This contains a fully resourced lesson on Plato's analogy of the cave. It contains a set of activities to meet the following objectives: To describe the story of Plato’s cave. To explain how the story questions our idea of reality. To understand the symbolism of Plato’s ideas in The Matrix. Has worked very well with my classes. It is ideally aimed at KS4, but can easily be adapted for KS3.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on the Beatitudes. In the main part of the lesson students have to write a modern day translation for each one, explain why they are important in pairs and write an extended analysis of how they could be applied in someone's life. Learning Objectives: To describe the meaning of the Beatitudes. To explain why they are important for Christians. To analyse how these could be followed by people in their own lives.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on the causes and effects of poverty in the UK. In the main part of the lesson students have to use a set of images to describe the impacts of poverty and then use annotate an A3 sheet with the different reasons why poverty exists in the UK today. Finally students have to come up with their own suggestions as to how poverty in the UK could be tackled. Learning Objectives: To describe the impacts of poverty in the UK. To explain the reasons why we see poverty in the UK. To begin to suggest your own solutions to poverty in the UK.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on why light is important to people and world faiths. The main part of the lesson consists of a spider diagram task on things that brings 'light' (happiness) into their lives, a worksheet task explaining how light is used by two worldwide faiths (Christianity and Hinduism), and finally a Venn diagram to compare their views. To understand why light is important to humans. To explain how light is used by worldwide faiths. To compare and contrast their beliefs about light.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated introduction lesson on coasts. In the main part of the lesson students use a stimulus image to generate their own definition of what a coastline is, carry out a image analysis of different coastlines around the room (open-ended but focused questions for students to generate their ideas) and lastly a ranking exercise on different reasons why the coastline is important for people. Learning Objectives: To identify what a coastline is. To describe the key features that make up a coastline. To explain why coastlines are important.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson towards Aristotle's theory of the Four Causes. The main part of the lesson involves exploring the difference between Plato's and Aristotle's philosophy through picture analysis and a worksheet, followed by note-taking on Aristotle's Four Causes, which is then applied to a variety of objects which can be found within the world of empirical observation (with extension task). Learning Objectives: To outline the difference between Aristotle’s and Plato’s approach to Philosophy. To explain Aristotle’s theory of the 4 causes. To apply his theory to the world of empirical observation.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on what two world religions teach about the soul (Christianity and Hinduism). The main part of the lesson involves using information sheets to complete a grid showing religious views towards the soul and the evidence for it, which they then peer teach to their partner. They also complete a Venn diagram to compare the views, and evaluate the evidence for the existence of a soul. Learning Objectives: To explain two religious views towards the soul. To compare and contrast their views. To evaluate the evidence for the existence of a soul.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on Aristotle's concept of the Prime Mover. The main part of the lesson involves students generating examples to show their understanding of potentiality and actuality, a class discussion and note-taking exercise on why Aristotle believed the Prime Mover had to exist, a worksheet where students have to explain why Aristotle believed the Prime Mover had to possess certain attributes, develop explanations of key problems associated with the Prime Mover, and finally an extended writing exercise where they justify what they find to be the two most convincing criticisms of Aristotle's theory of the Four Causes. Learning Objectives: To understand the idea of potentiality and actuality. To outline Aristotle’s concept of the Prime Mover. To assess the strengths and weaknesses of Aristotle’s theory of the Four Causes.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on whether Happisburgh should be protected from coastal erosion - forming an end-of-unit assessment for a Coastal Environment Scheme of Work. The main part of the lesson is split into two parts: firstly, a short written exercise describing the location of the settlement and an information hunt to obtain the viewpoints of different stakeholders on whether the settlement should be protected from coastal erosion (with a grid extension task evaluating the strengths/weaknesses of these arguments); secondly, designing a newspaper article which answers the question ‘Should Happisburgh be protected from coastal erosion?’. Learning Objectives: To describe the location of Happisburgh. To explain the arguments for and against protecting Happisburgh. To evaluate whether you ultimately believe Happisburgh should be protected from erosion.

