This resource includes two essays answering an A-Level exam question on the topic of Natural Law. Both essays have been marked stringently and comments are written throughout. Overall comments and banding is awarded, with justification, and an overall grade.
The resource also includes the essays without comments, for students to mark on their own, before going over comments/grades. The essays can also be used as revision resources for students practising their own exam-style essays.
Grade A and D essays
Mark scheme for both AS and A Level included for marking.
Download as both Word and PDF documents.
These essays are indented for the OCR AS/A Level specification, although it can be applied across specifications using alternative marking schemes.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This resource is a series of three instructional videos (and their accompanying PowerPoints) to cover exam technique in GCSE Religious Studies - AQA specification.
The videos are ideal for home/remote learning - or just as a reminder before sitting formal exams and assessments. In addition, the PowerPoints are also included for classroom practice and for individual teachers to create their own exam technique videos.
There are three videos:
Q1 and Q2 (1-mark and 2-mark questions) - lasting <5 mins
Q3 and Q4 (4-mark and 5-mark questions) - lasting > 10 mins
Q5 (12-mark questions) - lasting >10 mins
Each video explores:
What to expect from each question
Wording of the question
Marks available
How to achieve the marks
Sample questions
Sample answers
Exam practise
Scaffolding is included in the videos/Powerpoint.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This is a unit of 5 lessons for the OCR unit on Philosophy of Religion: Ancient Philosophical Beliefs. Lessons cover a variety of tasks, activities and learner styles, geared towards the final exam. Also included is the A3 and A4 Learning Mats / Revision Mats for this topic.
Lessons are:
Introduction and Background
Plato’s Reality
Aristotle’s Causes
Aristotle’s Prime Mover
Comparing Plato and Aristotle
Learning Mat / Revision Mat also included.
Free Workbook also included
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This is a learning mat indented for independent study or revision for the topic of Philosophy of Religion: The Problem of Evil, as part of the OCR AS/A Level specification, although it can be applied across specifications. Document can be downloaded as an A3 Word document and as an A4 PDF, for compatibility.
Resource Includes:
Augustine
Assessing Augustine
Hick
Assessing Hick
Is God spared the blame?
Doe soul-making justify evil?
Created with the OCR RS AS/A Level in mind, though can be applied across specifications and qualifications.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This is a unit of 5 one-to-two-hour lessons for the OCR unit on Philosophy of Religion: Nature or Attributes of God. Lessons cover a variety of tasks, activities and learner styles, geared towards the final exam. Also included is the A3 and A4 Learning Mats / Revision Mat for this topic.
Lessons are:
Omnipotence
Eternal/Everlasting God
Omniscience
Omnibenevolence
Conflicts between attributes
Each lesson also includes assessment of the arguments proposed and an essay-style question for discussion and development.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of students’ Philosophy education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This is a learning mat indented for independent study or revision for the topic of Philosophy of Religion: The Nature or Attributes of God, as part of the OCR AS/A Level specification, although it can be applied across specifications. Document can be downloaded as an A3 Word document and as an A4 PDF, for compatibility.
Resource Includes:
Omnipotence
Omnibenevolence
Eternal / Everlasting God
Omniscience
Conflicts / Issues
Limits to the Attributes
Created with the OCR RS AS/A Level in mind, though can be applied across specifications and qualifications.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This is a workbook indented for independent study or revision for the topic of Religion and Ethics: Kantian Ethics, as part of the OCR AS/A Level specification, although it can be applied across specifications. It is a 26 page document (PDF also included) to support your learners.
These workbooks are ideal for independent study or set as topic-specific homework/revision.
Resource Includes:
Kant and duty
Hypothetical and Categorical Imperatives
Kant’s three formulas
Application of Kantian Ethics
Assessing the idea of duty
Analysing Kantian ethics
Exam questions (35 marks each) and technique
Created with the OCR RS AS/A Level in mind, though can be applied across specifications and qualifications.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
Thinking hats to explore the case study of Mary and Jodie.
Created with the WJEC / Eduqas RS GCSE in mind, though can be applied across specifications and qualifications.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future!
Created with the AQA RS GCSE specification in mind, though can be applied across specifications and qualifications. Quick and easy revision presented in a creative way!
Each revision card includes definitions, teachings, the importance and an opinion question. Answers are also available on the reverse of each card for student to work independently.
The final slide (with practise questions) also comes with answers using the appropriate exam technique.
The flip cards include the following topics, according to the specification:
Human Rights and Social Justice
Freedom of Religious Expression
Prejudice and Discrimination
Gender Discrimination
Homophobia
Racial Discrimination
Wealth
Exploitation of the Poor
Responsibility to the Poor
Practise Exam Questions
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This resource is Lesson 4 on a new unit for 2024 aimed at KS3. The lesson and PowerPoints include a range of engaging, high-quality activities covering an introduction to institutional racism.
