I'm Head of Department and AQA examiner for Religious Studies. I teach the AQA spec and provide tried and tested resources. I'm uploading resources all of the time; my newest collection is the #FUN LESSONS range which are engaging, exam focused, challenging and getting great results. Lessons are fully resourced and easy to follow with minimal printing. I hope you enjoy teaching them.
I'm Head of Department and AQA examiner for Religious Studies. I teach the AQA spec and provide tried and tested resources. I'm uploading resources all of the time; my newest collection is the #FUN LESSONS range which are engaging, exam focused, challenging and getting great results. Lessons are fully resourced and easy to follow with minimal printing. I hope you enjoy teaching them.
CRUCIFIXION – GOSPEL ACCOUNTS AND HOW THESE SHOW THE DIVINITY OF JESUS. CHRISTIAN BELIEFS. AQA. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO. SINGLE LESSON
PEDAGOGY FOCUS:
Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
Reduce cognitive overload
I do, we do, you do
Exam skills: Strong religious reference, development
Extra Challenges
Minimal printing. Concise and easy to follow. Suitable for specialists and non-specialists. Task time indicators. Date on slide updates automatically. Customisable Do Now task.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCES OF AUTHORITY):
Explain Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and how these show Jesus was divine
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
NICENE CREED. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. SINGLE LESSON
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• ‘I do, we do, you do’
• Exam skills: refer to a source of authority
No printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain origins of Nicene creed
Explain key beliefs of Christianity with reference to the Nicene Creed
Building on Prior knowledge: Key Christian beliefs: Trinity, incarnation, resurrection
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
KEY CHRISTIAN BELIEFS. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. SINGLE LESSON. KS3
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• ‘I do, we do, you do’
Minimal printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Recall key Christian beliefs and important key terms: trinity, incarnation, resurrection
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
WORLD RELIGIONS. KS3 RELIGIOUS STUDIES INTRO LESSON. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING.
#CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. SINGLE LESSON
**Pedagogy Focus: **
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• Appropriate challenge
• SMSC: tolerance and respect
Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically.
**STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO: **
Understand why we learn Religious Studies in School
Identify 5 philosophical attitudes towards the existence of God/s.
Identify the six main religions in the world and list key facts about them
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
JUDAISM: PROPHETS AND COVENANTS. KS3 RELIGIOUS STUDIES. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING.
#PEDAGOGY: CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS.
SINGLE LESSON.
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• Appropriate challenge
Features
• Customisable recap ‘do now’ task
• Emphasis on A01 Exam Skills
• NO PRINTING , concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Recall the two most important prophets in Judaism and explain why they are important.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
MODEL ANSWER TO QUESTION: Religious language is best understood cognitively. Discuss. This is A Grade answer meets the following success critiera:
Breadth and Depth drawing on scholars: Ayer, Flew, Plantinga, Alston, Bultmann and Hick
Numerous synoptic links
Sources of authority (Bible)
Evaluation throughout
Thesis and Conclusion
**This essay is aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic. **
**TASK IDEAS **
Students could highlight the above criteria in the answer. Discuss how it meets the success criteria and if it could be improved. They could then copy the highlighted criteria to form an essay plan; take away the model answer and they form their own answer based on the plan.
SANCTITY v QUALITY OF LIFE LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: have a deep understanding of the terms ‘sanctity of life’ and ‘quality of life’ through application to case studies and to evaluate which is most important. This lesson will set them up for success in subsequent lessons on abortion and euthanasia.
#ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: religious beliefs about creation of life EG ensoulment desirable but not essential
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Several case studies (different circumstances) on euthanasia and abortion
Teachings from Quran and Christianity on sanctity of life
**TASKS INCLUDED: **
• Holy book Quote sorting/matching (Sanctity of life)
• Ranking (Quality of Life)
• Case studies – group study and present
• End Task: Explain how sanctity and quality of life sometimes conflict with reference to a case study and religious teachings
EASY TO DELIVER
• Concise and logically sequenced
• Minimal printing
• Accessible for specialists and non-specialist teachers.
• Date on slide updates automatically.
• Task time indicators.
**I HOPE YOU ENJOY TEACHING THIS LESSON. YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME. **
**FOR MORE LESSONS AND RESOURCES VISIT MY SHOP: **
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Examined_Life
Writing an Argument is a fun and engaging lesson aimed to help students construct a sound argument that meets the AQA GCSE success criteria for a 12 mark question.
