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.
Sacraments: Eucharist / Holy Communion CHRISTIAN PRACTICES. #FUN LESSONS. A fun and engaging lesson with a variety to tasks and multimedia to stimulate learning and is ‘MASTERY’ ‘and EXAM SKILLS focused. You’ll find it concise and easy to follow making it suitable for specialists and non-specialists alike.
You can use props for the main activity e.g. red squash/Disco crisps – but I often ask the kids to improvise and their creativity can make it even more fun.
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:
‘‘Sacraments: Eucharist / Holy Communion’ Christian Practices AQA
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• To explain the origins, symbolism and significance of the Sacrament of the Eucharist
• Explain differences within Christianity with regards to the practice of the Eucharist
Activities/resources include:
Customisable recap do-now starter
a variety of tasks to gain an in-depth understanding of:
• The Origins of the Sacrament
• The events of the Last Supper
• Relevance of the Gospel of Luke and the New Covenant
• Role play: Catholic / Anglican service of mass
• Differences between Catholic and Anglican denominations including transubstantiation -v- Real Presence.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
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.
ISLAM PRACTICES REVISION # FUN LESSONS. A Fun lesson to recap and master content. Students should be learning without realising it!
• Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light
• Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Engage in lots of fun game to revise for test.
• Prepare and present multiple views on a variety of statements with a strong religious reference **(sources of authority) **
INCLUDES AN EXAM-FOCUSED HOME-LEARNING TASK WITH RESOURCE
**
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: (FULLY RESOURCED)
• Articulate game
• Quotes master game (sorting)
• Presentation game: students are required to give reasons for and against variety of statements and include a strong religious reference
• Pub quiz (without the beer!)
• Peer assessment
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson.
Your feedback is most welcome.
USE AND ABUSE OF ENVIRONMENT. THIS LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO:
• Explain and illustrate problems with non-renewable natural resources including pollution and global warming
• Explain and illustrate advantages of non-renewable resources.
• Explain a variety of religious and humanist attitudes towards the use of natural resources. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING (DESIRABLE BUT NOT ESSENTIAL): stewardship, dominion
**INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS: **
• Christian stewardship
• Christian dominion,
• Islam guardianship/khalifah,
• humanism
• Climate Change deniers
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
**Slides
Target Grade descriptors
PEES Writing frame
Key term bank
Quote bank
Model answer **
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Presentation: use of natural resources
Model answer analysis
Modelling of PEES paragraph
Evaluation Question
Planned questioning to check whole class understanding.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
USING ANIMALS FOR FOOD. RELIGION & HUMANISM LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: Evaluate whether it is right to use animals for food, explaining views between (and within) Christianity, Islam and humanism.
#ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: FARMING METHODS
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Differences within Christianity
Differences within Islam
Peter Singer’s preference utilitarianism and speciesism
** INCLUDED: **
Slides
Target Grade descriptors
PEES paragraph writing frame
Key term bank
Quote bank
Model answer
Quote matching game
Extra Challenges
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
ORIGINS OF LIFE LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: EVALUATE IF IT’S POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE IN SCIENCE AND RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS ON ORIGINS OF LIFE. INCLUDING VIEWS WITHIN AND BETWEEN: CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND HUMANISM. #ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: some knowledge of Bible creation accounts and principles of evolution desirable but not necessary.
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Creationism, liberal, Islam and humanism (evolution theory)
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
Slides
Target Grade descriptors
Key term bank / Quote bank
group task worksheet
model answer **
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Do now (relevant prior knowledge for this lesson)
Teacher interactive Presentation with planned cold call questioning
Group work task
Modelling (exam answer)
Debate
Whole class assessment (planned questioning)
Independent End Task (exam question)
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Recap
• Exam skills
• Check whole class understanding to address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload & clear teacher explanation
• Differentiation
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
Christian Response to Persecution: Christian Practices. An engaging lesson with a variety of games, tasks and use of multimedia to stimulate learning. It is ‘MASTERY’ 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 advanced material to stretch and challenge.
Assessment and extra challenges throughout
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
‘Christian Response to Persecution – Christian Practices’
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Explain How and WHY Christians respond to persecution
Activities/resources include:
Recap do-now starter: Sort events of Jesus life in chronological order
a variety of tasks e.g. World map activity, letter writing, discussion, video, discussion. To gain an in-depth understanding of:
• Persecution in early Christianity
• prevalence of persecution of Christians in the world today
• Christian responses to Persecution
• Bible teachings related to responses to persecution
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
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.
REVEALED THEOLOGY: KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S EXISTENCE (DCT). #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 revealed Theology
Fully resourced activities include:
Customisable recap starter, Matching: truth claims to revealed/natural theology, Matching: Biblical examples to immediate/mediate revelation, quote interpretation, Bible Analysis and evidence task: how is God revealed through: Biblical events, wisdom literature, Prophets, visions, the person of Jesus, creation accounts. Study and discussion of Old Testament prophecies, essay planning (mindmap). A01 writing task and A02 writing challenge.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
TYPES OF CRIME, UK LAW & JUSTICE. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO.
PEDAGOGY FOCUS:
Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
Reduce cognitive overload
I do, we do, you do
Extra challenges throughout
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:
Give examples of the three types of crime in UK law
Explore case studies of murder, theft and hate crime in the UK and assess whether justice was served to the victim
Teach as a stand-alone lesson or part of THEME E CRIME AND PUNISHMENT AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
VALUE OF THE UNIVERSE LESSON ENABLES LEARNERS TO: explain a variety of religious and non-religious views on the value of the world and who is responsible for caring for it. Included in the lesson is a PEES paragraph model that I created during my 2023 exam board marking; this is to help students include all of the elements required for a 12/12 answer.