Lesson includes:
Homework slide
Review of prior learning
Title, objective and date
Key Words
Video Tasks
Analysis Task
Evaluation
Plenary
Scaffolding is included in the Powerpoint itself and also in the resources to ensure maximum engagement and comprehension. Challenges (extension tasks) also exist throughout the lessons to further enhance skills and understanding.
There are a variety of knowledge, understanding and evaluation tasks throughout the lesson, including video and debate activities that the students always love - year-on-year.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
AQA GCSE Religious Studies: Theme A: Relationships & Families: exam practise pack
This 22-page pack was created to support learners to prepare for their GCSE examination in Religious Studies: Relationiships and Families - the whole unit, downloaded as both an editable Word document and a PDF (for compatibility). If you are teaching a different specification, the questions can easily be edited to suit these specifications, which assess the information in a simliar way, making this resource relevant to all specifications.
The pack includes:
RAG rating of the specification
Knowledge and understanding relating to the specification
Key words and definitions
Exam practise
Answers / sample answers
Topics covered:
Sex
Contraception
Relationships
Marriage
Cohabitation
Symbolism within Marriage Ceremonies
Families and Parenting
Divorce and Separation
Annulment in Roman Catholicism
Gender Equality and Prejudice
Created with the AQA RS GCSE in mind, though can be applied across specifications and qualifications.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
RS KS4 GCSE revision scheme of learning intended to provide a holistic coverage of the course and prepare learners for their GCSE examination with AQA. Exam-style tasks however can be easily altered to suit alternative specifications.
8 sessions/lessons in the unit. Each lesson is intended to last approximately 30-45 minutes long, to optimise memory retention.
Lessons revise the following topics and exam technique:
Christianity
Islam
Parables
Using Quotes
Using Point, Evidence, Explain
Analysis and Evaluation
Humanism and Non-Religious Views
Walk-Through Mock
The lessons include a variety of tasks, from Q&A, video and constructive tasks and exam-style questions with feedback, model answers and assessment. Learning is linked to prior learning from Paper 1 and Paper 2. This is part of an interleaved approach to learning - it is an excellent and quick way to revise the entire content to the course in 8 bite-sized sessions.
Please give feedback. I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for
This resource is Lesson 1 on a new unit aimed at KS3. The lesson and PowerPoints include a range of engaging, high-quality activities covering an introduction to to the History of (Western) religion, re-branded as ‘History of Ideas’.
Lesson includes:
Homework slide
Review of prior learning
Title, objective and date
Key Words
Video Tasks
Analysis Task
Evaluation
Plenary
Scaffolding is included in the Powerpoint itself and also in the resources to ensure maximum engagement and comprehension. Challenges (extension tasks) also exist throughout the lessons to further enhance skills and understanding.
There are a variety of knowledge, understanding and evaluation tasks throughout the lesson, including video and debate activities that the students always love - year-on-year.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This resource is Lesson 10 on a new unit aimed at KS3, but also suitable for KS4 learners due to the skills-focus. The lesson and PowerPoints include a range of engaging, high-quality activities covering an introduction to to the History of (Western) religion, re-branded as ‘History of Ideas’.
Lesson includes:
Homework slide
Review of prior learning
Title, objective and date
Key Words
Knowledge building
Analysis Task
Evaluation
Plenary
Scaffolding is included in the Powerpoint itself and also in the resources to ensure maximum engagement and comprehension. Challenges (extension tasks) also exist throughout the lessons to further enhance skills and understanding.
There are a variety of knowledge, understanding and evaluation tasks throughout the lesson, including video and debate activities that the students always love - year-on-year.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
Creative and visually engaging learning mat / revision sheet for Philosophy and Ethics: Crime & Punishment (AQA) or Good and Evil (Eduqas). Details the aims of punishment (deterrence, reformation, retribution and protection) including Christian and Muslim attitudes to the aim of punishment.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
**Lesson: How do religions use the media?
**
This lesson is Lesson 6 in the new ‘Religion and the Media’ unit, devised as part of a brand new, relevant and engaging scheme of work for KS3. It is intended as a double (roughly one and a half hours per lesson) however, due to time restrictions and the embedded support in the corresponding Work Pack, could also be taught in a minimal one hour.
This lesson explores how religions use the media, with a case study exploration of religious use of media in response to the LGBTQ+ community.
This scheme of learning has been devised explicitly to support the Recovery Curriculum, interleave learning with previously-learned religious units (Christianity and Islam) and support cognition through interleaving techniques.
