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.
OCR. A LEVEL. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION: RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE & 20TH CENTURY RELIGIOUS LANGUAGE. #FUN-LESSONS. A concise and easy to follow FUN lesson to recap and master content. Students should be learning without realising it!
GAMES INCLUDE:
Knowledge Audit (to reveal gaps in knowledge and show progress)
Articulate (for key term mastery)
Guess who – match the quote to the source and explain what it means
Prepare and present multiple views on a variety of 40 mk statement
Pub quiz (without the beer!) and peer assessment
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
**Critically compare the via negativa with symbolic language as ways of expressing religious beliefs in words. ** Grade A model answer.
A complete answer to the above 40 mark question.
ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION OCR A LEVEL. MODEL ANSWER: TO WHAT EXTENT DOES KANT SUCCESSFULLY CRITICISE THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT?
Exemplar Essay: Thesis, body and conclusion
Demonstrates OCR success criteria for a top-level answer.
INCLUDES REFERENCE TO SCHOLARS:
Descartes, Anselm, Gaunilo, Kant
SOURCES OF WISDOM:
Bible
TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT. PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION. OCR A LEVEL. MODEL ANSWER: CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
Exemplar Essay: Thesis, body and conclusion
Demonstrates OCR success criteria for a top-level answer.
INCLUDES REFERENCE TO SCHOLARS:
Aquinas, Paley, Tenant, Hawking, Hume, Ockham, Ayer, Flew
SOURCES OF WISDOM:
Bible
USE & ABUSE OF ANIMALS. AQA RELIGION & LIFE. FUN & ENGAGING VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA & GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGING A LEVEL STRETCH. MASTERY & EXAM SKILLS FOCUSED. SUITABLE FOR SPECIALISTS AND NON-SPECIALISTS.
Emphasis on exam skills: Assessment & extra challenges throughout.
Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (WITH REFERENCE TO SOURCE OF AUTHORITY):
Explain ways humans use animals for their own benefit including food, experiments and testing
Explain religious and secular views on the value, use and abuse of animals
Using animals for human benefit is wrong. environment. Evaluate
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
ABORTION & RELIGION. AQA RELIGION & LIFE. CHRISTIANITY / ISLAM
FUN & ENGAGING . VARIETY OF TASKS, MULTI-MEDIA & GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGING A LEVEL STRETCH. MASTERY & EXAM SKILLS FOCUSED.
Easy to follow suitable for specialists & non-specialists.
Emphasis on exam skills: Assessment & extra challenges throughout.
Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow.
Date on slide updates automatically
SUITABLE FOR DELIVERING:
AQA RS: Religion and Life: Christianity/Islam
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO (with reference to sources of authority)
Explain two contrasting beliefs in contemporary British society about abortion. 5 marks
Abortion should be allowed only when the mother’s life is at risk.’ 12 marks
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
SIKHISM INTRO FOR KS3. FUN AND ENGAGING LESSON. 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 GURU GRANTH SAHIB):
Explain Sikh beliefs about God
Explain how these beliefs influence the lives of Sikhs today
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
FIVE PILLARS EVALUATION/REVISION is a fun and engaging lesson and comprehensive introduction to answering 12 mark questions (AQA/GCSE). Fully resourced with assessment throughout. It also recaps on each of the five pillars and their importance.
NO PRINTING / FULLY RESOURCED / DATE UPDATES AUTOMATICALLY
STUDENTS WILL:
Understand the key components of an argument
Create their own 12 mk statements
Understand the importance of justification, development an use of scriptural evidence
Apply student friendly 12 mk criteria in answer this 12 mk question:
The Shahada is the most important pillar in Islam. Evaluate.
Peer assess a 12 mk answer using student friendly success criteria
DALY’S NEW SPIRITUALITY. GENDER AND THEOLOGY. OCR A2 DCT. 100 MINUTES. FUN AND ENGAGING MULTI-MEDIA LESSON WITH A VARIETY OF TASKS AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGE AND MASTERY FOCUSED.
• Aimed to offer clarity on a complex topic
• Customisable recap ‘do now’ task
• Emphasis on Exam Skills: A01
• Synoptic links
• Scholar quotes
• Sources of Wisdom
• Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
• Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Information sheet provided (not dependent on a textbook)
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain Mary Daly’s claim that women need a new spirituality with reference to sources of wisdom
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
HINDUISM AFTERLIFE. FUN AND ENGAGING. VARIETY OF TASKS TO STIMULATE LEARNING. #CHECK UNDERSTANDING. ADDRESS MISCONCEPTIONS. TWO SINGLE LESSONS
Pedagogy Focus:
• Check understanding and address misconceptions throughout
• Reduce cognitive overload
• Build on Prior knowledge
• A01 Exam skills: Recall ,list and explain
No printing. Concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically. Customisable Do Now task.
