A resource to explore what drugs are, their effects, and why people take them. It includes some videos (some KS3 appropriate, some KS4 appropriate) which are gritty without being disturbing. Also included here is a good 25 minute documentary about drug use filmed at Liverpool royal hospital which gives an excellent insight into the effect of drugs and addiction generally. If that's not enough, a couple of resources (pages 11-19 on the pdf) with information about specific drugs and their effects. Learning questions include: Drugs: What are they? Why do people take them? What dangers are there? What is the law regarding drugs? How should we respond? Great for PHSE, Religious Studies, Citizenship and Sociology

A powerpoint with embedded documentary about Alcohol use which is really good. It also has a venn diagram which compares Christian and Muslim attitudes to alcohol and drug use. Finishing with a discussion based plenary, this is an engaging, differentiated by activity and outcome lesson that explores the tricky world of drug and alcohol use. Objectives explored include What is a drug? Is alcohol a drug and what are its effects? What do Muslims and Christians believe about drugs? What is your opinion on drugs?

A differentiated resource, complete with worksheets and independent a scaffolded role-play task where students take on the role of Muslim, Christian or Atheist response to Capital Punishment. Intended to enable students to explore their own opinions about Capital Punishment using religious views as a springboard, this resource should stretch and challenge a range of ability levels. 1.What do Muslims and Christians say about Capital punishment? 2. How do people in the same religion disagree with each other? EXT: Why do people in the same religion disagree with each other?

An introductory lesson, including a debate ("Capital Punishment should be reintroduced to the UK"), about Capital Punishment. It covers the following objectives, mainly from a secular viewpoint although including some Christian views: What is Capital Punishment? What are the arguments for and against it? What do YOU think? It includes a youtube video, gap fill exercise, debate and evaluation writing exercise. Students are always engaged with this topic area.

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.

Including youtube links, independent learning activities, discussion activities and plenty of information, this lesson is about exploring the 'snoopers' charter' culture of the NSA and GCHQ, Edward Snowden's role as a whistleblower, and if we should allow our governments to spy on us. Particularly good for citizenship, sociology, RS and Politics this lesson is engaging and interesting to students. Did you know facebook's new privacy policy allows them to use your microphone and camera? AI notes down everything we say via their app...1984? Or safety procedure? Differentiated activities by outcome and task design, there's plenty here to stretch and challenge as well as scaffold. This lesson also includes a debate and information which can be used like a treasure hunt activity. 26 slides of high quality teaching material. Learning questions are: Why is privacy important? What is a whistleblower and what were Wikileaks? Is the internet a force for increased freedom, or increased surveillance? Which is more valuable, freedom or safety?

A lesson that explores what Humanism is, including descriptions, embedded videos, exploration of controversy surrounding Richard Dawkins and independent learning activities and discussions. Also, for the creatives out there, an extension which involves writing a rap. Learning questions include: What is Humanism? What do Humanists believe? What are the challenges of believing in Humanism? Extension: Is Humanism a religion? This is intended to help students explore and think with nuance about Humanism, the role of religion in the modern world (if indeed it has any), and is differentiated in its tasks: each question gets increasingly difficult and there are differentiated targets for video clips and activities.

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 lesson to explore the six aims of punishment: protection, retribution, vindication, deterrence, reformation and reparation. It includes discussions on what crimes should receive what punishment, learning walks and written exercises which increase in difficulty. Writing scaffolding for paragraphs are included on the powerpoint, and it will help students studying religious studies, history and citizenship. Learning questions: What are the six aims of punishment? Which is the most important?

A lesson to explore the psychological, social and environmental causes of crime. It includes youtube clips, 'a recipe for a criminal', and other creative activites that become increasingly challenging. A well differentiated lesson that is fun to deliver. Lessons include: What are the possible causes of crime? How do environmental, social and psychological factors influence crime? What do you think are the main causes of crime and why?

A lesson for careers students to understand workers' rights, what unions are, and the history of workers fighting for their rights. It includes youtube clips, role plays and independent activities for students to understand their rights in the changing world of work. It will also help them understand what a decent work place looks like, and how to find one. Learning questions: What is a Union? What are Worker’s Rights? How can I protect myself from being mistreated in the workplace? What does a decent workplace look like? There are good links to PHSE and citizenship, and many of the activities naturally lend themselves to differentiation (both for SEND students and more able students).

