AQA GCSE Psychology: SENSATION AND PERCEPTION [Perception Topic]

This fully editable lesson on Sensation and Perception explores the fundamental differences between how we sense and interpret the world around us, aligned with the AQA GCSE Psychology Specification. This resource equips students with an understanding of key concepts and theories, as well as their application to real-life scenarios.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Lesson Slides:
  Students are introduced to the key differences between sensation (receiving sensory input) and perception (interpreting this input). The slides provide clear explanations, real-world examples, and visual aids, including engaging Think-Pair-Share activities such as debating Gregory’s Constructivist Theory and Gibson’s Direct Theory. Students also analyse examples like visual illusions and the “Fear or Love?” scenario to deepen their understanding.

• Interactive Activities:
  This resource features dynamic tasks, such as “Do Now” activities to encourage initial engagement (e.g., identifying and reflecting on the five senses and their importance). Visual illusions like the Müller-Lyer illusion and Rubin’s Vase allow students to explore how perception can be influenced by context, while real-life scenarios like interpreting fear or attraction help bridge theory and application.

• Assessment Materials: Students consolidate their understanding through structured tasks, including worksheets that differentiate between sensation and perception and short-answer exam practice questions. The plenary task challenges students to consider the reliability of perception in broader contexts, encouraging reflective discussion.