****NO PRINTING REQUIRED / CUSTOMISABLE RECAP/DO NOW TASK/
Students will
identify the key elements of an argument (12 mk AQA Success Criteria)
Constuct their own 12 mk statements
Justification: Give reasons to agree/disagree with statements
understand the importance of development
understand the importance of scriptural evidence
Answer a 12 mk question in full - you could adapt the question to suit a topic of your choice
Peer assess a 12 mk answer using success criteria
The final task 12 mk question is 'The Shahada is the most important Pillar in Islam. ’ However the final parts of lesson can be adapted to deliver any topic.
SOUL AND AFTERLIFE CHRISTIANITY.
3 X 100 MINUTE LESSONS. Fun & engaging, Variety of tasks, multi-media & games to stimulate learning. Plenty of recap, challenge, exam skills focus, mastery & assessment throughout.
Resource light (minimal printing), concise. Date on slide updates automatically. Easy to follow suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
I hope you enjoy teaching this pack. Your feedback is most welcome.
WORLD RELIGIONS INTRO. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING/ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS/ I DO, WE DO, YOU DO. FUN & ENGAGING, VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA & GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. SUITABLE FOR INTRODUCING STUDENTS TO 4 MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS.
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• I do, we do, you do
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Academic Writing skills
LESSONS INCLUDED:
Key facts about all 6 major world religions
Abrahamic Religions
Key Christian Beliefs
Nicene Creed
Five Pillars intro
Importance of Shahada
Judaism: Prophets and Covenants
Judaism festivals: Passover
Hinduism Part 1
Hinduism Part 2
Writing Arguments part 1 – academic writing skills
Writing Arguments part 2 – academic writing skills
MINIMAL PRINTING, CONCISE. DATE ON SLIDE UPDATES AUTOMATICALLY. EASY TO FOLLOW SUITABLE FOR SPECIALISTS AND NON-SPECIALISTS
**
For religions: Buddhism, Sikhism Humanism, Paganism, Rastafarianism – see my Bundle World Religions 2 **
I hope you enjoy teaching this pack. Your feedback is most welcome.
CREATION (ORIGINS OF UNIVERSE. AQA THEME B) LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL CONTRASTING VIEWS WITHIN AND BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND HUMANISM ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B RELIGION & LIFE
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: HOLY BOOKS OF ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY. SOME KNOWLEDGE OF SCIENTIFIC/GENESIS ACCOUNT OF CREATION USEFUL BUT NOT ESSENTIAL
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Christianity: creationists and liberals
Islam: creationists and liberals
Humanism / Science
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
Slides
Target Grade descriptors for 12 mk question
Model Answer
Paired ‘we do’ task
Quotes/Key term bank
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
• Customisable Do Now followed by a short engaging starter considering both the start and the end (big freeze) of the universe according to science.
• Interactive reading of a model answer with planned questioning
• Partners complete short work sheet based on the model answer to prepare them to later write their own independently
• whole class assessment (planned questioning) to check for misconceptions before the end task
• End Task: students work independently in silence to write a response to a 12 mark question using success criteria
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
• Challenge
EASY TO DELIVER
• Concise and logically sequenced
• Minimal printing
• Accessible for specialists and non-specialist teachers.
• Date on slide updates automatically.
• Task time indicators.
**I HOPE YOU ENJOY TEACHING THIS LESSON. YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME. **
**FOR MORE LESSONS AND RESOURCES VISIT MY SHOP: **
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Examined_Life
Pilgrimage: Christian Practices #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of games, tasks and use of multimedia to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused. You’ll find it concise and easy to follow making it suitable for specialists and non-specialists alike. It covers GCSE content as well as A Level material to stretch and challenge.
There will be an emphasis (and modelling) of key skills needed in exam questions. Assessment and extra challenges throughout
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
‘Pilgrimage – Christian Practices’
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• To explain reasons for pilgrimage in Christianity
• To explain two contrasting examples of Christian pilgrimage
• Evaluate which is the most important practice in Christianity
Activities/resources include:
Customisable recap do-now starter
a variety of tasks e.g. Tour Guide presentation, quiz, discussion, exam questions. To gain an in-depth understanding of:
• Importance of pilgrimage
• Three places of pilgrimage: Lourdes, Iona, Jerusalem
• A level stretch: religious experience
• recap all Christian practices along with reasons why they are important and relevant sources of authority
• Evaluate which are the most and least important Christian practices
•
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
REVELATION (FAITH & GRACE) KNOW. OF GOD’S EXISTENCE (DCT) A LEVEL
• A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of multi-media, games and tasks and to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: assessment and extra challenges throughout.
