questions: What are new religious movements and cults? What are the benefits and challenges of such movements? Should these new religious movements be made illegal? A Powerpoint and extensive word resource which has information on 8 of the world's new religious movements & cults.

A lesson to explore what pacifism is, how it has been used in the past and if it is a reasonable attitude to take to war. Looking particularly at the Quakers and their use of pacifism in anti-war protests and campaigning, the lesson aims to engage students in active critical thought and improve their awareness of how belief manifests in the real world. Learning Objectives: What is Pacifism? What is a conscientious objector? How did people treat conscientious objectors in WWI and II? Why might a religious person refuse to fight? Should we ALL be pacifists? It also includes links to youtube videos on conscience and examples of conscientious objectors for students to explore. It also includes, for more able students, examples of people who ‘broke the mold’ such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

A lesson that explores the pros and cons of human experimentation: how it is essential for new safe drugs, as well as the darker sides of using humans for purely ‘scientific’ progress. Learning Questions: What are some examples of human experimentation? What ethical issues do they raise? What may religious responses be? Particular examples are included as a seperate word document, as well as youtube links to modern versions of Milgrams electric shock experiment in the 60s.

This is a lesson that focusses on the FBV of tolerance and mutual respect. It looks at worldwide variations in family structures, gender and religion. It encourages students to see their ideas of ‘normal’ (i.e. in France they drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road) as simply another way to do things. Hopefully without slipping into complete relativism, students are encouraged to question, develop and refine their opinions rather than give any opinions up all together. Learning objectives include: Does culture affect what is ‘normal’? How and why does culture affect religion, gender and family? Extension: Does the information in this lesson change how you think about your own norms and values? Tasks are differentiated by outcome, with group learning carousel, whole class discussion, and individual tasks all incuded. Questions become increasingly high level as they go on. Suitable for KS3-5. With some simplification it could work with KS2, but it would take some work to do so. It includes in the powerpoint slides to print out with the information on the case studies and a document about the many different forms of Islam in the world, and how culture affects religion. (As an aside, I could have chosen any religion. Christianity has 40 000 types!)

This lesson has been a few years in the making. I have been struggling to get together decent resources that inform, without shame or judgement, a generation of young people for whom porn is highly accesible, in huge quantities and ubiquitous (25% of all internet searches are for pornography). I hope this goes some way towards that ambition. The lesson covers: What is pornography? Why is it so addictive? Is pornography having a negative effect on society? Should all, or some pornography, be illegal? It includes research tasks about fightthenewdrug.org, and then goes on to deconstruct that website to try and encourage critical thought, infographics, group tasks, debates and discussions. It aims to inform students of the dangers of porn addiction. I have included here some controversial material for KS5 if you want to have a more nuanced discussion. The research done in the article ‘the sunny side of smut’ is quite problematic, and students should be directed to deconstruct it whilst also considering the points it makes. Feedback really, really welcome.

A selection of resources to help your school become a school of sanctuary: a place of safety and welcome for asylum seekers. The resources and activities will produce evidence you can use in your application to your local city of sanctuary group. https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/ :) 4 lessons, board games, role plays, documentaries, collated from City of Sanctuary, Resources made by me, Amnesty International, Oxfam and online reports. What more do you want? Free? Ok, free.

A second draft of a lesson attempting to explain and help students understand the unexplainable and shocking violence over the past couple of weeks in the UK. As news unfolds about the london attack I'll add another update about the London attackers: for me understanding the nuanced reasons for these attacks is very important to prevent Islamophobia. There are hyperlinks to videos etc. on many of the photos, and too much for an hour but plenty for you to pick and choose from depending on the needs of your students. I hope it helps your students understand what has happened, even if it can never be justified, and help them figure out positive ways to respond. Feedback GREATLY appreciated.

An attempt to help students understand how we might move past the viciousness of violence and extremism using the examples of the truth and reconciliation commission and Desmond Tutu.