At the school where I work we do 'Beliefs and Values': PHSE, Citizenship, Religious Studies and SMSC all rolled into one. These 2 lessons, one for KS4 and one for KS3, explore what SMSC is and why it is important. There is a lot here, so plenty for you to pick and choose from, all exploring the following learning outcomes: All of you will be able to explain what SMSC is. Most of you will be able to explain where we learn about SMSC Some of you will be able to evaluate why we teach SMSC in our school community. As always, feedback and recommendations warmly received. :)

A 1 hour lesson including a 30 minute documentary, debate, opinion line, extension activity and reflection exercise to measure students improvement in their understanding. Lesson objectives include: What is life like in North Korea? Why is the world talking about it so much? Should we or the USA attack North Korea? There is a discussion included about nuclear war: try to draw out students understanding of the long term effects of nuclear weapons. Good luck, and if I may try to remind students that most things that happen in the world are good, that's why the news (which is always negative) is 'news': the good things people do are the norm. Try not to let them leave the room pessimistic. For instance, there are 12.7 MILLION volunteers in Britain every year. That's almost 20% of the population. Awesome.

This is of course a notorious issue for one that sparks conflict between groups. These 3 resources: a powerpoint, Prezi and roleplay try to help students empathise and understand both sides of the conflict without siding specifically on either one. The lesson objectives are: What is the conflict in Israel and Palestine about? What are the different responses to it? What do you think is the best response and why? There are about 4 hour long lessons worth of activities here with varying levels of difficulty: from role plays, youtube clips of varying degrees of debate (the hardest being the 15 minute clip by John Pilger, Palestine is still the issue). It's really worth putting this into context with the history of the formation of Israel (which this clip is quite good at, but I don't think very accessible to KS4 but more KS5 level https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wo2TLlMhiw). There's a simplified version in the powerpoint. It's excellent for world politics, terrorism and extremism, SMSC, PHSE, Religious Studies. I really recommend you watching the clips first if you can, and getting the students to engage with them. I usually get the students to watch the clips and do the roleplay in one lesson and then do more research written work in the next. The roleplay has 24 separate individual roles (sorry, I ran out of steam, i nearly made it to 30!) which vary in nationality, religious belief and is a very useful way to get students to empathize. If you have more than 24 people I recommend you let students chose their relationship to the families (aunts/siblings/grandparents/friends etc.) It also really helps for me to remember to ask questions rather than tell students they are wrong if they bring in extreme(ish) opinions from home (of which Arab and Jewish families often do pass on to their children). Prezis, if you've never used them, work just like powerpoints: you make them full screen and then just press the right arrow on your keyboard. Good luck in teaching this lesson with informed sensitivity, kindness, and with hope for a peaceful resolution!

A lesson to help students explore the meaning of life inclusive of, but not exclusive to, religious belief. Learning questions include: What is the meaning of life for you? Do we all need a purpose in our lives? Do you have to follow a religion to have meaning and purpose in life? Excellent for SMSC, Religious Studies, PHSE and citizenship objectives and General Studies or Philosophy modules. Slides have some instructions in the notes, and there is enough to pick and choose from to suit the needs of your class. 11 slides including youtube clips.

What is a drug? What are the categories of drugs? What do religious believers believe about drugs? At least 2 lessons of work here about Drugs, Alcohol and Religious Attitudes to Substance abuse to help students understand the dangers of substance abuse. The Powerpoints include an embedded video from Teacher TV about alcohol abuse (which is really good!) and there's plenty of activities to explore with them. A bonus lesson here too debating legalisation and decriminalisation of cannabis.

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.

What are religious Laws in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism? How have they influenced society? Is it time we got rid of all religious laws? Should we tolerate a plurality of religious laws in one society? These are all questions this resource explores. Plenty of scope for more able students to thrive as well as some scaffolding for students who struggle more. Video embedded in the PPT, as well as an opinion line plenary. Enjoy!

This is a set of resources for year 9 and up, and should not be used for students any younger. The objectives are to describe a case study of evil (the largest powerpoint focusses mainly of Jamie Bulger, but the resources can be adapted to look at any of the topics). There are 13 resources here, with evidence students can evaluate from each example. There are also 'Must, should, could' guidance as well as plenty of opportunity for extension of gifted and talented students. Good links to Citizenship, religious studies, Sociology, and the activities are pretty self explanatory. Radio show links, videos included. This is a pretty harrowing subject to teach, but sometimes students seem to be particularly interested in real life examples and applications. When discussing things like Capital Punishment it seems particularly helpful to bring into relief the truly horrible things people do sometimes, and how a responsible society should respond.

A powerpoint which includes differentiation activities, a worksheet (with different activities for KS3 or 4 which we print on double sided A3, and there is enough here for at least 2 lessons. Youtube links, treasure hunts, a debate, TPS activity and more. Easily personalisable to suit your own needs, and included here is the SMSC objectives met with this lesson. The Powerpoint itself has some instructions on how to use the resource, although most of it is quite self explanatory. Enjoy!