Religious Studies

RE provides students with the opportunity to gain a deep awareness of their own and others’ identities; to wrestle with the mysteries of life and the answers given by a wide variety of religions and beliefs; to be inspired by what is of real value in the world today and challenged to protect and nurture it.

Pupils gain a deep knowledge and understanding of the teachings, practices and life stories expressed in a variety of ways within Christianity and other principal religions and world views. Through reflection on their own beliefs and values in the light of their learning, it cultivates respect for themselves and others.

They encounter the transformative power of religions and beliefs in people’s lives – in the local area, in the UK and in the wider world. They are encouraged to be inquisitive about men and women of faith and commitment who have changed individual lives, society and culture. Through RE, they are encouraged to imagine how they can contribute to the creation of a better society. At KS3 Religious education is delivered on a once fortnightly basis with the aim of establishing a religious literacy whilst providing an introduction to Christianity and the other principal religions and world views represented in the United Kingdom.

KS3-4 Pathways (Southfield)	AQA Religious Studies
Careers	Writer, reporter, social worker, school teacher, univeristy lecturer, lawyer, business analyst, politician, charity / aid worker, religious minister.
KS4 Specification links	https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/religious-studies/gcse/religious-studies-a-8062

Unit 1 - Christian beliefs about God

Key questions/concepts

What is RE?
What do Christians believe?
What are Christian perceptions of God?
Who was Jesus?
What evidence is there to suggest he was the son of God?

Timeframe

September - January

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Faith	Belief in religious teachings
Ressurection	The idea that Jesus rose from the dead
Omnipotent	The belief that God is all powerful
Messiah	The person sent by God to free the Jews
Miracles	An event which shows a power beyond what is normal

Wider reading

The lion, the witch and the wardrobe (CS Lewis)
The first Christmas (Enid Blyton)
The Pilgrim's Progress (John Bunyan)
The garden, the curtain and the cross (Carl Laferton)
The case for Christ (Lee Strobel)

Unit 2 - Hindusim

Key questions/concepts

What are the origins of Hinduism?
What do Hindus believe in?
How do Hindus worship at their temples?
How do Hinuds worship at home?
What is reincarnation and why is it important to Hindus?

Timeframe

February - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Brahman	The Hindu one Great Power
Trimurti	'The three gods' - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
Mandir	A Hindu temple / place of worship
Shrine	A holy place created in the home
Reincarnation	The belief that a soul is reborn

Wider reading

Amma, tell me about Hinduism (Bhakti Mathur)
Amma, tell me about Krishna (Bhakti Mathgur)
Amma, tell me about Hanuman (Bhakti Mathur)
The Gita for children (Roopa Pai)
The fantastic adventures of Krishna (Demi)

Unit 1 - Islam

Key questions/concepts

What do Muslims believe?
What does the Quran mean to Muslims?
How and why do Muslims pray?
Why do Muslims fast during Ramadan?
What does Zakah involve?

Timeframe

September - January

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Shahadah	A declaration of faith
Quran	Islam holy book
Salah	Islamic term for prayer
Fasting	To go without food and water
Alms	The giving of charity to the community

Wider reading

My sister lives on the mantlepiece (Annabel Pitcher)
The story of Islam (Rob Jones)
Golden domes and silver lanterns (Mehrdokht Amini)
Laughing all the way to the mosque (Zarqa Nawaz)
The stationary shop of Tehran (Marjan Kamali)

Unit 2 - Christian ways of life

Key questions/concepts

What does the Bible mean to Christians?
What is Christian love?
What is forgiveness?
Christian responses to poverty.
Street pastors.

Timeframe

February - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Bible	Key Christian religious text
Agape	Unconditional love
Forgiveness	Being truly sorry for any wrong doings
Christian Aid	Christian charitable organisation
Pastor	A Christian minister

Wider reading

Pardoners Tale (Geoffrey Chaucer)
The lion, witch and the wardrobe (CS Lewis)
The garden, the curtain and the cross (Carl Laferton)
A wrinkle in time (Madelaine L'Engle)
Indescribable: 100 devotions on God and Science (Louie Giglio)

Unit 1 - Origins, purpose and destiny

Key questions/concepts

What is the religious creation theory?
What are the scientific theories of the Big Bang and evolution?
How can people serve God?
Is there a spiritual after-life?
What are the concepts of heaven and hell?

