Homeschool Guide: These lesson plans are a guide for parents. Content may contain errors — always cross-reference with official exam board specifications.

elements of crime

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4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.

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Lesson Overview

Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA

Learning Objectives

Prerequisites

Materials & Equipment

Lesson 1: Introduction: elements of crime

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about elements of crime. Then check against the key terms: GCSE Law Exam Tips — Elements of Crime. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: GCSE Law Exam Tips — Elements of Crime.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: elements of crime. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Law because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look

Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: explain the key ideas of elements of crime

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about elements of crime.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: elements of crime

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on elements of crime. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: A crime requires two elements: actus reus (the guilty act) and mens rea (the guilty mind)
Key Fact: Actus reus can be a positive act, a failure to act (omission) or a state of affairs
Key Fact: Omissions generally do not create criminal liability unless there is a duty to act (e.g. parent–child, contract)
Key Fact: Causation requires both factual causation ('but for' test) and legal causation (proximate cause)
Key Fact: Legal causation can be broken by a novus actus interveniens (new intervening act)
Key Fact: Mens rea is the mental element of a crime — it varies between offences

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: explain the key ideas of elements of crime

Answer:

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.

Lesson 3: Application: elements of crime

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: GCSE Law Exam Tips — Elements of Crime. Define each in one sentence.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.

Work through the practice questions on the revision notes page for this topic.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Error Review

Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.

Lesson 4: Exam Practice: elements of crime

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Command Words

Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).

Main Content (35 minutes)

Extended Answer

Extended question: Full-Mark Response How far is it justified to impose criminal liability for omissions? (15 marks) <div class="

Criminal liability for omissions is justified in limited circumstances where a legal duty exists, but a general duty to act would be both impractical and undesirable in English law. Where a person has a specific duty — such as a parent caring for a child, a doctor treating a patient, or a person who has created a dangerous situation — it is right that the law imposes liability for failing to act. These duties arise from relationships, contracts or the creation of risk, and the person in question is uniquely placed to prevent harm. For example, a parent who fails to feed their child causes the same harm as someone who deliberately poisons them — the moral blame is equivalent. However, English law does not impose a general duty to rescue, and this is justified for several reasons. A general duty would be too vague — it would be unclear when the duty arises and what action is required. It could punish people who lack the physical or financial ability to help. It might also encourage risky interventions by untrained people. Furthermore, the distinction between acts and omissions upholds individual liberty — the law should not force people to be Good Samaritans. That said, the current l

Exam Tips: Always discuss both actus reus and mens rea when analysing criminal liability | Omissions are a favourite exam topic — know the situations where a duty to act arises | Causation questions require you to apply both the 'but for' test and legal causation | Strict liability is often tested — know examples and be able to evaluate arguments for and against | Explain the difference between direct and oblique intention using case examples
Common Errors: ✗ Saying actus reus must always be a positive act ✓ Actus reus can be a positive act, an omission (failure to act where there is a duty) or a state of affairs ✗ Thinking all crimes require mens rea ✓ Strict liability offences require only actus reus — no mens rea is needed (e.g. speeding, statutory rape) ✗ Confusing factual and legal causation ✓ Factual causation uses the 'but for' test; legal causation asks whether the defendant's act was the proximate (most immediate) cause ✗ Saying omissions are always criminal ✓ Omissions are only criminal where there is a legal duty to act — there is no general duty to rescue in English law
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how elements of crime connects to another Law topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of elements of crime
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in elements of crime?"

Plenary (5 minutes)

Assessment Criteria
  • Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
  • Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
  • Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2

Homework & Consolidation

Recommended Resources

🎓 Smart Lesson (Guided)