Christianity Overview

Year Group

GCSE (14–16 years old)

Duration

45 minutes

Class Size

1 student

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National Curriculum Links (England)

• Religious Education Key Stage 4 Programme of Study:
  • AQA GCSE Religious Studies Specification (8062, Christianity Paper 1)
  • Explore in depth the beliefs and practices of Christianity.
  • Understand diversity within Christianity and its impact on individuals and communities.
  • Develop critical thinking about religious traditions in a pluralistic society.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Recall key facts about Christianity as a major religion in Great Britain, including demographic and historical context.
2. Identify and explain 3-4 core Christian beliefs (e.g., the nature of God, the Trinity, Jesus as the Son of God, Resurrection).
3. Recognise diversity within Christian practices and denominations (e.g., Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity).
4. Make personal reflections on the significance of Christianity in British history and culture.

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Resources Needed

• World map and map of Great Britain
• Set of 4 colour-coded flashcards (Core Christian Beliefs)
• Whiteboard or notebook
• A large sheet for “Mind Map” creation
• Visuals representing Christian symbols & practices
• Timer
• Sensory aids (fidget tools, coloured overlays if needed)

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Lesson Outline

Starter (5 minutes)

Activity:

• Begin with a relaxed conversation: “What do you already know about Christianity?”
• Use a mindmap format — jot down keywords student provides.
• Show a map of Great Britain, highlighting Christian influence historically and today.
• Introduce the lesson aim in ‘bite-sized’ chunks on the board.

Purpose:
Activates prior knowledge; builds rapport; reduces anxiety with safe starter.

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Main Learning (30 minutes)

Chunk 1: Christianity as a major religion in GB (8 minutes)

• Present key facts with visuals: Christianity is the largest religion in Great Britain with a rich history from Roman Britain to the present.
• Discuss briefly the role of the Church of England as the established church.
• Use a simple timeline visual.

Check understanding: Ask student to verbally summarise key points.

Chunk 2: Core Christian Beliefs (12 minutes)

• Introduce 4 flashcards, each with one core belief:

  1. Belief in one God and the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
  2. Jesus Christ as Son of God and his incarnation
  3. Resurrection and life after death
  4. The importance of the Bible

• For each card: student reads, discusses meaning, and writes one sentence in their notebook.

• Use short metaphors or simple analogies for clearer understanding (e.g., Trinity like three parts of water: ice, liquid, steam).

Break timer: After this section, 3-minute sensory/movement break.

Chunk 3: Diversity within Christianity (10 minutes)

• Present three main Christian branches in Great Britain with brief descriptions and symbols:

  • Catholicism (Pope, sacraments, saints)
  • Protestantism (including Church of England, importance of Bible, simpler services)
  • Orthodox Christianity (Eastern traditions, icons)

• Show images of church interiors or ceremonies for visual learning.

• Ask the student to pick one and describe what stands out most.

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Plenary (10 minutes)

Activity

• Create a personalised mind map with the student:
  • Central bubble: Christianity
  • Branches: Major facts, Core Beliefs, Diversity
• Reflect verbally on one new thing learned.
• Ask student to express one question they have or one thing they found interesting.

Assessment for Learning:

• Oral questioning and student summaries during key points.
• Review notebook sentences for accuracy.
• Reflective questioning for personal engagement and understanding.

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Differentiation & Support for Neurodivergence

• Content broken into manageable chunks with clear, short instructions.
• Multisensory approach: visual aids, oral discussion, writing, movement break.
• Flexibility in pacing and allowing extra time for responses.
• Use of metaphors and analogies to simplify abstract concepts.
• Sensory break offers calming intervention and re-focus.

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Homework / Extension (Optional)

• Watch a short video or listen to a simple podcast episode about Christian festivals (e.g., Christmas or Easter) and write or discuss one new fact next session.

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Teacher Reflection Notes

• Observe student’s engagement with visuals and mind maps—do these aid understanding?
• Note pace and effect of break on focus. Adjust future lessons accordingly.
• Prepare simple question prompts tailored to the student’s prior knowledge and interests.

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End of Lesson 1: Introduction to Christianity