This is a lesson that focusses on the FBV of tolerance and mutual respect. It looks at worldwide variations in family structures, gender and religion. It encourages students to see their ideas of ‘normal’ (i.e. in France they drive on the ‘wrong’ side of the road) as simply another way to do things. Hopefully without slipping into complete relativism, students are encouraged to question, develop and refine their opinions rather than give any opinions up all together. Learning objectives include: Does culture affect what is ‘normal’? How and why does culture affect religion, gender and family? Extension: Does the information in this lesson change how you think about your own norms and values? Tasks are differentiated by outcome, with group learning carousel, whole class discussion, and individual tasks all incuded. Questions become increasingly high level as they go on. Suitable for KS3-5. With some simplification it could work with KS2, but it would take some work to do so. It includes in the powerpoint slides to print out with the information on the case studies and a document about the many different forms of Islam in the world, and how culture affects religion. (As an aside, I could have chosen any religion. Christianity has 40 000 types!)

This is an ambitious project to cover the entire UK citizenship government framework in 26 lessons of increasing difficulty over 5 age groups (11-16). It uses a range of teaching strategies, including individual and team work, developing public speaking skills and active citizenship engagement in the year 8 section of the course. It focuses on students having a keen idea of their own background whilst also being able to ‘sonder’ (appreciate the realness of others) and truly empathise, as well as having a historical understanding of why we are where we are in the world. This lesson starts with the students own identity, before moving on to consider the South African concept of Ubuntu: I am because we are. This lesson Can be bought as part of a package. These schemes use key questions instead of learning objectives which are then used as mini plenaries throughout. Videos and worksheets included as powerpoint slides for ease of access and printing where necessary. Key questions What is identity? What is culture? Is there an ‘us’ and a ‘them’? Challenge: Evaluate the idea of Ubuntu. Feedback always welcome.

This lesson is designed to be adaptable to the needs of your class. It can build on previous knowledge of Gandhi, and works best if that is the case, but can also be used as an introduction to Gandhi’s teaching and life. (To this end, I’ve included a link of him burning the passes and his famous non violence speech that followed it, which are both short and excellent insights into his teaching and philosophy. On non violence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKzKj_8CO2g Burning of the passes (ahimsa):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50gNryy9JnA) It includes extension tasks for able and talented, and differentiated activities including ethical dilemmas, youtube videos, group discussions, treasure hunts as well as written tasks. A broad range of activities, in my experience, always bosters engagement. (there is a need to print 10 slides here) The lesson aims to remind students’ of Gandhi’s teachings and inform them of the Caste system. There is also a short video about Narayanan Krishnan, an inspirational Hindu who has disregarded his Brahmin caste to help untouchables or down and outs in Indian Society. 2 differently worded Learning Objectives here for lower and higher ability or age groups: To remember who Gandhi was. to explain what the caste system was. To know Gandhi’s opinion of the untouchables. To develop and evaluate my own opinion about the caste system. To empathise with people who are in the caste system. Or, for KS4, All will be able to explain what the caste system was, and why Gandhi was against it. Most will be able to relate the situation to contemporary issues re: jobs and status. Some will be able to explain why the caste system became a source of prejudice and discrimination.

This resource is intended to be a quick and easy resource to inform students about puberty. Aimed primarily at 10-14 year olds, it’s a great start for beginning understanding the biological and emotional changes and challenges of this transformation from a child’s to an adults body. It includes videos which explain, in very child friendly terms, the what, how and why of puberty, and has space for class discussion too. Ideal for specialists and non-specialists alike.

This assessment aims to be a creative one, where students research a war and try to apply the just war theory, jihad, religious attitudes, the approach of a peace making organisation and their opinion to it. It is an attempt to have students using their critical thinking skills in a project that fosters analytic, creative and original thought. I know. I’m an optimist. Sarcasm aside, I think our students are getting smarter all the time: they are exposed to more information than any preceding generation and deserve the opportunity to show off and really apply themselves.

