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.
CHRISTIAN FUNERALS. 100 MINUTE LESSON. FUN AND ENGAGING WITH A VARIETY OF TASKS AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGE AND MASTERY FOCUSED.
Information sheet
Customisable recap starter
Emphasis on Exam Skills
Sources of Wisdom
Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain Christian funeral rituals with reference to scripture
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
DALY’S NEW SPIRITUALITY. GENDER AND THEOLOGY. OCR A2 DCT. 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
• 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 sheet provided (not dependent on a textbook)
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain Mary Daly’s claim that women need a new spirituality with reference to sources of wisdom
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
HINDUISM AFTERLIFE. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. TWO SINGLE LESSONS
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• A01 Exam skills: Recall ,list and explain
No printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically. Customisable Do Now task.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Lesson 1: To recall Hindu beliefs and how this influences daily life
Lesson 2: With reference to a source of authority explain Hindu beliefs: ahimsa,recarnation, moksha, karma
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
CHRISTIAN MORAL ACTION BONHOEFFER LESSON 1. OCR AS DCT. 100 MINUTES. FUN AND ENGAGING MULTI-MEDIA LESSON WITH A VARIETY OF TASKS AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGE AND MASTERY FOCUSED.
LESSON 1 (OF 3) INCLUDES:
• Customisable recap ‘do now’ task
• Scholar quotes
• Sources of Wisdom: Bible and Barman Declaration
• 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:
Explain with reference to scripture Christian teachings about duty to the state
Explain how Bonhoeffer demonstrated allegiance to God over the state
Evaluate whether Christians should put God before the state
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
CORPORAL AND CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT. PLANNED QUESTIONING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO. DIFFERENTIATED. MODEL ANSWER INCLUDED. RELIGIONS: CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM
**PEDAGOGY FOCUS: **
Check whole class understanding and address misconceptions throughout (e.g. mini-boards or cold call)
I do, we do, you do
Compulsory 7+ Challenges throughout
Differentiated End Task
Dedicated improvement: model answer included
Minimal 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 sacred writing)
• List advantages and disadvantages of Capital and Corporal punishment
• Evaluate with reference to religious sources of authority whether Capital and corporal punishment should be used.
Teach as a stand-alone lesson or part of THEME E CRIME AND PUNISHMENT AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
AQA THEME C. EXISTENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. QUOTES FOR STUDENTS TO GLUE IN BOOKS.
SINGLE PAGE DOCUMENT INCLUDES ESSENTIAL QUOTES FOR THIS TOPIC FROM:
• BIBLE
• QURAN
• AQUINAS
• CALVIN
USE AND ABUSE OF ENVIRONMENT. THIS LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO:
• Explain and illustrate problems with non-renewable natural resources including pollution and global warming
• Explain and illustrate advantages of non-renewable resources.
• Explain a variety of religious and humanist attitudes towards the use of natural resources. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING (DESIRABLE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL): stewardship, dominion
**INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS: **
• Christian stewardship
• Christian dominion,
• Islam guardianship/khalifah,
• humanism
• Climate Change deniers
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
**Slides
Target Grade descriptors
PEES Writing frame
Key term bank
Quote bank
Model answer **
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Presentation: use of natural resources
Model answer analysis
Modelling of PEES paragraph
Evaluation Question
Planned questioning to check whole class understanding.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
USING ANIMALS FOR FOOD (FARMING METHODS). LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: To explain free range and intensive farming methods and critically compare these.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: none required
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
This lesson presents detailed accounts of farming methods only; the following lesson in the bundle applies religious and non-religious views to the question of using animals for food.
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Presentation: strengths and weaknesses
Video note-taking
Self-Assessment
Debate
EASY TO DELIVER
• Concise and logically sequenced
• No 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
AQA 12 MARK STUDENT FRIENDLY SUCCESS CRITERIA
This was created during AQA examining training 2023. Senior examiner confirmed this is accurate. It shows exactly how many marks would be given with regards to the following criteria:
Number of points
Number of perspectives
Development: Some/Slight and full development
Number of religious references
How many points should answer the ‘so-what?’ (linking belief to point)
Judgement and conclusion
The resources also shows modelling of the above criteria.
