BRINGING BIG IDEAS TO LIFE: MEDIUM TERM PLANNING
The bridge between the Big Idea and the substantive knowledge is the topic-related question.
Schools should interpret the following ‘pupils know and understand’ sections in relation to the religions / worldviews they have chosen to teach for this age-group. These decisions will reflect the national legal requirement and any local or denominational requirements.
Topic-related Questions and Learning Objectives for Ages 11-14
BI 1: CONTINUITY, CHANGE AND DIVERSITY: AGE-RELATED BIG IDEA FOR AGES 11-14
There are important differences in beliefs, values and practices between religions / worldviews but also close connections between some of them. Religions / worldviews tend to be made up of several smaller groups, which are similar in some ways and very different in others. Many of these similarities and differences relate to their history and changing cultural context.
| Topic-related question | Pupils know and understand: |
| 1. According to survey data, what number of people say they belong to different religious and non-religious groups? | With reference to survey data1: i. the percentage of people belonging to different religions /and worldviews at national and local level, including the percentage belonging to ‘other religious’ groups and ‘no religion’ groups. |
| 2. Why are there similarities and differences between some religions / worldviews? | In relation to at least TWO traditions, for example: Jews & Christians, Christians & Muslims, Hindus & Sikhs. Hindus & Buddhists, Jews & Humanists, Christians & Humanists, pupils know and understand: i. ways in which they are similar; and why ii. ways in which they are different; and why. |
| 3. Why do different groups within the same religion / worldview believe and practise different things? | In relation to contrasting groups within the religions / worldviews being studied, that divisions within them come about as a result of: i. arguments over theology / philosophy ii. disagreements over authority in the tradition iii. the influence of culture, society, politics. |
| 4. What do people mean when they refer to their ‘religion’ or ‘worldview’? | i. that these terms can be used in different ways by different people ii. that ‘worldview’ is intended to include both religious and non-religious ways of looking at life. |
EXEMPLAR(S) OF THIS MEDIUM TERM PLAN
(Word Download) EXEMPLAR 1: Religion in 21st Century Britain
TRANSFERABLE QUESTIONS
Are we a secular society? (Also BI 5)
Why are so few women mentioned in the histories of religions / worldviews?
Why aren’t all the people in a religion / worldview the same?
Why do religions / worldviews change?