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.
EXEMPLARY ANSWER. OCR A LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (DCT) A GRADE MODEL ANSWER: TO WHAT EXTENT CAN GOD BE KNOWN THROUGH THE NATURAL WORLD? DISCUSS. 40 MKS
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANISATIONS: CHRISTIAN (A ROCHA) AND SECULAR (WWF) RESPONSE TO DEFORESTATION. KS3 RELIGION AND THE ENVIRONMENT. FUN AND ENGAGING LESSON. VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGING, MASTERY AND EXAM SKILLS FOCUSED.
• Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
• No printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO GENESIS):
Explain the impact of deforestation on the environment
Explain the meaning of sustainable agriculture
Explain how and why religious and secular environmental groups respond to deforestation.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
SEXUAL ETHICS: CHRISTIANITY. LESSON 1 OF OCR A2 SEXUAL ETHICS. 100 MINUTE LESSON. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGE AND MASTERY FOCUSED.
• Assessment (planned no hands up questioning) and extra challenges throughout.
• Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain contrasting Christian views on types of sexual relationships with reference to sources of authority.
Evaluate whether the Bible is a reliable source of authority on sexual relationships.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
EVALUATING BONHOEFFER’S THEOLOGY. CHRISTIAN MORAL ACTION. OCR DCT. #FUN LESSONS. 100 MINUTES. FUN AND ENGAGING MULTI-MEDIA LESSON WITH A VARIETY OF TASKS AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGE AND MASTERY FOCUSED.
• Aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic
• Customisable recap ‘do now’ task
• Emphasis on Exam Skills: A01 AND A02
• Synoptic links
• Scholar quotes
• Sources of Wisdom
• Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
• Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Information provided (not dependent on a textbook)
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: Evaluate each part of Bonhoeffer’s theology and collectively produce a set of mark schemes for all past exam questions which can be shared for revision purposes.
This is the 3rd and final lesson on Christian Moral Action. All 3 lessons are available to purchase as a bundle in my shop.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Concise, comprehensive. ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
Resource light – one resource to print (information sheet)
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists (notes on slides)
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS Theme C: Arguments from Miracles – Do they prove God exists?
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Evaluate whether miracles prove the existence of God
Activities include:
Recap starter, reading and question task, debate, ‘depth and mastery’ (partnered discussion) ‘Skills mastery’, model answer analysis, exam question with peer assessment & student friendly success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Concise, comprehensive. ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
Resource light
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists (notes on slides)
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS ISLAM PRACTICES: Shahada and Salah (first two pillars)
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Explain two rituals of Salah
• Evaluate which is most important Salah or Shahada
Activities include:
Recap starter, reading and question task, ‘depth and mastery’ (partnered discussion) ‘Skills mastery’, model answer analysis, exam question with peer assessment & student friendly success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Concise, comprehensive. ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
Resource light
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists (notes on slides)
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS HUMAN RIGHTS: Human Rights UDHR, responsibilities, violations Christianity
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Define Human rights
• Describe origin of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Explain how rights link with responsibilities
• Explain how they link with Christian beliefs
discussion of the Charlie Hebdo case and responsibility of freedom of speech
• Evaluate the statement: People have the right to say what they think
Activities include:
Recap starter, reading and question task, ‘depth and mastery’ (partnered discussion), debate, ‘Skills mastery’, model answer analysis, exam question with peer assessment & student friendly success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Concise, comprehensive. ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
Resource light
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists (notes on slides)
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS HUMAN RIGHTS: SOCIAL JUSTICE (Christianity and Islam)
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Define Social Justice
• Give evidence and statistics of social injustice
• Link social injustice to human rights
• How beliefs about social injustice influences believers
• Evaluate the statement: Religious believers have more of a duty to combat social injustice
Activities include:
Recap starter, reading and question task, ‘depth and mastery’ (partnered discussion), debate, ‘Skills mastery’, model answer analysis, exam question with peer assessment & student friendly success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Concise, easy to follow and comprehensive, ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
Resource light
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists (notes on slides)
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS HUMAN RIGTHS: Freedom of Religion (Christianity and Islam)
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Define freedom of religion
• Give examples of religious expression
• Explain contrasting religious teachings on freedom of religion
• Everyone should have freedom of religion in British society. Evaluate (refer to the main religion of Great Britain)
Activities include:
Customisable recap starter (just add two questions), reading and question task, mini-plenary quiz with ‘stretch and challenge’ questions, ‘depth and mastery’ (partnered discussion), debate, ‘Skills mastery’, model answer analysis, exam question with peer assessment & student friendly success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
PLATO’S SUBSTANCE DUALISM & VIEW OF THE SOUL + EVALUATION
#FUN LESSONS. OCR - SOUL, MIND AND BODY. Concise, easy to follow and comprehensive, ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
MINIMAL PRINTING
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
A LEVEL: SOUL, MIND AND BODY CAN BE ADAPTED FOR VARIOUS EXAM BOARDS
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
Explain strengths and weaknesses of Plato’s substance dualism
*Answer 40 mk exam question: Evaluate whether Plato’s belief in a separate body and soul is convincing.
