the six articles and five roots
4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.
Lesson Overview
Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Learning Objectives
- Explain the key ideas of the six articles and five roots
- Apply the six articles and five roots to exam-style questions
- Develop independent study skills
- Build cross-topic connections
Prerequisites
- Read the revision notes for the six articles and five roots first (GCSE Revise summary)
- Key vocab to pre-teach: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context
- Basic skills: reading the summary notes and answering the practice questions there
Materials & Equipment
- Exercise book, coloured pens
- Ruler
- Printed revision notes (link below)
- Internet for videos (see Resources)
Lesson 1: Introduction: the six articles and five roots
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about the six articles and five roots. Then check against the key terms: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context.
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.
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context.
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: the six articles and five roots. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Religious Studies 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.
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: the six articles and five roots. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Religious Studies 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 two differences between Sunni and Shi'a beliefs.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about the six articles and five roots.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: the six articles and five roots
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on the six articles and five roots. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Key Fact: Sunni and Shi'a Muslims have different frameworks for their core beliefs. Sunni Islam is based on the Six Articles of Faith ; Shi'a Islam is based on the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din . They share most beliefs but emphasise different aspects.
Exam Tip: Both traditions share belief in Tawhid, prophethood and the afterlife. The key difference is the Imamate — Shi'a Muslims believe God appointed twelve Imams as spiritual leaders after Muhammad, while Sunni Muslims do not accept this. Sunni Islam includes belief in angels and holy books as separate articles; Shi'a Islam combines prophethood into one root.
RS Exam Tips — The Six Articles and Five Roots: 1. For The Six Articles and Five Roots questions, always include specific scriptural or source references where relevant 2. Explain both religious and non-religious viewpoints 3. Use specialist vocabulary precisely (e.g. terms from the specification) 4. Evaluate by analysing strengths and weaknesses of different views before reaching your conclusion 5. Link your discussion of The Six Articles and Five Roots to its real-world impact on believers and society
UK Context: When a Sunni Muslim recites the Shahadah, they are affirming the first two Articles of Faith simultaneously: belief in Allah and belief in Muhammad as a prophet. This is why the Shahadah is the foundation of Islamic faith and practice.
UK Context: The inclusion of Imamate as a root of faith means that Shi’a Muslims view the guidance of the Imams as essential for correctly understanding and practising Islam. The Twelfth Imam (Muhammad al-Mahdi) is believed to be in occultation (hidden) and will return to establish justice on earth. This belief shapes Shi’a religious practice and political thought.
UK Context: The 2021 Census recorded approximately 3.9 million Muslims in England and Wales. While the census does not break down Sunni and Shi’a affiliation, estimates suggest that approximately 85–90% of British Muslims are Sunni and 10–15% are Shi’a. Both communities are well-established in major cities, with dedicated mosques, schools and community organisations.
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: Explain two differences between Sunni and Shi'a beliefs.
Answer: 1) The Imamate — Shi'a Muslims believe God appointed twelve Imams to guide the Muslim community after Muhammad's death. These Imams are infallible and divinely chosen. Sunni Muslims do not accept the Imamate and believe leadership should be determined by the community. 2) Structure of belief — Sunni Islam organises core beliefs into the Six Articles of Faith (including angels and holy books as separate articles), while Shi'a Islam organises them into the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (combining prophethood into one root and adding the Imamate as a distinct root).
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: the six articles and five roots
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context. 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.
Q1: Explain two differences between Sunni and Shi'a beliefs.
Answer: 1) The Imamate — Shi'a Muslims believe God appointed twelve Imams to guide the Muslim community after Muhammad's death. These Imams are infallible and divinely chosen. Sunni Muslims do not accept the Imamate and believe leadership should be determined by the community. 2) Structure of belief — Sunni Islam organises core beliefs into the Six Articles of Faith (including angels and holy books as separate articles), while Shi'a Islam organises them into the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (combining prophethood into one root and adding the Imamate as a distinct root).
Q2: Why do Sunni and Shi'a Muslims have different beliefs?
Answer: The division originated after Muhammad's death in 632 CE over who should lead the Muslim community. Sunni Muslims believed the leader should be chosen by the community (Abu Bakr was selected). Shi'a Muslims believed leadership should pass through Muhammad's family (Ali, his cousin and son-in-law). Over centuries, this political division developed into theological differences, with Shi'a Islam developing the doctrine of the Imamate and distinct beliefs about religious authority.
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: the six articles and five roots
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)
Exam-Style Question
Attempt a past-paper style question on the six articles and five roots from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.
Exam Tips: Always refer to specific sources of authority (scripture, sacred texts, religious leaders) | Explain contrasting beliefs — different views within and between traditions | Use key terminology precisely (e.g. tawhid, atonement, sanctity of life) | For 12-mark evaluation questions, consider both sides before reaching a justified conclusion | Link beliefs to their impact on individuals, communities and society | Acknowledge diversity — no religious tradition has a single, uniform view
Common Errors: Watch Out! Students often confuse Sunni and Shi'a beliefs about predestination. Wrong: "All Muslims believe everything is predestined and humans have no free will." Correct: "Most Muslims believe God has foreknowledge but humans have free will to choose; the balance between predestination and free will is understood differently across traditions."
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
- Synoptic links: explain how the six articles and five roots connects to another Religious Studies topic you have studied
- Real-world: research one real-world use or example of the six articles and five roots
- Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in the six articles and five roots?"
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
- Consolidation: Re-answer any Lesson 3 practice questions answered incorrectly (20 mins)
- Retrieval: Write flashcards for the key terms: Exam Tip, UK Context, UK Context (10 mins)
- Exam practice: One past-paper question on the six articles and five roots from the board websites (15 mins)
- Extension: Explain the six articles and five roots to someone else in your own words (10 mins)