A lesson that explores the learning questions: What causes war? Is war ever justified? Using a game students explore in teams of 6 the possible causes of war, and evaluate if they are worthwhile. Differentiated learning outcomes and links to youtube videos included, this lesson has been tweaked over a course of 5 years into something that works for me in the classroom. It includes guided discussion and debate topics, as well as some religious opinions in the form of Augustine’s just war theory. Any necessary instructions included in the powerpoint notes.

This is a set of resources for year 9 and up, and should not be used for students any younger. The objectives are to describe a case study of evil (the largest powerpoint focusses mainly of Jamie Bulger, but the resources can be adapted to look at any of the topics). There are 13 resources here, with evidence students can evaluate from each example. There are also 'Must, should, could' guidance as well as plenty of opportunity for extension of gifted and talented students. Good links to Citizenship, religious studies, Sociology, and the activities are pretty self explanatory. Radio show links, videos included. This is a pretty harrowing subject to teach, but sometimes students seem to be particularly interested in real life examples and applications. When discussing things like Capital Punishment it seems particularly helpful to bring into relief the truly horrible things people do sometimes, and how a responsible society should respond.

A powerpoint which includes differentiation activities, a worksheet (with different activities for KS3 or 4 which we print on double sided A3, and there is enough here for at least 2 lessons. Youtube links, treasure hunts, a debate, TPS activity and more. Easily personalisable to suit your own needs, and included here is the SMSC objectives met with this lesson. The Powerpoint itself has some instructions on how to use the resource, although most of it is quite self explanatory. Enjoy!

This lesson is part of a scheme of work on Judaism, aimed at KS2-3 students. The objectives it covers are: To know and understand the main symbols of prayer in the home To think about what is most important in my life, and write a short prayer or poem about it and create a symbol for it It includes the main symbols used by Jews in prayer, including the Tefillin, Mezuzah, Kippah and Tallit. Ideally you would have these in the classroom and be able to dress up a student in them. There’s also a song including of the Shema, the main prayer of Judaism. Differentiated comprehension questions, a range of activities, and information slides to help students get to grips with how Jews may worship in the home. Worksheets also included.

A lesson for KS3 students to get their heads around the Big Bang and if it is compatible with religious beliefs. Can one believe in God and the Big Bang? This includes videos about the big bang, the size of the universe and a short powerpoint with pictures of earth to play while students enter to create that SMSC 'awe and wonder' feeling. Also included are instructions in the PPT on how to teach and youtube links. Learning Questions: What is the Big Bang theory? What is my opinion about how the universe was created? Is it possible to believe in religion AND science? Great for SMSC, Religious Studies, and Science and Religion modules.

This is a resource, with scaffolding options for SEND, for students to understand Muslim and Christian Attitudes to Justice. It involves an independent study task, built around the concept of co-operative teamwork filling in a 'beehive' as bees do when filling in cells of honey. There are also scaffolded paragraph tasks. The objectives addressed are: Why is Justice important to Muslims and Christians? What are some examples of Islamic and Christian teachings about justice? What is your opinion of Muslim attitudes to Justice? EXT: Why might someone disagree with you? Teachers should aim to really push evaluation, examining why different people believe different things and the benefits and pitfalls of different beliefs.

This comprehensive lesson exploring the facts, benefits and religious responses to organ transplants and blood transfusions will need trimming to fit in one hour. There are plenty of case studies, youtube clips, embedded short videos about ‘cellular memory’, and comparative religious arguments from the six major religions. Activities are differentiated by outcome, with discussion or learning pyramid plenaries available. Went all out on this one. Learning Objectives: To know the possible benefits about organ transplants. To know some religious attitudes to blood transfusions and organ transplants. To evaluate and compare religious attitudes to medical ethics. It also includes a particularly close look at Jehovah’s witnesses opinions on blood transfusions.

This is a marketplace activity which aims to give students some introductory knowledge about four key aspects of Jewish life. The four aspects included here are: Beliefs about G-d The Shema Shabbat The Ten Commandments What are some key Jewish beliefs and practices? What are their benefits for Jewish people? EXT: What are their challenges for Jewish people? Good lesson for Religious Studies, PHSE, Citizenship, SMSC and improving community understanding.

A PHSE lesson to help students discuss and explore healthy ways to end relationships. It’s an attempt to try and get secondary school students in particular to treat each other with respect when everything seems epically painful. Differentiated by outcome, with plenty of opportunities for discussion and exploration with some youtube links included.

A powerpoint that explores assisted reproduction, specifically IVF (AIH and AID). It includes religious responses to the issue, which can be used in a variety of ways (as a treasure hunt or group exercise). Learning questions include: What is IVF? (AIH and AID) What are some Religious Responses to it? Learn a case study and consider if IVF is ethical? Case studies include Octomom, with a youtube video link included, to explore IVF at its extremes and help students evaluate how different situations may alter their opinions on how ethical it is. The exercises are differentiated by outcome, and groupings can be done using a kagan system of mixed ability. Side note: My preference with the religious responses exercise is to number the class 1-5, have them study, condense and write one opinion. I then re-number them 1-4 and have them sit in new groups, so each new grouping has at least one person from each of the 5 previous groups. They then teach each other all the information.