Timeframe

September - January

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Creation	The idea that God creayted the world and all living things
Evolution	Scientific theory as to how the world and all living things came to be
Purpose	Person's aim in life
After-life	The belief that a spiritual existence continues after death
Spirit	The soul of a person that survives death

Wider reading

Private Peaceful (Michael Morpurgo)
Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
5 people you meet in heaven (Mitch Albom)
Midnight Library (Matt Haig)
Life of Pi (Yann Martel)

Unit 2 - Judaism

Key questions/concepts

What are the origins of Judaism?
What relationship do Jews have with God?
What are Jewish beliefs?
How do Jews celebrate their religion?
What makes food kosher?

Timeframe

February - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Covenant	Special agreement made between God and the Jews
Commandment	An important rule from God
Synagogue	Jewish place of worship
Sabbath	A Jewish holy day
Kosher	Food which Jews can eat

Wider reading

Diary of Anne Frank (Anne Frank)
Mamaleh knows best (Marjorie Ingall)
Yaffa and fatima (Fawzia Gilani-Williams)
The story of Hannukah (David Adler)
Chik Chat Shabbat (Mara Rockliff)

Unit 1 - Themes

Key questions/concepts

To identify examples of sexism in society / Bible teachings on.
To identify examples of racism in society / Bible teachings on.
What forms of prejudice do homosexuals face in modern society?
To investigate the concepts of crime and punishment.
To explore different views in relation to types of punishment and purpose.

Timeframe

September - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Sexism	Prejudice towards a person based on their gender
Racism	Prejudice and discrimination aginst a person based on their ethnicity
Homosexuality	Sexual attraction to a person of the same sex
Crime	An unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority
Punishment	A penalty imposed on someone who commits an offence

Wider reading

Modern herstory (Blair Imani)
The hate u give (Angie Thomas)
The girls I've been (Tess Sharpe)
Too much trouble (Tom Avery)
To kill a mockingbird (Harper Lee)

Unit 1 - Themes

Key questions/concepts

To understand the moral issues relating to fertility treatment.
To explore the arguments for and against abortion.
To consider the reasons why suicide happens and responses to it.
To understand what euthanasia involves and the arguments around it.
To explore the meaning of the term 'Sanctity of Life'.

Timeframe

September - June

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Fertility	The ability to concieve children or young
Abortion	The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy
Suicide	Death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die
Euthanasia	The painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable disease
Sanctity	The state / quality of being holy, sacred or saintly

Wider reading

Taking baby steps (Jody Madeira)
The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
All the bright places (Jennifer Niven)
Stuck in neutral (Terry Trueman)
The boy who steals houses (CG Drews)

Unit 1 - Christian Beliefs

Key questions/concepts

What do Christians believe about God?
How did the world come into existence?
What do christians believe about Jesus?
What do Christians believe about the afterlife?
What do christians believe about sin and salvation?

Timeframe

November - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Trinity	The father, son and holy spirit
Genesis	First book of the Bible that includes the creation story
Resurrection	Jesus coming back to life
Crucifixion	The Roman method of execution for Jesus
Incarnation	God becoming flesh in the form of Jesus

Wider reading

God at work (Ken Costa)
Mere Christianity (CS Lewis)
Answers book for teens Volume 1 (Bodie Hodge)
Answers book for teens Volume 2 (Bodie Hodge)
A young persons guide to knowing God (Patricia St. John)

Unit 2 - Muslim practices

Key questions/concepts

To explore the implication of Salah for both Sunni and Shia Muslims.
To understand the significance of Sawm in relation to Ramadan.
To explore how the wider Islamic community can benefit from Zakah.
To understand the origins and significance of Hajj.
To explore the differences and significances of lesser and greater Jihad.

Timeframe

December - March

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Salah	Daily prayers
Sawm	Fasting during Ramadan
Zakah	The giving of alsm to the community
Hajj	Five day pilgrimage to Makkah
Jihad	The struggle against evil

Wider reading

Golden domes and silver lanterns (Mehrdokt Amini)
Laughing all the way to the mosque (Zarqa Nawaz)
The stationary shop of Tehran (Marjan Kamali)
5 pillars of Islam (Anwar Cara)

Unit 3 - Crime and Punishment

Key questions/concepts

What is crime and what are its various causes?
What are Christian attitudes to crime and lawbreakers?
What are three main aims of punishment?
What is free will and how does it inform Christian attitudes to suffering?
What are Christian attitudes to forgiveness in relation to crime?

