Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 03/03/2026
Subject: Sociology
Lesson Topic: Religion and society
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe how religion contributes to social order, cohesion and control.
  • Compare functionalist, Marxist and Weberian perspectives on religion’s role in society.
  • Analyse case studies to illustrate religion’s impact on social cohesion and conflict.
  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of each theoretical perspective.
  • Apply sociological concepts to a contemporary example of religion in the UK.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • PowerPoint slides summarising theories and case studies
  • Handout with comparative table of functionalist, Marxist and Weberian views
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Short video clip on religion and social cohesion (optional)
  • Exit‑ticket cards
 Introduction:
Imagine a community gathering for a festival—what holds the participants together? Building on students’ prior knowledge of social institutions, we will explore how religion functions as a source of meaning, cohesion and control. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to explain key theories and apply them to real‑world examples.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’) – Mind‑map: “What is religion?” (individual).
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Key concepts and functionalist perspective (slides).
  3. Group activity (12’) – Compare Marxist and Weberian perspectives using the handout.
  4. Case‑study analysis (15’) – Small groups examine Durkheim’s totemism and the UK Islam example; each group presents a brief summary.
  5. Whole‑class discussion (8’) – Synthesize strengths/limitations of all three theories.
  6. Check for understanding (5’) – Quick Kahoot quiz on terminology and concepts.
  7. Exit ticket (5’) – One‑sentence response to: “How can religion both stabilise and challenge social order?”
Conclusion:
We will recap the three major perspectives and how they explain religion’s dual role in cohesion and conflict. Students will submit their exit tickets, providing a quick retrieval check. For homework, they will write a short essay linking a contemporary religious movement to its impact on social order in their community.