Activities include:
Customisable recap starter (just add two questions). Tasks to link to prior learning. Analysis of Plato’s main claims with paired discussion on strengths and weaknesses, frequent mini-plenaries, reading and writing tasks. Analysis of model answer with success criteria provided. Culminating in a written 40 mk question activity, model answer & student friendly success criteria provided.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Trinity and Oneness of God - AQA RS CHRISTIAN BELIEFS #FUN LESSONS.
Concise and easy to follow, ‘MASTERY’ and EXAM SKILLS focused lesson. Students will learn the GCSE content plus dip into some relevant A Level material. There will be an emphasis (and modelling) of key skills needed in 12 mk questions.
Date on slide updates automatically
Resource light
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS CHRISTIAN BELIEFS: Trinity and Oneness of God
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• To analyse key Christian creeds and explain the doctrinal concept of the trinity, Homoousios and hypostatic union.
• Evaluate whether God can be both immanent and transcendent
Activities include:
Customisable recap do-now starter, a variety of tasks to learn:
The Nicene creed and how it demonstrates that God is three persons in one, the roles of the three persons of the trinity, the Christian concepts of Homoousios and hypostatic union. How the trinity and beliefs of omnipotence and omnipresence can be used to argue that God is both transcendent and immanent. Writing task that focuses on skills of justification and strong religious reference with modelling.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Concise, easy to follow and comprehensive, ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
RESOURCE FREE
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
A LEVEL: SOUL, MIND AND BODY CAN BE ADAPTED FOR VARIOUS EXAM BOARDS
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
EXPLAIN CHRISTIANITY CONCEPT OF THE SOUL
EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF AN ENDURING SELF
EXPLAIN PLATO’S SUBSTANCE DUALISM AND SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES TO CHRISTIANITY
Activities include:
Customisable recap starter (just add two questions). Tasks to link to prior learning, tasks to reflect on the concept of an enduring self based on students own experience, reading and writing tasks, frequent mini-plenaries and self assessment. Quote interpretation activities. Culminating in a written activity, model answer & student friendly success criteria provided.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
‘Prayer -Christian Practices’ #FUN LESSONS. Engages students with the use of a range of popular culture media. It is a ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused lesson that is concise and easy to follow making it suitable for specialists and non-specialists alike.
There is an emphasis (and modelling) of key skills needed in exam questions and mini plenary’s and extra challenges throughout.
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
Prayer – Christian Practices
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• To explain the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Prayer
• To explain the difference between liturgical (set prayers) and informal prayers and public/private prayers and evaluate which is most meaningful
Activities include:
variety of multimedia in popular culture including: Stormzy and David Bowie
Customisable recap do-now starter, a variety of tasks to learn about:
Liturgical prayer and Lord’s prayer
Informal prayers, and arrow prayers
Private and Public prayer - Strengths and weaknesses
liturgical and informal prayer - strengths and weaknesses
The five purposes of prayer
5 mark exam question with scaffolding
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
WRITING ARGUMENTS. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. 2 X SINGLE LESSONS
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Exam skills: Development and justification, strong religious reference and conclusions.
No printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically. Customisable Do Now task.
The statement in lesson two is about the Shahada but this can easily be replaced with a statement from any topic.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
To construct an argument : Skill focus: Development, multiple views, strong religious reference and conclusions
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
SOCIAL JUSTICE. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT. PLANNED QUESTIONING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO. DIFFERENTIATED. RELIGIONS: CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM
PEDAGOGY FOCUS:
Check whole class understanding / address misconceptions (e.g. mini-boards of cold call)
I do, we do, you do
Differentiated End Task
No printing. Concise and easy to follow. Suitable for specialists and non-specialists. Task time indicators. Date on slide updates automatically. Customisable Do Now task.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SCRIPTURE):
• EXPLAIN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE
• EVALAUTE WHO IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR ENDING SOCIAL INJUSTICE
TEACH AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON OR AS PART OF:
THEME F: RELIGION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
COVERING VIEWS FROM: CHRISTIANITY / ISLAM & HUMANISM.
This lesson is suitable for revising Theme B OR to provide information sheets to support learning of the lessons below:
Origins of Universe and Life
The Value of the world
Euthanasia
Quality and Sanctity of Life debate
Animals
Death and Afterlife
The revision lesson requires students to create a revision resource on the above topics. It includes a model revision resource. The lesson is compatible with the assessment lesson by the same author or it can be used as a stand alone revision lesson for Theme B. It is resource light; as it requires a couple of each information sheet to be pinned around the room for a carousel activity.
It also includes an end of topic assessment paper that is compatible with the revision lesson.
Concise, comprehensive. RECAP & ‘MASTERY’ exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
Timers included on every task
Resource light – one resource to print
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists (notes on slides)
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS CHRISTIAN PRACTICES: Revision of all Christian Practices
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• RECAP ON ALL BELIEFS & LINKED QUOTES
• MASTER strong religious reference
• MASTER strong conclusions
• Evaluate whether the sacraments are the most important Christian practice
Activities include:
Recap starter, mastery of content (partnered teaching), Skills mastery: strong religious reference and persuasive conclusions. Plan and write a 12-mark answer. Model answer analysis, exam question with peer assessment & student friendly success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Concise, easy to follow and comprehensive, ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lesson.
Date on slide updates automatically
**Resource light **
Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists (notes on slides)
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS ISLAM PRACTICES: Festivals: Id-ul-Adha
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Explain why Id-Ul-Adha is celebrated
• Explain two ways Id-Ul-Adha is celebrated 5 mks
Activities include:
Customisable recap starter (just add two questions), reading and question task, mini-plenary quiz with ‘stretch and challenge’ questions, ‘depth and mastery’ (partnered discussion), debate, ‘Skills mastery’, model answer analysis, exam question with peer assessment & student friendly success criteria.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
Sacraments: Eucharist / Holy Communion CHRISTIAN PRACTICES. #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety to tasks and multimedia to stimulate learning and is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused. You’ll find it concise and easy to follow making it suitable for specialists and non-specialists alike.
You can use props for the main activity e.g. red squash/Disco crisps – but I often ask the kids to improvise and their creativity can make it even more fun.
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:
‘‘Sacraments: Eucharist / Holy Communion’ Christian Practices AQA
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• To explain the origins, symbolism and significance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist
• Explain differences within Christianity with regards to the practice of the Eucharist
Activities/resources include:
Customisable recap do-now starter
a variety of tasks to gain an in-depth understanding of:
• The Origins of the Sacrament
• The events of the Last Supper
• Relevance of the Gospel of Luke and the New Covenant
• Role play: Catholic / Anglican service of mass
• Differences between Catholic and Anglican denominations including transubstantiation -v- Real Presence.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.