This worksheet requires pupils to give four-figure and six-figure grid references on various locations featured in the Simpsons. It also includes a section on describing routes between places. Feedback is always appreciated.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on how Hindus worship, focusing on the items used in a typical puja tray. The main part of the lesson involves students firstly drawing their own puja tray and making their own suggestions as to what it might symbolise, after which they use information sheets from around the room to annotate their actual meaning to their earlier drawings, and finally complete a written reflection on how useful they believe puja trays are for Hindus in helping them worship. Learning Objectives: To describe the items used on a Puja tray. To explain their symbolism. To examine how useful they are in helping Hindus to worship.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated set of lessons in order to carry out a microclimate survey around a school environment, although it could be adapted to suited others. The first lesson helps students to prepare for their microclimate survey, paying particular attention to how two major pieces of equipment work and to construct hypotheses for their survey. The second lesson involves students going around a school environment, in groups, collecting their microclimate data. Differentiated recording sheets are provided for students. The third lesson involves students writing up their report to show the results of their survey. I hope you find these resources helpful.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on how the impacts of earthquakes can be mitigated. Focused on the 3Ps, the main part of the lesson involves a discussion task on the difference between the three approaches and the techniques it might involve, leading up to an extended note taking task on how the different techniques can help to mitigate the impacts of an earthquake. Learning Objectives: To describe the different approaches to mitigating the impacts of earthquakes. To explain how these approaches work in practice. To evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on whether miracles prove the existence of God. In the main part of the lesson students use visual prompts to discuss the different types of miracles, then work in groups to discuss and make notes on the strengths and weaknesses of two miracle case studies (Biblical - Raising of Lazarus from the dead, Modern - Miracles at Lourdes), explain two philosophical views towards miracles (linking them back to the case studies), and then finally complete a 12-mark evaluation question. Learning Objectives: To describe the different types of miracles. To explain the arguments for and against miracles. To evaluate whether miracles provide convincing proof for the existence of God.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on Hindu funerals. In the starter students have to use two images to draw out initial observations about Hindu funerals. In the main this leads to an information gathering task and a symbolism task, with a GCSE style question included to assess understanding of the material. Plenary is also included. Learning Objectives are: To describe the key features of a Hindu funeral service. To explain how these features reflect their beliefs about life after death.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on the milestones the average person in the UK may experience in their life. The main part of the lesson involves students creating an annotated timeline of all the key milestones, explaining how and why they are celebrated. This can form part of a piece of display work if you wish to do so. To identify a list of milestones. To describe how milestones are celebrated. To understand why milestones are celebrated.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson towards one ultimate question: What is the meaning of life? In the main part of the lesson students have to use information cards to describe a range of philosophical views (e.g. Nihilism, Materialism, Religious...) towards the meaning of life and explain how it might affect the way they live their lives, and then conclude the lesson by completing a written task evaluating which viewpoint they agree and disagree with the most and why. Learning Objectives: To describe different philosophical views about the meaning of life. To explain how these philosophies can shape a persons’ life. To evaluate your personal viewpoint towards them.

This contains a fully resourced, differentiated lesson on global poverty. In the main part of the lessons students have to consider a range of definitions to decide what they believe is the best one, use a range of pictures to explain the impacts of global poverty, and finally complete a written evaluation as to whether they believe it is possible to end global poverty. Learning Objectives: To describe the meaning of poverty. To explain the impacts of global poverty. To speculate whether it is possible to end global poverty.

A group task where students have to decide on the right course of action presented to them during their stay on the island. A good way to introduce this task is to show the clip of the plane crash from the first season of LOST to get them emotionally involved within it.

This is an active starter for pupils when introducing the topic of sustainability. INSTRUCTIONS: Walk around the room finding students who match up to one of these sustainability statements, and then get their signature in the square The first one to get BINGO (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) wins! FEEDBACK: What have you learnt about yourself or other people from this experience? What do all these statements have in common? Why are these things important? Suggest what you think the word ‘sustainability’ means