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
Explain the view that Christians can know God by revelation through faith and grace
Fully resourced activities include:
Customisable recap starter, Video learning: what is faith? What does faith reveal about God? Explain different philosophical perspectives on faith. Draw illustrations to show Bonaventure’s view on how God is known. Bible quote analysis task, comparative analysis: Kierkegaard/Bonaventure, A01 writing task, A02 writing challenge.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
NATURAL THEOLOGY: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S EXISTENCE (DCT) A LEVEL. #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks and to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: assessment and extra challenges throughout.
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
Explain the view that Christians can know God through Natural Theology
Fully resourced activities include:
Customisable recap starter, create illustrations to demonstrate views of Polkinghorne and Boyle, sort quotes into natural / revealed theology, group discussion (sensus divinitus, conscience as proof of God), mind-mapping of key thinkers and claims, A01 writing task, A02 evaluation challenge.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
ISLAM PRACTICES: SALAH - PRAYER # FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety of tasks, multi-media and games to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused.
• Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Suitable for specialists and non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY):
• Explain why Muslims pray
• Explain how Muslims pray
• Explain why Friday prayers are important
• Explain differences of prayer between Shia and Sunni Muslims
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
OCR A LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHICAL INFLUENCES
A GRADE MODEL ANSWER: Critically discuss Plato’s realm of the forms (understanding of ultimate reality)
This answer meets success criteria:
Breadth and Depth drawing (scholars)
Numerous synoptic links
Sources of authority (Bible)
Evaluation throughout
Thesis and Conclusion
This essay is aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic and to demonstrate success criteria for an A grade
TASK IDEAS
Students could highlight the above criteria in the answer. Discuss how it meets the success criteria and if it could be improved. They could then copy the highlighted criteria to form an essay plan; take away the model answer and they form their own answer based on the plan.
OCR A LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES: PERSON OF JESUS
A GRADE MODEL ANSWER: Jesus was merely a political liberator. Discuss
This answer meets success criteria:
Breadth and Depth drawing (scholars)
Numerous synoptic links
Sources of authority (Bible)
Evaluation throughout
Thesis and Conclusion
**This essay is aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic. **
**TASK IDEAS **
Students could highlight the above criteria in the answer. Discuss how it meets the success criteria and if it could be improved. They could then copy the highlighted criteria to form an essay plan; take away the model answer and they form their own answer based on the plan.
ORIGINS OF UNIVERSE AND LIFE: SCIENCE AND RELIGION. AQA RELIGION & LIFE . FUN & ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA & GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGING, MASTERY & EXAM SKILLS FOCUSED. SUITABLE FOR SPECIALISTS & NON-SPECIALISTS.
Emphasis on exam skills. Assessment and Extra challenges throughout.
Resource light, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY)
Explain origins of universe and life according to: Science
Explain origins of universe and life according to: Religion (Christianity & Islam)
Explain contrasting views within Christianity on the origins of the universe and life
Evaluate: God created the universe and life
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
FIVE PILLARS INTRODUCTION: ISLAM. FUN AND ENGAGING . VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGING, MASTERY AND EXAM SKILLS FOCUSED.
SUITABLE FOR SPECIALISTS AND NON-SPECIALISTS.
• Emphasis on exam skills: Modelling, Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
• Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO THE QURAN):
Explain the five pillars and how each influences the life of a Muslim.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
EXEMPLARY ANSWER. OCR A LEVEL RELIGIOUS STUDIES: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD (DCT) A GRADE MODEL ANSWER: TO WHAT EXTENT CAN GOD BE KNOWN THROUGH THE NATURAL WORLD? DISCUSS. 40 MKS
This answer meets success criteria:
Breadth and Depth drawing (scholars)
Numerous synoptic links
Sources of authority (Bible)
Evaluation throughout
Thesis and Conclusion
**This essay is aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic. **
**TASK IDEAS **
Students could highlight the above criteria in the answer. Discuss how it meets the success criteria and if it could be improved. They could then copy the highlighted criteria to form an essay plan; take away the model answer and they form their own answer based on the plan.