This lesson aims to give students (particularly British ones) some understanding of the histories and activities of Britain we don’t mention as much as the 2nd World War, the Tudors and the Romans. It is an exploration of the slave trade, the arms trade, native american indians, aborigines and transportation and our involvement in India during the empire. It aims to give students an alternative perspective on Britain without undermining them as individuals, invalidating their experience or burdening them with guilt. Hopefully it leads to some interesting discussion and learning. It certainly does in my classroom! Group activities, based on SOLE (Self Organised Learning Environments), which need some monitoring but the resources created would work well with a variety of exercises including marketplace and others. It aims to meet the Global Citizenship Education aims, specifically 4.7 (which focuses on global citizenship education and education for sustainable development). Any feedback greatly received Learning Questions include: What are the histories we learn about in school? What was Britain’s role in the slave trade, Native American Indians, Aboriginal peoples, the arms trade and India? How do these histories affect our opinions about today’s world? Extension: can you figure out what/whose histories are not included in this lesson? How would you find out about them? Are we responsible for our ancestors’ actions?

This small bundle of resources is designed to help students revise together and independently so they really know what embryology, cloning, IVF, surrogacy, human experimentation and transplants and transfusions are, as well as the key terms essential for a good grade. Learning objectives are: Be more confident about the topics involved in Medical Ethics Have a more fluent understanding of the religious issues raised by these topics. Have begun to evaluate the various merits of different opinions about modern medical procedures.

This lesson has a hotseat starter which covers many key terms from Medical ethics (i.e. sanctity of life) as well as an interactive treasure hunt plenary for those of you with the luxury of smart boards. Learning Questions include: What is Cloning? What are the different kinds of cloning? What are religious responses to it? Extension: What quotes do you know that could apply to this topic and how? There is also a roleplay opportunity included here, as well as a variety of youtube links and a cover lesson linked to the sixth day which can be rented or bought on youtube (It’s no gattaca, but has some interesting ethical issues raised and debated in there). Differentiated by outcome, with extension task included with the learning questions.

With Brexit being a ubiqutous and fairly exhausting topic in the news, I made this to try and teach my KS3 and 4 students about and explore their opinions on it. Mostly, students respond to the first learning question with ‘Brexit means brexit’ which has about as much substance as the middle of a doughnut. Not the jam ones. Learning questions: What is Brexit? What is the EU? What are the different Brexit options? What are the arguments for and against it? Stretch and Challenge: After weighing up both sides of the argument, what is my opinion? Some differentiation included, with a brief summary of the seven main brexit options available. There is also a critical thinking extension which explores a claim that the PM’s deal meets all requirements, which is produced by a thinktank. Students will be shown how to use google power search’s ‘WHO IS’ function to find out who the director of that thinktank is, and how they have conservative leanings, hopefully boosting awareness of bias and independent thought. There are group tasks as well as individual work and opinion line activities included. Also attached here are the ‘four corners’ posters which can be stuck on the four corners of the room so students move to that area depending on their opinion.

An assessment to see how much students have engaged and learnt from this scheme of work. There are two options, with differentiated questions to answer one after the other or a creative assessment option where students create something of their choosing (poem, rap, painting etc. which answers the questions in their own way). It comes with printable questions and levelled marking grids to help you mark in a time efficient, clear way. Enjoy :)

This lesson aims to explore the seder meal with students, and includes the necessary information to run your own mini seder meal in the classroom if you so choose. It is part of a scheme of work where students create a booklet about Judaism, and hence one of the objectives is about creating the relevant chapter of that booklet. Objectives include: To know what Seder is, and the main signs and symbols that are used To prepare for Project Chapter 5 To think about the importance of Festivals in our own lives There are differentiated activities in this KS2-3 resource, and ideally there would be some role play that the powerpoint and teacher would facilitate with groups of 6. Lesson plan, song, youtube links and powerpoint iuncluded. Enjoy!

