Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Sociology
Lesson Topic: Diversity and social change
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the four major sociological theories of the family and their view of diversity.
  • Explain how key processes of social change (industrialisation, secularisation, individualisation, globalization, technology, policy) shape family forms.
  • Compare the explanatory power of functionalism, Marxist, feminist and post‑modern perspectives using case‑study examples.
  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of each theory in relation to contemporary family diversity.
  • Apply a theoretical lens to an exam‑style question on a recent family‑related policy change.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen for slides
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Handout of the comparative theory table
  • Case‑study worksheets (cohabitation, same‑sex marriage, digital families)
  • Printed summary of key concepts
  • Sticky notes for quick think‑pair‑share
  • Access to an online video clip on family diversity (optional)
 Introduction:
Begin with a striking statistic: over 40% of UK households are no longer the traditional nuclear family. Ask students to recall the historic functions of families and consider how these might have changed. Explain that they will explore four major theories to explain this diversity and the criteria they will use to evaluate them.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Students list different family forms they know; share responses; teacher records on board.
  2. Mini‑lecture (15') – Present key concepts and the four theoretical perspectives with slides and handout.
  3. Comparative analysis activity (20') – Pairs complete a worksheet comparing how each theory explains diversity and social change; teacher circulates for support.
  4. Case‑study discussion (15') – Small groups examine one suggested case study, apply the four lenses, and prepare a brief presentation.
  5. Whole‑class debrief (10') – Groups present findings; class critiques using evaluation criteria (explanatory power, empirical support, scope, relevance).
  6. Formative quiz (5') – Exit ticket where students state which theory best explains a given contemporary trend and why.
Conclusion:
Recap that family diversity stems from intersecting social‑change processes and can be interpreted through multiple theoretical lenses. Students complete an exit ticket indicating the perspective they find most convincing for today’s society and justify their choice. For homework, they write a short answer comparing two theories in relation to a recent policy change (e.g., same‑sex marriage legislation).