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.
FIRST CAUSE ARGUMENT; ENABLES LEARNERS TO EXPLAIN AQUINA’S FIRST CAUSE ARGUMENT WITH REFERENCE TO PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND EFFECT, EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE INFINITE REGRESS AND UNCAUSED CAUSE. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
50 MINUTE LESSON
GCSE. AQA. THEME: C
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Aquinas
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
• Slides
• Support resource (info sheet)
• Gap fill
• Key terms for reference
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Presentation of argument
Videos
Gap fill
Self-assessment
Discussion
Debate
Planned questioning to check whole class understanding.
Exam (explain) question.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload!
• End task assessment
• Extra challenge
• 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
EVALUATE DESIGN ARGUMENT: ENABLES LEARNERS TO EVALUATE THE DESIGN ARGUMENT WITH REFERENCE TO A VARIETY OF STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND SACRED WRITING. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
GCSE. AQA. THEME: C
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
CHRISTIANITY
HUMANISM
SCIENCE
CREATIONISM
TENNANT
PALEY
HUME
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
• Slides
• Support resource (info sheet)
• Differentiated Target grade descriptors for end task exam question.
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Students will be presented with a variety of strengths and weaknesses and peers rank these. Whole class assessment will check for understanding before students answer a 12 mark evaluation question.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Recap: customisable ‘Do Now’
• Planned questioning.
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload!
• End task assessment
• Differentiated
• Exam skills
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
STATUS OF ANIMALS AND HUMANS. KS3 RS (ANIMALS) FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. 50 MIN LESSON
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain religious and non-religious views on the status of animals and humans with reference to holy books.
PEDAGOGY FEATURES:
• Customisable Do Now
• Whole Class assessment
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• I do, we do, you do
• Exam skills: religious reference
• Extra Challenges
No printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson.
Your feedback is welcome.
DESIGN ARGUMENT EVALUATION. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO.
PEDAGOGY FOCUS:
Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
Reduce cognitive overload
I do, we do, you do
Exam skills: Development, Writing conclusions
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 SOURCES OF AUTHORITY)
Evaluate whether the strengths of the design argument outweigh its weaknesses.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
HELL. CONTRASTING CHRISTIAN BELIEFS. AQA. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO.
PEDAGOGY FOCUS:
Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
Reduce cognitive overload
I do, we do, you do
Exam skills: Strong religious reference, development, Evaluation
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 SOURCES OF AUTHORITY)
Evaluate whether an omnibenevolent God would send anyone to hell
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
This table lists ALL key terms and definitions in alphabetical order. Next to each key term are relevant quotes and corresponding 5mk and 12mk exam questions. This resource can be used in a multitude or ways I use it as a knowledge audit where students close gaps by answering the corresponding 5/12 questions aned including the corresponding quotes. Better still they use flash cards to do this to aid recall in future revision!
SHAHADA. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. SINGLE LESSON
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• ‘I do, we do, you do’
• Exam skills: refer to a source of authority
Minimal printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically. Customisable Do Now task.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
With reference to sources of authority.
Explain the what, why and how of the Shahada
Explain why it might be the most important pillar
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
FIVE PILLARS. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. SINGLE LESSON
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• ‘I do, we do, you do’
• Exam skills: refer to a source of authority
Minimal printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain with reference to sources of authority each pillar of Islam and why it is important.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
RELIGION & LIFE: KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS. This product is free with my Religion & Life #FUN LESSONS bundle (visit my shop).
KEY TERMS & DEFINITIONS FOR ATTACHING TO EXERCISE BOOKS
RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE. MODEL ANSWER: CRITICALLY COMPARE THE VIA NEGATIVA WITH SYMBOLIC LANGUAGE
Exemplar Essay (Thesis, main body & conclusion)
Demonstrates OCR success criteria for a top-level answer.
INCLUDES REFERENCE TO SCHOLARS:
Maimonides, Tillich, Aquinas, B. Davies, Randall, Hick, Wittgenstein
SOURCES OF WISDOM:
Bible
DALY UNHOLY TRINITY OCR A2 DCT. 100 MINUTE LESSON. FUN AND ENGAGING WITH A VARIETY OF TASKS AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGE AND MASTERY FOCUSED.
• Aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic
• Emphasis on Exam Skills: A01
• Scholar quotes
• 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 Daly’s claim that Christianity should be abandoned with reference to the ‘Unholy Trinity of rape, genocide and War’
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
HINDUISM INTRODUCTION. FUN AND ENGAGING LESSON. VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGING, MASTERY AND EXAM SKILLS FOCUSED.