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Lesson 1: To recall Hindu beliefs and how this influences daily life
Lesson 2: With reference to a source of authority explain Hindu beliefs: ahimsa,recarnation, moksha, karma
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is welcome.
CHRISTIAN MORAL ACTION BONHOEFFER LESSON 1. OCR AS DCT. 100 MINUTES. FUN AND ENGAGING MULTI-MEDIA LESSON WITH A VARIETY OF TASKS AND GAMES TO STIMULATE LEARNING. CHALLENGE AND MASTERY FOCUSED.
LESSON 1 (OF 3) INCLUDES:
• Customisable recap ‘do now’ task
• Scholar quotes
• Sources of Wisdom: Bible and Barman Declaration
• Assessment and extra challenges throughout.
• Minimal printing, concise and easy to follow. Date on slide updates automatically
• Information provided (not dependent on a textbook)
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:
Explain with reference to scripture Christian teachings about duty to the state
Explain how Bonhoeffer demonstrated allegiance to God over the state
Evaluate whether Christians should put God before the state
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Your feedback is most welcome.
AQA THEME C. EXISTENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. QUOTES FOR STUDENTS TO GLUE IN BOOKS.
SINGLE PAGE DOCUMENT INCLUDES ESSENTIAL QUOTES FOR THIS TOPIC FROM:
• BIBLE
• QURAN
• AQUINAS
• CALVIN
AQA 12 MARK STUDENT FRIENDLY SUCCESS CRITERIA
This was created during AQA examining training 2023. Senior examiner confirmed this is accurate. It shows exactly how many marks would be given with regards to the following criteria:
Number of points
Number of perspectives
Development: Some/Slight and full development
Number of religious references
How many points should answer the ‘so-what?’ (linking belief to point)
Judgement and conclusion
The resources also shows modelling of the above criteria.
My students know exactly what they need to do to hit or exceed their target as they refer to this every time they answer a 12 mark question. It is glued in the inside cover of their books.
Sunni and Shia Islam key beliefs. Six articles of faith and five roots. This lesson enables learners to: recall and explain both the six articles and five roots. #engage, check understanding, correct misconceptions, differentiate, reduce cognitive overload.
TWO SINGLE LESSONS. CHUNKED WITH FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT.
AS THIS IS A CONTENT HEAVY SUBTOPIC WITH ARABIC TERMS AS WELL AS BELIEFS OF BOTH DENOMINATIONS TO REMEMBER I HAVE CHUNKED CONTENT AND INCLUDED FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS FEEDBACK. ACRONYMS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO AID RECALL.
LESSON INCLUDES INFORMATION SHEETS.
Lesson one focuses on the similarities eg tawhid and prophethood with some differences eg imamate in shia islam and sunni beliefs in angels and holy books. This will prepare them well for lesson to which begins with recall of these key beliefs and then proceeds to deliver the remaining key beliefs of shia and sunni. This has proven very effective with my students in terms of recalling the six articles and five roots and explaining these with reference to scripture.
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA ISLAM BELIEFS OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: Students should have some knowledge of Tawhid, imamate and knowledge of the Shia/Sunni divide following death of Prophet Muhammed.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills – development
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• 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
Six articles of faith and five roots lesson enables learners to: recall and explain and compare the key beliefs of Sunni and Shia Islam. #engage, check understanding, correct misconceptions, differentiate, reduce cognitive overload.
TWO SINGLE LESSONS. CHUNKED WITH FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS ASSESSMENT.
AS THIS IS A CONTENT HEAVY SUBTOPIC WITH ARABIC TERMS AS WELL AS BELIEFS OF BOTH DENOMINATIONS TO REMEMBER I HAVE CHUNKED CONTENT AND INCLUDED FREQUENT WHOLE CLASS FEEDBACK. ACRONYMS ARE ALSO PROVIDED TO AID RECALL.
LESSON INCLUDES INFORMATION SHEETS.
Lesson one focuses on similarities eg tawhid and prophethood with some differences eg imamate in shia islam and sunni beliefs in angels and holy books. This will prepare them well for lesson 2 which begins with recall of these key beliefs and then proceeds to deliver the remaining key beliefs of shia and sunni. This has proven very effective with my students in terms of recalling the six articles and five roots and explaining these with reference to scripture.
