Scheme of Learning: The Existence of God

This comprehensive Year 8 Religious Studies scheme of learning explores one of the most thought-provoking questions in philosophy and theology — Does God exist?

Designed to engage students in critical thinking and evidence-based discussion, this unit guides learners through a range of classical and contemporary arguments for the existence of God.

Lesson topics include:

• Does the First Cause (Cosmological) argument justify belief in God?
• Does the Design (Teleological) argument justify belief in God?
• Does the resurrection of Jesus justify belief in God?
• Do miracles justify belief in God?
• Do religious experiences justify belief in God?

What’s included:

A detailed unit overview sheet, outlining:

• Lesson content
• Agreed syllabus links
• Assessment opportunities
• Suggested homework tasks

Fully resourced lessons, each featuring:

• Clear learning objectives
• Retrieval practice starters
• Concise, student-friendly key information
• Suggested delivery guidance for teachers
• Built-in AfL (Assessment for Learning) opportunities
• Engaging plenary activities to consolidate learning

This scheme provides everything teachers need to deliver an insightful, engaging, and curriculum-aligned exploration of the philosophical arguments surrounding belief in God — ideal for stimulating curiosity and thoughtful debate in Year 8 classrooms. This unit of work can also be adapted to suit any secondary Religious Education programme of study.