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This fully editable lesson on Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development introduces students to key concepts of cognitive growth, focusing on schemas, assimilation, accommodation, and stages of development. Aligned with the AQA GCSE Psychology Specification, this resource explores how children’s thinking evolves through interaction with their environment and developmental stages. The lesson integrates engaging activities, critical thinking tasks, and exam practice to consolidate understanding.

• Comprehensive Lesson Slides: The slides provide detailed explanations of Piaget’s key theories, including the processes of assimilation and accommodation, and the concept of schemas. Key topics include the differences between child and adult cognition, a brief introduction to Piaget’s stages of cognitive development, and the influence of these stages on children’s learning processes. The slides also critically evaluate Piaget’s work, discussing its impact on education and cultural limitations.

• Interactive Activities: Students are engaged through Do Now tasks and thought-provoking questions, such as exploring how cultural differences might influence cognitive development. Activities include summarising Piaget’s stages, discussing real-life applications like activity-based learning in classrooms, and matching key terms with their definitions to reinforce comprehension.

• Exam Practice and Assessment: Students are provided with an exam-style question to assess their understanding of Piaget’s theory. Tasks include structured evaluation questions to identify strengths and weaknesses, such as the role of research evidence and criticisms of cultural bias. Worksheets guide students in explaining concepts like assimilation and accommodation and developing critical responses using the AO1 and AO3 criteria.