GCSE Sociology (Eduqas / WJEC) - Stratification and Differentiation: Introductory Lesson

A 10 slide PowerPoint presentation, an in-depth introductory reading to the topic and student question/answer activity sheet.

The lesson pack covers an accessible introduction to the topic of stratification and differentiation. It covers key themes, definitions and is supplemented by group and individual tasks and YouTube videos. The lesson has been designed in a ‘lead from the front’ lesson format, aided by several tasks. It should take approx. 100 mins to deliver. It includes:

• A starter task - how would you explain key terms to a 10 year old?
• An guide on what students should know before venturing into the world of stratification and differentiation, such as exam paper information, links to previous topics and theories.
• A clear definition and illustration of stratification and differentiation for students to copy
• A group activity based on giving students different roles and deciding between them who is most important / worthy in society and why this is
• An overview of key themes in stratification and differentiation, such as Inequality, Status, Life Chances, Functionalism, Meritocracy, Marxism, Poverty, Exploitation, Profit, Capitalism, Communism, Equality of Outcome, Equality of Opportunity, Class, Age, Gender, Feminism, Ethnicity, Disability, Strata, Open System of Stratification, Social Mobility, Closed System of Stratification, Apartheid, Caste. The pack includes an accessible reading/script for teachers, complete with contemporary examples and links to sociological theory (pdf document).
• An individual activity where students have to write answers to questions based on the teacher reading . The pack includes a student answer handout (pdf document) - avoiding the need for ‘Do I have to write out the question?’ requests.
• An activity based on relevant YouTube clips where students need to extract information from the clips
• An extension activity introducing students to Weber’s idea of ‘Conspicuous consumption’
• Animated to ‘build’ information to students gradually
• Brief instructions for the teacher and timing guidance are included in the notes to the document.

The resource is designed to be delivered to students studying the new WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Sociology specification. The resource assumes students have no prior ‘conscious knowledge’ of stratification and differentiation, but also assumes that students will have encountered some concepts such as meritocracy and life chances in Component 1 modules, e.g. Education.