A 7 lesson Scheme of work on Poverty in the UK, including powerpoints, youtube clips, images, worksheets, booklets, and revision resources to help for KS3 or 4 work. Designed around the AQA Religious Studies B Spec. 1) What is Wealth and Poverty 2) Religious Attitudes to Wealth and Poverty 3) How do people get rich or poor 4) Poverty in the UK 5) Charitable Solutions to Poverty 6) Poverty: Solutions and Responsibility for Poverty 7) Revision/Consolidation lesson (with a 20 question competitive comprehension activity)

A lesson to help students explore the meaning of life inclusive of, but not exclusive to, religious belief. Learning questions include: What is the meaning of life for you? Do we all need a purpose in our lives? Do you have to follow a religion to have meaning and purpose in life? Excellent for SMSC, Religious Studies, PHSE and citizenship objectives and General Studies or Philosophy modules. Slides have some instructions in the notes, and there is enough to pick and choose from to suit the needs of your class. 11 slides including youtube clips.

A lesson which aims to mythbust many of the global misconceptions about Islam which has led to widespread islamophobia. It focuses mainly on the UK but is globally relevant, and aims to expose the media bias against Muslims, how a tiny minority of people who claim the title of ‘Muslim’ have taken control of the narrative of what it is to be Muslim, and how we can address this. Learning questions include: Identify the meaning of Islamophobia? What are some of the myths surrounding Islam and Muslims? What would be an appropriate response? Why is Islamophobia on the rise? It includes a range of activities, from group work, discussion, individual writeen work and youtube videos. Tasks are differentiated by outcome, and is currently targeted at KS3-4 students. With tweeking it could easily be made into a KS2 resource, as it also includes Muslim art for students to make an anti-Islamophobia wall. I have intentionally put too much into this so you can prune out whatever you wish to.

This lesson is an introduction to global citizenship, part of a module on Global citizenship, that begins with a personal look at the individual. It includes youtube videos, mindmaps, one print out and structured questions to help students understand their own biases and the biases of the class they are in. It is a powerful step forward for self reflective learners, uses PELTS well, and incorporates SMSC, Ethics, PHSE, Citizenship and geography into one topic. Tasks are differentiated, with questions going from easy to more difficult. Ideal for KS3-4 (11-16yr olds). Learning Questions include: What is global citizenship? What is my own personal, social, historical and economic background? How might my background affect how I see the world?

This resource looks at Jewish identity, and is part of a scheme of work about the Shoah/Holocaust. It includes some basic beliefs about G-d (including why Jews often write G-d, instead of God) as well as a brief overview of 1000 years of anti-semitism. It puts the anti-semitism that flared into the Shoah into perspective and I’ve used it mainly with KS3 students. It includes a clip of some survivors testimonies which speak about their experience of antisemitism, and has differentiated tasks that explore quotes from the Torah and Talmud in more depth. Extension tasks also included. Easily adaptable for KS4. Ideal for religious studies, SMSC, citizenship and PHSE. Learning Questions (Objectives) include: Can I imagine the possible impacts of the Holocaust on a Jewish person? How may the Holocaust have influenced or challenged Jewish beliefs? What are some key Jewish Beliefs? EXTENSION: Can I evaluate how the Holocaust may effect Jewish people today?

This lesson has a look at the truth and reconciliation trials in S. Africa and how those principles can be applied in everyday life, as well as solving more international issues such as ISIS. A bit of a labour of love, this one, as teaching about terrorism and extremism is always a bit depressing. It's a lesson to really help students connect to hope, and the Citizenship, SMSC and PHSE targets of self-awareness, other cultures and moral values. Learning Questions include: What was Apartheid? What were the truth and reconciliation trials? What was their aim? How might Religious Believers respond? What is your opinion on them? Youtube clips, miniplenaries, differentiated activities and group creative tasks included following a blooms taxonomy structure, influenced by Kagan's learning cycle.

A lesson, more like two really, exploring what the Hajj is, why people do it, and how the Hajj effects Muslims. They hyperlinks in the PPT (image link on second slide and last slide) are to two excellent videos. Ext: why do different Muslims go on Hajj for different reasons?

The idea of this PPT is to print out the pages of the Gurus and a story about their lives so students can convert the information into a poster, or put it onto a timeline, or create a marketplace activity. Hopefully this is some useful raw material for you to work your creative magic on. It's supposed to show how Sikhism developed from a spontaneous vision of the first Guru (Nanak) into a world religion heavily shaped by oppression and military necessity (Gobindh Singh). Hope it&'s helpful! Be well, d

A PPT with a variety of extensions to give students an idea about what all the fuss is about. The PPT itself is pretty self explanatory, and contains links to a variety of youtube videos (some are animations) as well as the Specials 'Free Nelson Mandela&' single. What a legend!