SUITABLE FOR SPECIALISTS AND NON-SPECIALISTS.
• Emphasis on exam skills: Modelling, 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 SOURCE OF AUTHORITY):
Identify the main Hindu beliefs
Explain how these influence a Hindu’s life
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
VALUE OF THE UNIVERSE LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: explain a variety of religious and non-religious views on the value of the world and who is responsible for caring for it. Included in the lesson is a PEES paragraph model that I created during my 2023 exam board marking; this is to help students include all of the elements required for a 12/12 answer.
#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: Some knowledge of Christian and Islam beliefs about creation, stewardship, dominion desirable but not necessary.
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Christianity: creation, stewardship, dominion
Islam: guardianship (khalifah)
Humanism
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
Slides
Paired task (following modelling of PEES paragraph)
Target Grade descriptors
Writing frame using PEES model
Key term bank
Quote bank
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Presentation
Modelling of PEES paragraph
Pairs worksheet: create a PEES paragraph.
Evaluation Question with prompts to use PEES paragraphs.
Planned questioning to check whole class understanding.
Modelling development
Extra challenges
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills: focus on PEES paragraph and 12 mk answers
• 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
CRIME: CAUSES, PREVENTION AND RELIGION LESSON INCLUDES A VARIETY OF ENGAGING RESOURCES TO STIMULATE AND CHALLENGE. BY THE END OF THE LESSON STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain the causes of Crime
Explain Religious beliefs about the causes of crime
Think about how crime can be prevented by looking at the causes
Explain how religions work to prevent crime
ABORTION. THE LAW & NON-RELIGIOUS VIEWS LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: Explain conditions of abortion under UK law with reference to the 1967 Abortion Act. Contrast UK laws with country’s where abortion is illegal. Explain humanist views on abortion with reference to Pro-Choice views and back street abortions. #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: Students may know some religious teachings about ensoulment, sanctity and quality of life; these will be revisited in this lesson.
**INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS: **
Humanism
Pro choice
UK Law
International Law including countries where abortion is illegal in all circumstances EG El Salvador
**TASKS INCLUDE: **
Do Now task (recap to activate relevant knowledge applied to this lesson)
Planned questioning
Video with thinking prompts
Peer learning: apply UK law to case studies
Chunked activities to prevent cognitive overload
Whole class assessment to check understanding
End task Writing task 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
• 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
SOUL AND AFTERLIFE CHRISTIANITY.
3 X 100 MINUTE LESSONS. Fun & engaging, Variety of tasks, multi-media & games to stimulate learning. Plenty of recap, challenge, exam skills focus, mastery & assessment throughout.
Resource light (minimal printing), concise. Date on slide updates automatically. Easy to follow suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
I hope you enjoy teaching this pack. Your feedback is most welcome.
Gives definition of general revelation and explains how these four examples both prove God’s existence and give us knowledge of his nature.
Scripture
Natural world
Conscience
Innate idea of God (Sensus divinitatis)
Includes reference to key philosophers and quotes from holy Bible
TRINITY IS AN ENGAGING AND EASY TO FOLLOW LESSON FOR DELIVERING:
KS3 RELIGIOUS STUDIES: CHRISTIANITY
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
EXPLAIN CHRISTIAN BELIEFS ABOUT THE ONENESS OF GOD AND THE TRINITY
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
• DO NOW AND SELF-ASSESSMENT.
• PAIRED TASKS:
o COMPARING TRINITY TO H20!
o ROLES OF THE TRINITY
o MATCH BIBLE QUOTES
• GROUPS ANNOTATE IMAGE OF TRINITY
• WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT. PLANNED QUESTIONING
• ANSWER 5MK QUESTION INCLUDE QUOTES
• PEER ASSESSMENT
• EXTRA CHALLENGES
Examined_life resources are suitable for specialists and non-specialists
I hope you enjoy delivering this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
Find more religious studies resources and bundles for all key stages at my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/examined_life
This resource includes
* 2 page Test paper with a range of AQA style questions including Q: 1,2,3,4 and 5
Highly detailed answer sheet: lists answers to ALL questions and shows how to develop points, refer to scripture, and give judgement (Q5) Ideal for quality whole class feedback, self/peer assessment or teacher marking.
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.