This lesson explores who is to blame for the Shoah/Holocaust. It endeavours to introduce nuance and deeper empathy into students’ understanding in that the Shoah cannot simply be Hitler’s fault: millions of people collaborated, agreed and perpetuated anti-semitism, including some Jews in the Ghettos who faced making impossible decisions in desperate circumstances. Activities are differentiated, with youtube videos of survivors testimonies (which are a little quiet), and the lesson is perfect for religious studies, PHSE, citizenship and SMSC. It’s perhaps a bit personal for a history lesson, but may be used to augment existing scheme’s of work to help engagement. Learning Questions include: Can I describe the different things that were lost in the Holocaust? (level 4-5) Can I explain my opinion on who was responsible for different things in the Holocaust? (5-6) Can I evaluate different opinions on who was to blame in specific situations? (level 6-7) There are also extension tasks which include footage of Otto Frank after his loss of his entire family. All feedback gratefully received.

Including youtube links, independent learning activities, discussion activities and plenty of information, this lesson is about exploring the 'snoopers' charter' culture of the NSA and GCHQ, Edward Snowden's role as a whistleblower, and if we should allow our governments to spy on us. Particularly good for citizenship, sociology, RS and Politics this lesson is engaging and interesting to students. Did you know facebook's new privacy policy allows them to use your microphone and camera? AI notes down everything we say via their app...1984? Or safety procedure? Differentiated activities by outcome and task design, there's plenty here to stretch and challenge as well as scaffold. This lesson also includes a debate and information which can be used like a treasure hunt activity. 26 slides of high quality teaching material. Learning questions are: Why is privacy important? What is a whistleblower and what were Wikileaks? Is the internet a force for increased freedom, or increased surveillance? Which is more valuable, freedom or safety?

At the school where I work we do 'Beliefs and Values': PHSE, Citizenship, Religious Studies and SMSC all rolled into one. These 2 lessons, one for KS4 and one for KS3, explore what SMSC is and why it is important. There is a lot here, so plenty for you to pick and choose from, all exploring the following learning outcomes: All of you will be able to explain what SMSC is. Most of you will be able to explain where we learn about SMSC Some of you will be able to evaluate why we teach SMSC in our school community. As always, feedback and recommendations warmly received. :)

A whole Holocaust/Shoah scheme of work with videos, worksheets, wordsearches, youtube videos, embedded videos that include real survivors talking about their experience. I've taught and tweeked this over 6 years, teaching it perhaps 30 times, adding a real dimension of Jewish faith and how the Holocaust/Shoah challenged and strengthened different people's faiths. Excellent resource for higher achievers: level 7-8 is quite common with the scafolding here. It starts historical, and then becomes increasingly integrated with the effect on Jewish Faith. There's really loads here, including 34 files in total, so plenty to chop and change. Lesson 1: Introduction: 6 258 673 Lesson 2: Propaganda and Indoctrination Lesson 3: Timeline and Gradual Change in Nazi Germany Lesson 4: The Ghettos Lesson 5: Jewish Identity Lesson 6: The Concentration camps and Anne Frank Lesson 7: What was lost? Who's to blame? Lesson 8: Rescuers Lesson 9: Fight Back! The Bielski Brothers Lesson 10: Lessons from the Holocaust Lesson 11: Assessment

UPDATED from last year with more detailed exploration of all topics. A Resource written, compiled and edited by yours truly which should cost about £1 to print in school. Students can hopefully buy this from your department, and it is a good middle ground between the official revision guide and, well, nothing at all! :) My students have found it very helpful. Covering Islam and Christianity, mainly, with a smattering of Buddhism. Also includes the most challenging exam questions from past papers on the last pages, as well as an overview from AQA.

Chandra Bose has been likened to Malcolm X in comparison to MLK, but when compared with Gandhi. He led a profoundly effective campaign at forcing the British out of India through armed resistance, but is greatly neglected by a narrative that prefers non-violent protest. Key question: Is violence justified when fighting injustice?

A couple of revision booklets for units 3 and 4, missing the topics of poverty in the UK and religion and science.