#ENGAGE, CHECK UNDERSTANDING, CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS, DIFFERENTIATE, CHALLENGE.
SINGLE LESSON
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA THEME B
OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: Some knowledge of Christian and Islam beliefs about creation, stewardship, dominion desirable but not necessary.
INCLUDES RELIGIONS/PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS:
Christianity: creation, stewardship, dominion
Islam: guardianship (khalifah)
Humanism
**RESOURCES INCLUDED: **
Slides
Paired task (following modelling of PEES paragraph)
Target Grade descriptors
Writing frame using PEES model
Key term bank
Quote bank
**ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: **
Presentation
Modelling of PEES paragraph
Pairs worksheet: create a PEES paragraph.
Evaluation Question with prompts to use PEES paragraphs.
Planned questioning to check whole class understanding.
Modelling development
Extra challenges
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills: focus on PEES paragraph and 12 mk answers
• Recap
• Planned questioning
• Check whole class understanding.
• Address misconceptions
• Peer learning
• Reduce cognitive overload
• End task assessment
• Differentiation
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
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.
Creation of the World and Life - Different Christian + scientific views. CHRISTIAN BELIEFS/AQA/#FUN LESSONS. Concise and easy to follow, ‘MASTERY’ and EXAM SKILLS focused lesson. Students will learn the GCSE content plus be challenged by dipping into some relevant A Level material. There will be an emphasis (and modelling) of key skills needed in evaluation questions. Frequent mini plenary’s for assessment.
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
Creation of the World and Life – Christian and scientific views
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Explain a variety of Christian and scientific beliefs about the creation of the world and life
• Evaluate whether the world and life have a creator.
Activities include:
Customisable recap do-now starter, a variety of tasks to learn:
Fundamentalist, liberal and mythical interpretation of Bible, Differences between Genesis 1 and 2, to what extent is Genesis compatible with the evolution theory, A Level Stretch: Calvin’s -Sensus Divinitus links to Christian belief that man was created in God’s image, Materialists and substance dualists. Working on key skill of development with model answer, writing task and peer assessment. Key term bingo.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
ISLAM PRACTICES: HAJJ - PILGRIMAGE #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 the role and significance of the 5th Pillar of Islam: Hajj.
Including:
Origins
The rituals of Hajj (how and why)
Exemptions
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
CHRISTIAN VIEWS THE LAW AND CRIME. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO.
PEDAGOGY FOCUS:
Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
Reduce cognitive overload
I do, we do, you do
Extra challenges throughout
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 Christian beliefs about:
• Laws of the state
• Unjust laws
• Biblical moral laws and conscience that guide behaviour
• People who commit: Hate crime, murder and Theft
EVALUATE STATEMENT: Christians should never break the law.
Teach as a stand-alone lesson or part of THEME E CRIME AND PUNISHMENT AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation – 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 advanced 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:
Forgiveness and Reconciliation – Christian Practices’
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
With reference to Bible teaching, The Trust and Reconciliation Committee and the Community of the Nails of the Cross:
• Create a collage entitled ‘Reconciliation and Peace” in Christianity
• Answer Exam Question: Two reasons Christians should focus on reconciliation.
Activities/resources include:
Customisable recap do-now starter
a variety of tasks e.g. student presentations, collage, video, discussion, exam questions. To gain an in-depth understanding of:
• Bible teachings about forgiveness and Reconciliation
• Difficulties and advantages of reconciliation
• Case studies: Desmond Tutu and apartheid / Community of the Nails of the Cross
• How Christian teachings have influenced those to work for reconciliation
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
COMMUNITY SENTENCES & RELIGION. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. I DO, WE DO, YOU DO. DIFFERENTIATED. RELIGIONS: CHRISTIANITY & ISLAM
PEDAGOGY FOCUS:
Check whole class understanding and address misconceptions throughout
Reduce cognitive overload
I do, we do, you do
Compulsory 7+ Challenges throughout
Differentiated End Task
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: Evaluate community sentencing as a method of punishment with reference to religious views and sacred writing.
Teach as a stand-alone lesson or part of THEME E CRIME AND PUNISHMENT AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
‘Christian Practices – Revision lesson’ is a concise and easy to follow. It is a fun lesson to recap on the content. Students should be learning without realising it!
Date on slide updates automatically / Resource light / Easy to follow & Suitable for non-specialists
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
Christian Practices - Revision
Students will be able to (with reference to source of authority):
• Engage in lots of fun game to revise for test. To prepare and present multiple views on a variety of statements with a strong religious reference.
**
Activities include: FULLY RESOURCED**
• Articulate game
• quotes master game (sorting)
• presentation game: students are required to give reasons for and against variety of statements and include a strong religious reference
• pub quiz (without the beer!) and peer assessment
HOME LEARNING TASK
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
ISLAM PRACTICES - TEST LESSON #FUN LESSONS
INCLUDES:
• Independent revision session (using notes and/or HW set in the revision lesson of the Islam Practices #Fun lessons series)
• Warm up test – with peer assessment
• Test: 5 exam style questions (1,2,3,4,5)
• Test support slide: success criteria and writing frames
• Mark scheme with indicative content and success criteria