TEACH AS PART OF GCSE. AQA ISLAM BELIEFS OR AS A STAND-ALONE LESSON
PRIOR LEARNING: Students should have some knowledge of Tawhid, imamate and knowledge of the Shia/Sunni divide following death of Prophet Muhammed.
**PEDAGOGY FEATURES: **
• Exam skills – development
• Recap (activate prior knowledge)
• 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
RELIGION AND LIFE REVISION. AQA. EFFECTIVE REVISION LESSON. IDEAL FOR RUN UP TO EXAMS.
AIM: Recall ALL key terms and points for ALL 5mk & 12 mk Questions. To improve skills of development and writing conclusions.
HOW: students identify gaps through a knowledge audit. Students fill gaps in knowledge and create revision resource EG flash cards to aid recall.
DIFFERENTIATION: By time: depending on number of gaps students work independently over 1 or more lessons on each of the 4 topics. By Task: depending on predicted grade EG. U-4 no quotes needed 7+ 4 quotes in 12mk questions.
TIMING: Ideally need 2 single lessons (can be done in one if you miss out some steps)
RESOURCES INCLUDED:
• Comprehensive key term knowledge audit
• Complete set of 5mk and 12 mk questions
• Complete set of Quotes from sacred writing
• Models: flash cards, development & conclusion
• Student progress check list
YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE:
• Either flash cards OR if on low budget A4 paper cut in half
• Envelopes/wallets for them to keep cards organised
• INFORMATION to answer questions EG revision guides/their books/your support.
I hope you enjoy teaching this lesson. Reviews welcome!
For more quality RS resources visit Examined_Life shop
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Examined_Life
ANIMAL STATUS & USE. Theme B: Status/Use of Animals (Food/Testing) Christianity, Islam, Humanism. Concise, comprehensive challenging exam-focused revision or lesson (prior knowledge not necessary). **Resource light- easy to follow. ** DOUBLE LESSON
Suitable for delivering:
AQA Theme B Humans and Animals (Christianity, Islam, Humanism)
Students will be able to:
Explain religious beliefs about the use of animals for food
Evaluate whether it is wrong to use animals for food.
Explain religious beliefs about animal experimentation
Evaluate whether animal experimentation is always wrong with reference to religious scripture and contemporary philosopher, Peter Singer
Activities include:
Reading log activity, exam questions with model answers. Optional video tasks to enrich learning and give their writing hands a rest, Peer/self assessment with success criteria.
RESPONSES TO PERSECUTION & JIHAD. GCSE REVISION: Islam/Christian Practices. Concise, comprehensive and** challenging exam-focused** revision lesson. Resource light- easy to follow. Double lesson.
FOR DELIVERING:
AQA Religious Studies: Islam/Christian Beliefs and Practices
Students will be able to:
Explain how Christians respond to persecution
Explain two conditions of Lesser Jihad
Evaluate which is more important lesser or greater Jihad
Evaluate whether persecution is always a negative thing. Refer to Christian beliefs
Activities include:
Reading log activity, information sheet, Video activities, 5 and 12-mark exam questions with model answers. Peer assessment.
Your review is most welcome.
DESIGN + FIRST CAUSE ARGUMENTS & EVALUATION. AQA THEME C. EXPLORE ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, CRITICISMS AND CHRISTIAN RESPONSES (THEODICIES). Concise, comprehensive and challenging exam-focused. Resource light & easy to follow
Suitable for a revision but prior knowledge is not necessary.
Double lesson
FOR DELIVERING:
AQA Religious Studies: Theme C: ARGUMENTS FOR GODS EXISTENCE
Students will be able to:
Explain the design argument
Explain two scientific accounts of creation
Explain the problem of evil and its theodicies
Evaluate: ‘If God were loving, there would be no suffering in the world.’
Evaluate: ‘The First Cause argument successfully proves the existence of God’
Activities include:
Reading log activity, information sheet, video tasks plus a variety of 5 and 12-mark exam questions complete with model answers and self-assessment success criteria.
SHAHADA, TAWHID & SALAH . GCSE REVISION LESSON. AQA ISLAM BELIEFS & PRACTICES. Concise, comprehensive and challenging exam-focused revision lesson. Double lesson. Resource light- easy to follow
Suitable for delivering:
AQA Religious Studies: Islam Beliefs and Practices
Students will be able to:
Explain the importance of Shahada, tawhid and Salah
Explain contrasting ways Salah is practiced
Evaluate whether prayer is the best way for Muslims to understand God
Activities include:
Reading log activity, exam questions with model answers. Peer assessment.