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 14-18
BI 5: INFLUENCE AND POWER: AGE-RELATED BIG IDEA FOR AGES 14-18
Religions / worldviews reach into many different areas of human life and have various degrees of influence; their influence is often linked to the extent to which those religions possess degrees of power (see BI 1). When something within a religion / worldview becomes authoritative, it may be used to justify social and political actions. The outcomes of these actions are varied and complex, from social improvement or spiritual development to greater intolerance and violence.
| Topic-related question | Pupils know and understand: |
| 1. How have religions / worldviews influenced social change? | i. situations in which religions / worldviews have been instrumental in bringing about social change (e.g. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement in the USA bringing about a change in legislation regarding discrimination (1960s); the Liberation Theology movement supporting the Sandinistas in Nicaragua (1979); Desmond Tutu contributing to the end of apartheid in South Africa (1990s); the RC Church and Solidarity bringing an end to communist control in Poland (1990s); Al Qaeda: motives and methods; the 9/11 attacks on the USA and resulting change in USA foreign policy – knock on effects in Afghanistan and Iraq; the Russian revolution (1917) inspired by a communist worldview) ii. how particular religions / worldviews and their leaders have been effective in bringing about change iii. various understandings of the ‘secular state’ (e.g. Turkey, France, USA, India) and the impact these have on the role of religions / worldviews in those societies iv. why religions / worldviews might be more influential in bringing about change in some communities rather than in others. |
| 2. How fair is it to claim that “religions cause conflict”? | i. instances where religions have been cited as causing conflict (e.g. Terror attacks in the UK from the IRA to Islamic State: the desire of some groups to impose Islamic Law, e.g. the Taliban in Afghanistan; conflict between Jews and Palestinians; Bosnia – conflict between Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croatians and Muslims (1990s); divisions between Sunni and Shia Muslims in Iraq, Syria and Yemen; conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland) ii. whether in the chosen cases religion was the only cause (Liaise with history department and where possible draw on examples already known to pupils) iii. the role of groups inspired by religions / worldviews in peace-making or humanitarian assistance in conflict situations (e.g. Quakers, Red Crescent). |
EXEMPLAR(S) OF THIS MEDIUM TERM PLAN
(Word Download) EXEMPLAR 1: Religion, Worldviews, Change and Conflict
TRANSFERABLE QUESTION
Some people say that religions cause all the wars and violence in the world. Is this true?