51ºÚÁÏ

AQA GCSE Religious Studies – Suffering and Causing Suffering

This reflective and engaging lesson supports the AQA GCSE Religious Studies specification and focuses on the complex topic of suffering, both natural and human-made. Students will explore the types and causes of suffering, religious attitudes towards it, and what faith teaches about the responsibility of those who cause others to suffer. Drawing on the beliefs and teachings of Christianity and Islam, this lesson encourages students to think critically about moral responsibility, forgiveness, and justice—key themes within the Crime and Punishment unit.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify different types of evil and suffering (e.g., moral evil and natural evil)

• Explain Christian and Islamic responses to suffering, including its purpose and meaning

• Analyse what religious believers should do if they cause suffering, using ethical and theological reasoning

• It includes a **** PowerPoint presentation**** that outlines the key content and learning objectives.

• A starter activity recaps prior knowledge from the scheme of work (SOW), helping students to connect new learning to what they already know.

• Throughout the lesson, **questioning activities **are used to promote discussion, check understanding, and encourage participation.

• Students will complete an exam/ deliberate practice question to develop their assessment skills and apply their knowledge.

• A student worksheet is provided with a variety of tasks to reinforce learning.

• The lesson concludes with a final activity that allows students to consolidate their understanding and reflect on what they have learned.

Ideal For:
• Schools introducing/covering AQA GCSE Religious Studies
• KS4 RE departments
• New or non-specialist teachers

Why Choose This Resource?
Fully aligned with AQA GCSE RS (Paper 2: Thematic Studies)
Clear links to Christianity and Islam throughout
Encourages critical thinking and application of religious beliefs
Easily adaptable for in-class, homework use or remote learning
Clearly structured to support students in building high-level evaluative answers
Suitable for mixed-ability classes, with scaffolding provided to support all learners.