Timeframe

April - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Crime	An action that is an offence and is punishable by law
Lawbreaker	A person that commits crime
Punishment	The infliction of a penalty on a lawbreaker for a crime committed
Suffering	The bearing of pain, inconvenience or loss caused to a victim by lawbreakers
Forgiveness	The action / process of forgiving or being forgiven

Wider reading

Too much trouble (Tom avery)
Teenage Rampage (Antonio Mendosa)
To kill a mockingbird (Harper Lee)
The hidden girl (Lois Metzger)
The garden, the curtain and the cross (Carl Laferton)

Unit 4 - Religion and Life

Key questions/concepts

What are Christian beliefs about the use and abuse of the environment?
What are the problems caused by pollution and what are related views on it?
To explore the arguments for and against abortion.
To understand what euthanasia involves and the arguments around it.
What are Christian beliefs about death and the afterlife?

Timeframe

June - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Environment	The natural world as a whole, or a specific geographical area
Pollution	The presence of harmful substances in a given environment
Abortion	The deliberate termination of a human pregnancy
Euthanasia	The painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable disease
Afterlife	The belief that a spiritual existence continues after death

Wider reading

The Last Wild (Piers Torday)
How you can save the planet (Hendrikus Van Hensbergen)
The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
Stuck in neutral (Terry Trueman)
Midnight Library (Matt Haig)

Unit 1 - Christian Practices

Key questions/concepts

What are the key Christian sacraments?
To understand the significance of the sacrament of Holy Communion.
To explore th importance of pilgrimage to Christians.
To understand the place of mission and evangelism in the Church.
To develop an awareness of the persecution some Christians face.

Timeframe

September - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Sacraments	A religious ceremony or ritual within Christianity, such as Baptism
Eucharist	Part of the Christian service that commemorates the Last Supper
Pilgrimage	A long journey made toa sacred place as an act of devotion
Evangelism	The spreading of Christian gospel by public preaching
Persecution	Hostility and ill treatment because of religious beliefs

Wider reading

Way to live (Dorothy Bass)
Make great decisions (Jocasta Odom)
The pilgrims progress (John Bunyan)
How to be a Christian (CS Lewis)
Maximillian Kolbe: the saint of Auschwitz (Elaine Stone)

Unit 2 - Relationships and Family

Key questions/concepts

To explore Christian teachings about sexuality.
To understand contrasting Christian and non-religious views on contraception.
To explore various beliefs about the nature and prurpose of marriage.
To explore different reasons for divorce in Britain today.
To understand the nature and purpose of families from different views.

Timeframe

January - February

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Sexuality	A persons identity in relation to the gender(s) they are attracted to
Contraception	The deliberate use of artificial methods to prevent pregnancy
Marriage	The formal union of two people as partners in a personal relationship
Divorce	The legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body
Family planning	The practice of controlling the number of children one has

Wider reading

Being a teen (Jane Fonda)
Relationship skills 101 for teens (Sheri Van Dijk)
Love that lasts (Alyssa Joy Bethke)

Unit 3 - Muslim Beliefs

Key questions/concepts

To understand the importance of the 6 articles of faith to Sunni Muslims.
To understand the importance of the 5 roots of 'Usul ad-Din to Shias.
To explore the significance of the Imamate.
To understand the importance of Muhammad to Islam.
To understand why the Qur'an has primacy over other holy books in Islam.

Timeframe

February - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Sunni	A branch of Islam whose central beliefs are given the 6 articles of faith
Shia	A branch of Islam whose central beliefs are shown in the 5 roots of'Usul ad-Din
Imam	The title given to the leader of Shia Muslims
Muhammad	The last and most important prophet in Islam
Qur'an	The most important holy book in Islam

Wider reading

Islam: beliefs and teachings (Ghulam Sarwar)
The secret diary of a British Muslim aged 13 half (Tez Ilyas)
Introducing Islam (Ziauddin Sardar)
What Muslims believe (John Bowker)
The story of Islam (Rob Jones)

Unit 4 - Religion, human rights and social justice

Key questions/concepts

To understand beliefs and attitudes about social justice and human rights.
To explore Christian attitudes in reltion to the above.
To explore Christian beliefs about equality and prejudice.
To understand the difference between prejudice and discrimination.
To explore tha various causes of poverty and their consequences.

Timeframe

May - June

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase	Definition
Social Justice	Fairness in terms of wealth, opportunities and privilege in society
Human rights	A right which is believed to belong to every person
Prejudice	Held opinion against someone else based on the social group(s) they belong to
Discrimination	The unfair treatment of someone based on the social group(s) they belong to
Poverty	The state of being extremely poor

Wider reading

Mind the gap (Ferdinand Mount)
I am Malala (Malala Yousafzai)
The boy in the striped pyjamas (John Boyne)
Peaceful fights for equal rights (Rob Sanders)
Poverty and hunger (Louise Spilsbury)

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