Although part of a unit, this lesson can also be taught as a stand-alone lesson, e.g. for revision. The corresponding Work Packs would also support a home-learned curriculum as the PowerPoints and Packs themselves include differentiation and scaffolding, where required.
The interleaved schemed of work are specifically designed to promote the two skills desired for success at GCSE:
AO1 (Knowledge and Understanding)
AO2 (Analysis and Evaluation)
The resources are specifically created to ensure students are aware of the skill they are demonstrating and how to improve further through modelling.
These new units bring the relevance back to our topics, for example, through thought experiments and reference to current affairs. Students will experience greater engagement and enjoyment in a fair and balanced approach.
Lesson includes:
Homework Slide
Lesson overview
Starter activity, including interleaving
Key words (literacy focus)
Introduction of key information (AO1 - knowledge) and how this is used (AO1 - understanding)
Introduction of a contentious issue or debate (AO2 - analysis) and finalised judgement (AO2 - evaluation)
Plenary
Lesson Sheets:
If you would rather work in exercise books, the Work Pack/lesson sheets are designed so that you can print off relevant pages - it is a resource pack. This would be useful if you have appropriate curriculum time to cover the content of the course. Unfortunately, this is not the case across all schools, and therefore the Work Pack helps by providing time-saving activities, whilst still being able to cover the breadth and depth of the course.
In addition, students who may be limited by literacy issues, e.g. slower writing paces, are not disadvantaged or capped in their progress. Therefore, some classes could use a mixed approach - part Work Pack, part exercise book - and all students will be able to progress through the same volume of content.
Please give feedback: I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
These analysis mind maps sumarise each topic by page for the whole unit of Religion and Ethics (AS and A2 years). Each map is downloaded as both a Word document and a PDF, for compatibility.
The maps specifically follow the requirements of the OCR A Level Religious Studies Spec, but due to similarities across specifications they are relevant for other exam boards. They can also be edited easily for other specifications.
They explore appropriate AO1 (knowledge and understanding) followed by AO2 (analysis and evaluation) of that specific point. I encourage my own students to add another layer to the map, evaluating the analysis, to develop their AO2. This could continue on indefinitely or end each ‘arm’ with a personal judgement.
I also like to cut up the maps and ask the student to re-construct them. This aids in their revision skills and supports their logical structuring of arguments.
Maps included:
Natural Law
Situation Ethics
Kantian Ethics
Utilitarianism
Euthanasia
Business Ethics
Meta-Ethics
Conscience
Sexial Ethics
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
This interactive PowerPoint aims to revise ‘random’ content through 28 different exam-style questions.
My students sometimes miss the focus or don’t understand exactly what the question is asking for. So, this revision task gets them to think about the question itself and retrieve key learning associated with the question (AO1). I also ask them to make a judgement (AO2) on the essay title so as to practise both skills required for the essays.
Created for the OCR specification, but can be adapted for other exam boards easily, due to the assessment objectives being the same.
Resource covers all Philosophy units:
Ancient Philosophical Influences
Soul, Mind, Body
Arguments from Observation
Arguments from Reason
Religious Experience
Problem of Evil
Nature of God
Religious Language
20th Century Perspectives
Download as PowerPoint and PDF - for compatibility. In addition, a ‘printer’ version is included in the file so this can be used as a paper resource/handout.
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
These clear and engaging revision sheets are indented for independent study or to aid revision for the scholar Epicurus in the topics of Ancient Philosophy and Utilitarianism. Each sheet is downloaded as an A3 Word document and an A4 PDF, for compatibility.
I felt it was important to make these sheets as my students sometimes misunderstood the context of the philosophers or the chronology of the arguments (and responses). Therefore, these context sheets aim to tackle these misconceptions and re-examine the theory and/or philosopher within the context in which they should be viewed.
A sample context sheet can be found here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-level-anselm-and-ontological-argument-context-and-information-sheet-12316408
Additional topics and/or philosophers can be found in my Tes shop!
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!
These clear and engaging revision sheets are indented for independent study or to aid revision for the key scholar Jeremy Bentham in the topic of Ethics and Utilitarianism. Each sheet is downloaded as an A3 Word document and an A4 PDF, for compatibility.
I felt it was important to make these sheets as my students sometimes misunderstood the context of the philosophers or the chronology of the arguments (and responses). Therefore, these context sheets aim to tackle these misconceptions and re-examine the theory and/or philosopher within the context in which they should be viewed.
A sample context sheet can be found here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-level-anselm-and-ontological-argument-context-and-information-sheet-12316408
Additional topics and/or philosophers can be found in my Tes shop!
Please give feedback! I am always happy to respond to comments - whether positive or constructive - this will help to improve the quality of my resources in the future and, more importantly, the quality of pupils’ RE/RS education in general - which is what we’re all here for!