In year 9 Core Religious Studies – Core is on a half termly rotation with PD. They have one lesson a week within that rotation.

Term 1

What is God like?

Knowledge:

In this topic pupils will explore the different religious and non-religious ideas about God and the nature of God, as well as looking into some of the issues that might arise from this. They will also explore how a belief in God might influence a person’s life and link this directly to the ideas of free will and determinism. The last part of the topic looks at the different ways that belief in God can be expressed.  This will look at both traditional and modern ideas.

Skills:

There are lots of opportunities for discussion and building the pupils’ ability to justify their answers.  This topic enables pupils to practice further their decoding of symbolism while building on evaluating how appropriate this might be.

Useful Links

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zrpqmsg/revision/1

The Problem of Evil

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z2863qt/articles/zvnn3qt

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zxwhg2p/articles/znhjcqt

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/ztqncxs/articles/zycrdnb

Assessments:

There is short, informal assessment at the end of the unit but most assessment comes from pupils’ verbal input and discussion.

Term 2

Judaism as world view

Knowledge:

In this topic, the pupils look at the origins of Judaism, linking to Moses. As well as the importance of Passover. Pupils explore the significance of the Torah and look in more depth at the 10 commandments with a focus on the first. Pupils also have the opportunity to consider what it is like being a Jew in the UK in the modern world. There is also time given to think about the historical persecution of the Jews and the impact that this has had on the religion.

Skills:

As well as a clear emphasis on symbolism again and a focus on grasping the link between belief and practise, there is also the opportunity to build skills of empathy, appreciation and try to consider the different lenses people in the world might look through. There are also lots of regular opportunities for building discussion skills.

Useful Links

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zdvtcxs

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zrj6hcw

Judaism: The Torah Scroll

Holy Cribs: The Synagogue

Assessments:

There is short, informal assessment at the end of the unit but most assessment comes from pupils’ verbal input and discussion.  There is also a small group escape room task that focuses on information retrieval.

Term 3

Authority and Power

Knowledge:

This topic looks at the protected characteristics through the lens of role models and amazing people. Pupils will get the opportunity to look at issues such as racism, disability, sexism, ageism and even key religious figures. At the end of the topic there is the chance for pupils to consider their own role model and think about how this has influenced or will influence them.

Skills:

This topic adds to the pupils’ skills in empathy, tolerance and appreciation, as well as giving them the opportunity to see how individuals can make a difference in the world and hopefully see how they could too. As with previous topics there are lots of opportunities for discussion and building their analytical skills.

Useful Links

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zj42fdm

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/1f4c71a6-1359-4241-9f91-7b0a1b5ac9a0

https://quizlet.com/blog/10-women-who-challenged-the-status-quo?lid=qaira2kcguj0

Assessments:

There is short, informal assessment at the end of the unit but most assessment comes from pupils’ verbal input and discussion.

In year 10 Core Religious Studies – Core is studied once a week.

Term 1

Miracles
Arguments Against Religion

Knowledge:

Pupils start year 10 with an exploration of Old and New Testament miracles, as well as modern miracles and some of the philosophical arguments against miracles. The end of topic provides an opportunity to use all that they have learnt to evaluate a modern religious miracle from varying viewpoints.

The second half of the term looks at a range of philosophical, sociological and psychological arguments against religion. This includes the problem of evil and science, as well as the theories from Freud, Durkheim and Jung.

Skills:

There is a chance for analysis and to practise hermeneutics (looking at the deeper meaning of texts), as well as debating skills.

Useful Links

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z2863qt/articles/zj3jtcw

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z2863qt/articles/zvnn3qt

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/ztqncxs/articles/zv6dxg8

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/ztqncxs/articles/zycrdnb

Assessments:

There is short, informal assessment at the end of the unit but most assessment comes from pupils’ verbal input and discussion.

Term 2

Greek Philosophers and their Philosophy
Islam as a World View

Knowledge:

In the spring term the pupils get the chance to explore the main Greek philosophers and their ideas. The focus is first on Plato with pupils learn about his analogy of the cave, his forms and ideas pf the soul.  Aristotle is then studied as a comparison with a focus on his four causes, views on reality and the soul.

This topic aims to give pupils and overview of Islam, while looking into the origins of the religion and the different views within it. There is an aim for pupils to see how the religion is in the modern world and what it means to be a Muslim in the UK today.

Skills:

Throughout each topic there are opportunities for analysis and debate, as well as considering the origins of world views and adding to their own. There is also a focus on growing their understanding of diversity and variety within a belief. Building empathy and appreciation of difference is also a focus.

Useful Links

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zxwhg2p/articles/znhjcqt

https://www.truetube.co.uk/search/?_sf_s=Islam&_sfm_length=0+500+++++&sort_order=relevance+desc

Assessments:

There is short, informal assessment at the end of the unit but most assessment comes from pupils’ verbal input and discussion.

Term 3

Religion and Ethics

Knowledge:

In the summer term there is a focus on medical ethics.  Pupils look at different religious and non-religious views on a range of issue including fertility treatment, cloning, genetic engineering, abortion and euthanasia.  There is also a chance to consider their views on eating animals and where their own attitudes, morals and values come from.

Skills:

There are plenty of opportunities to practice debate and argument building, but there is also a focus and justifying points of view. There are lots of opportunities for analysing information, as well as developing empathy, tolerance and appreciation of other beliefs and differing world views and situations.

Useful Links

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/ztqncxs/articles/ztnpb7h

https://www.truetube.co.uk/resource/the-view-from-the-classroom-abortion/

Designer Babies: The Mother

Pro-life Vs Pro-choice

The View from the Classroom – Euthanasia

Euthanasia: Playing God?

At Our Service

Assessments:

There is short, informal assessment at the end of the unit but most assessment comes from pupils’ verbal input and discussion.