I am an experienced educator in the field of Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics. For the past 7 years, I have served as Head of Department, leading curriculum development, supporting staff, and promoting engaging, inclusive learning across key stages. I am passionate about helping students think critically about big questions, develop empathy, and understand diverse worldviews. My approach combines academic rigor with creative, discussion-based learning that encourages personal reflection.
I am an experienced educator in the field of Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics. For the past 7 years, I have served as Head of Department, leading curriculum development, supporting staff, and promoting engaging, inclusive learning across key stages. I am passionate about helping students think critically about big questions, develop empathy, and understand diverse worldviews. My approach combines academic rigor with creative, discussion-based learning that encourages personal reflection.
This comprehensive bundle includes everything you need to confidently teach Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict from the AQA GCSE Religious Studies specification. Designed to save you time and support high-quality delivery, this pack contains fully resourced and engaging lessons covering all key content, including religious and ethical perspectives from Christianity and Islam.
Each lesson is structured around clear learning outcomes, with a focus on developing key exam skills, applying religious teachings, and encouraging critical thinking. A ready-to-use deep feedback lesson template is also included to support effective marking and student reflection on exam-style questions or deliberate practice tasks.
What’s Included:
Fully resourced lessons covering all required topics:
Introduction to Religion, Peace and Conflict
Violent Protest and Terrorism
Reasons for War
Nuclear War and Weapons of Mass Destruction
The Just War
Holy War and Religion as a Cause of Violence
Pacifism and Peacemaking
Responses to Victims of War
Dual focus on Christian and Muslim beliefs throughout
Differentiated tasks, discussion prompts, and engaging case studies
A ready-to-adapt deep feedback lesson template to support student improvement on exam questions
Suitable for both full course and short course coverage
Editable PowerPoints and worksheets included
Perfect for specialist and non-specialist teachers alike, this bundle provides everything you need to deliver the Theme D unit with confidence and clarity, while helping students succeed in the GCSE RS exams.
AQA GCSE Religious Studies – Holy War
This engaging and reflective lesson is designed for the AQA GCSE Religious Studies course, focusing on the concept of Holy War within Christian and Islamic traditions. Students will explore the key features and rules of a holy war, examine the Crusades as a historical example, and consider the wider question of whether religious belief can cause war and violence. The lesson encourages critical thinking, moral debate, and deeper understanding of how religious teachings are interpreted in the context of conflict, both historically and in the modern world.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the key features and rules of a holy war in Christianity and Islam
Describe a historical example of a holy war – the Crusades – and explain what happened
Explain how and why religious beliefs can contribute to war or violence, using real examples and religious teachings
What’s Included:
Visually engaging PowerPoint presentation with key information, definitions, and discussion prompts
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.
Printable worksheet with comprehension, analysis, and reflection tasks
Side-by-side comparison of Christian and Muslim views on holy war, including conditions and justifications
Case study on the Crusades, including background, causes, key events, and impact
Students will complete an exam/ deliberate practice question to develop their assessment skills and apply their knowledge with scaffolding
The lesson concludes with a final activity that allows students to consolidate their understanding and reflect on what they have learned.
Why Choose This Resource?
Fully aligned with AQA GCSE Religious Studies (Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict)
Encourages moral reasoning, empathy, and thoughtful evaluation
Uses real-world examples to bring religious teachings to life
Supports the development of high-level exam skills, including explanation and evaluation
Perfect for use as part of the Religion, Peace and Conflict topic or as a standalone lesson or for use in revision
This comprehensive teaching pack provides everything needed to deliver a full unit on The Abrahamic Faiths for Key Stage 3 or 4. It offers a structured, engaging introduction to core religious ideas, world faiths, and philosophical questions.
What’s Included:
Written Scheme of Work
A week-by-week breakdown of lesson objectives, activities, key questions, feedback, assessment and homework opportunities
Covers topics such as:
Individual Lessons
Fully resourced PowerPoint lessons with learning outcomes, tasks, and discussion prompts, worksheets, source materials, and group activities differentiation ideas and extension tasks included.
Revision PowerPoint & Worksheet
A structured recap of key topics and vocabulary
Includes practice questions and space for personal reflection
Prepares students for the end-of-unit assessment
Assessment
End-of-unit test divided into two sections:
Part 1: 10-mark knowledge check (short questions)
Part 2: 12-mark extended evaluation question (+ 3 marks for SPaG)
Mark Scheme
Clear and easy-to-use marking guidance
Criteria for both knowledge and evaluation questions
Helps with consistent, fair, and informative feedback
Ideal For:
KS3/KS4 RE departments
New or non-specialist teachers
Schools introducing world religions and philosophy to younger learners
In this lesson, students will explore the life and legacy of Moses, a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Through storytelling, discussion, and reflection, students will retell the key events in the story of Moses—from his early life in Egypt to the Exodus and receiving the Ten Commandments. They will also learn about the Jewish celebration of Passover, examining how it commemorates the Israelites’ escape from slavery and the role Moses played in this pivotal moment in Jewish history. Finally, students will analyze why Moses is revered in all three Abrahamic religions, identifying his contributions as a prophet, leader, and lawgiver. This lesson encourages students to make connections between religious traditions and to understand the shared heritage of Abrahamic faiths.
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Retell the key events in the story of Moses.
Explain the religious and historical significance of the Jewish festival of Passover.
Describe why Moses is considered an important figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
This lesson includes a range of engaging and structured activities to support student learning.
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:
• KS3 &KS4 RE departments
• New or non-specialist teachers
• Schools introducing world religions and philosophy to younger learners