My students know exactly what they need to do to hit or exceed their target as they refer to this every time they answer a 12 mark question. It is glued in the inside cover of their books.
USING ANIMALS FOR FOOD. RELIGION & HUMANISM LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: Evaluate whether it is right to use animals for food, explaining views between (and within) Christianity, Islam and humanism.
#ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: FARMING METHODS
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Differences within Christianity
Differences within Islam
Peter Singer’s preference utilitarianism and speciesism
** INCLUDED: **
Slides
Target Grade descriptors
PEES paragraph writing frame
Key term bank
Quote bank
Model answer
Quote matching game
Extra Challenges
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
Sunni and Shia Islam key beliefs. Six articles of faith and five roots. This lesson enables learners to: recall and explain both the six articles and five roots. #engage, check understanding, correct misconceptions, differentiate, reduce cognitive overload.
TWO SINGLE LESSONS. CHUNKED WITH FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT.
AS THIS IS A CONTENT HEAVY SUBTOPIC WITH ARABIC TERMS AS WELL AS BELIEFS OF BOTH DENOMINATIONS TO REMEMBER I HAVE CHUNKED CONTENT AND INCLUDED FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS FEEDBACK. ACRONYMS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO AID RECALL.
LESSON INCLUDES INFORMATION SHEETS.
Lesson one focuses on the similarities eg tawhid and prophethood with some differences eg imamate in shia islam and sunni beliefs in angels and holy books. This will prepare them well for lesson to which begins with recall of these key beliefs and then proceeds to deliver the remaining key beliefs of shia and sunni. This has proven very effective with my students in terms of recalling the six articles and five roots and explaining these with reference to scripture.
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA ISLAM BELIEFS OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: Students should have some knowledge of Tawhid, imamate and knowledge of the Shia/Sunni divide following death of Prophet Muhammed.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills – development
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
Six articles of faith and five roots lesson enables learners to: recall and explain and compare the key beliefs of Sunni and Shia Islam. #engage, check understanding, correct misconceptions, differentiate, reduce cognitive overload.
TWO SINGLE LESSONS. CHUNKED WITH FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT.
AS THIS IS A CONTENT HEAVY SUBTOPIC WITH ARABIC TERMS AS WELL AS BELIEFS OF BOTH DENOMINATIONS TO REMEMBER I HAVE CHUNKED CONTENT AND INCLUDED FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS FEEDBACK. ACRONYMS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO AID RECALL.
LESSON INCLUDES INFORMATION SHEETS.
Lesson one focuses on similarities eg tawhid and prophethood with some differences eg imamate in shia islam and sunni beliefs in angels and holy books. This will prepare them well for lesson 2 which begins with recall of these key beliefs and then proceeds to deliver the remaining key beliefs of shia and sunni. This has proven very effective with my students in terms of recalling the six articles and five roots and explaining these with reference to scripture.
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA ISLAM BELIEFS OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: Students should have some knowledge of Tawhid, imamate and knowledge of the Shia/Sunni divide following death of Prophet Muhammed.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills – development
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
AFTERLIFE. CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM, HUMANISM LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: Evaluate the statement: Is death the end? With reference to sources of authority in Christianity, Islam, and Humanism. More able students will be able to refer to concepts such as substance dualism, materialism, and eternal oblivion.
#ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, REDUCE COGNITIVE OVERLOAD.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B: RELIGION & LIFE
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: Students should know some concepts from the ‘beliefs’ component; however this is not essential since this lessons serves as a recap on beliefs such as personal/last judgement, resurrection, ensoulment and the nature of the afterlife in Islam and Christianity.
**INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS: **
Humanism (Dawkins)
Christianity: (Protestant and Catholic)
Islam
**TASKS INCLUDE: **
Do Now task (recap to activate relevant knowledge applied to this lesson)
Planned questioning
Peer learning: Matching elements of a PEEL paragraph
Discussion: Do Near Death Experiences prove existence of a soul
Frequent whole class assessment to check understanding
End task Writing task with writing frame for PEEL paragraphs and quote bank for books
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills – PEEL paragraph
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
•Chunked activities to prevent cognitive overload
• Differentiated End task assessment
EASY TO DELIVER
• Concise and logically sequenced
• Minimal preparation
• 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
This document accompanies the bundle of lessons available in my shop (RELIGION AND LIFE. AQA. ALL LESSONS)
It lists the title and Critical knowledge/Objective for the following lessons:
ORIGINS OF WORLD
ORIGINS OF LIFE
VALUE OF THE WORLD
USE AND ABUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT
VALUE AND ABUSE OF ANIMALS: FOOD
VALUE AND ABUSE OF ANIMALS: FOOD. RELIGIOUS VIEWS
VALUE AND ABUSE OF ANIMALS: MEDICAL AND COSMETIC TESTING
VALUE QUALITY AND SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE
ABORTION AND THE LAW
ABORTION AND RELIGION
EUTHANASIA AND THE LAW
EUTHANASIA AND RELIGION
DEATH AND AFTERLIFE
ABORTION AND RELIGION LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: Explain attitudes towards abortion in contemporary (current) British society and evaluate whether ‘abortion is always wrong.’ #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, REDUCE COGNITIVE OVERLOAD.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: some knowledge of religious teachings on ensoulment, sanctity and quality of life desirable but not essential as these will be revisited in this lesson.
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Catholic
Protestants
Islam
Pro-life
Pro-Choice
Situation Ethics
**TASKS INCLUDE: **
Do Now task (recap to activate relevant knowledge applied to this lesson)
Planned questioning
Video with thinking prompts
Peer learning: religious views on abortion
Chunked activities to prevent cognitive overload
Whole class assessment to check understanding
End task Writing task with PEEL paragraph writing frame
Student friendly Success criteria for 12 mk questions **
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills: Evaluation questions
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Differentiation
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
CHRISTIANITY. AQA. QUIZ is ideal for last day of term. Includes a 35 minute quiz (presentation) with time left to peer assess. Variety of questions to test knowledge of key Christian beliefs and Practices. Music round, picture round, anagrams, key terms, and quotes. Quiz sheet and answer sheet provided. Have fun!
EASY TO DELIVER
• Accessible for specialists and non-specialist teachers.
• 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
EUCHARIST LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: Explain why and how the eucharist is practiced in different denominations. Explain importance of this sacrament. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, REDUCE COGNITIVE OVERLOAD.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: religious teachings about Jesus sacrificial death and Christian teachings about sin will be revisited in this lesson.
INCLUDES RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Catholic
Church of England
**TASKS INCLUDE: **
Do Now task (recap to activate relevant knowledge applied to this lesson)
Planned questioning
Video with thinking prompts
Chunked activities to prevent cognitive overload
Whole class assessment to check understanding
End task Writing task with sentence starters and success criteria
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills: development, religious reference
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
This bundle includes all resources needed to deliver AQA Religious Studies: Islam Practices. It is designed to promote maximum success for ALL learners.
Concise, comprehensive. ‘MASTERY’ and exam-focused lessons.
Date on slide updates automatically
**Resource efficient & easy to follow (note on slides for non-specialists) **
LESSONS INCLUDE:
Salah and Shahada
Zakat and Ramadan
Five Pillars: Hajj
Jihad
Festivals Id’ul-Adha
Festivals: Eid and Ashura
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 these lessons. Your feedback is most welcome.
SAWM. RAMADAN LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: Explain how, when and why Muslims do ‘Sawm’ (fasting) with reference to scripture.
#ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, REDUCE COGNITIVE OVERLOAD.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA ISLAM PRACTICES
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: Students may know some religious teachings about the Night of Power, holy books and congregational prayer; these will be revisited in this lesson.
**TASKS INCLUDE: **
Do Now task (recap to activate relevant knowledge applied to this lesson)
Planned questioning
Write a diary account of a Muslim on first day of Ramadan
Chunked activities to prevent cognitive overload
Whole class assessment to check understanding
End task exam questions with sentence starters
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills – development
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
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