prayer
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 prayer
- Apply prayer to exam-style questions
- Develop independent study skills
- Build cross-topic connections
Prerequisites
- Read the revision notes for prayer first (GCSE Revise summary)
- Key vocab to pre-teach: RS Exam Tips — Prayer
- 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: prayer
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about prayer. Then check against the key terms: RS Exam Tips — Prayer. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: RS Exam Tips — Prayer.
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: RS Exam Tips — Prayer.
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: prayer. 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: prayer. 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 types of Christian prayer with examples.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about prayer.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: prayer
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on prayer. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Key Fact: The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is the most important Christian prayer. Jesus taught it to his disciples when they asked him how to pray. It includes praise ("Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name"), petition ("Give us today our daily bread") and confession ("Forgive us our debts").
RS Exam Tips — Prayer: 1. For Prayer 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 Prayer to its real-world impact on believers and society
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Set prayers | Written prayers used in worship, often centuries old | The Lord's Prayer, the Grace, collects |
| Extemporary prayer | Spontaneous prayers made up on the spot | "Dear Lord, please help my friend who is ill..." |
| Meditative prayer | Silent, contemplative prayer focusing on God's presence | Ignatian meditation, Lectio Divina, Taizé prayer |
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: Explain two types of Christian prayer with examples.
Answer: 1) Set prayers are written prayers used repeatedly in worship. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is the most important set prayer — Jesus taught it to his disciples and it is used in almost every Christian denomination. 2) Extemporary prayer is spontaneous and informal — Christians speak to God in their own words about current needs and concerns. This is common in Baptist and Pentecostal churches where prayer is seen as a personal conversation with God.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: prayer
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: RS Exam Tips — Prayer. 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 types of Christian prayer with examples.
Answer: 1) Set prayers are written prayers used repeatedly in worship. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is the most important set prayer — Jesus taught it to his disciples and it is used in almost every Christian denomination. 2) Extemporary prayer is spontaneous and informal — Christians speak to God in their own words about current needs and concerns. This is common in Baptist and Pentecostal churches where prayer is seen as a personal conversation with God.
Q2: "Prayer does not work." Evaluate this statement.
Answer: Some people argue prayer doesn't work because bad things still happen despite prayers, and there is no scientific evidence that prayer changes outcomes. However, Christians would respond that prayer is not like a vending machine — God answers in his own way, which may be "yes", "no" or "wait". Prayer also changes the person praying, giving them peace, strength and perspective. Millions of Christians testify that prayer has transformed their lives. The value of prayer may be in the relationship with God rather than guaranteed outcomes.
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: prayer
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 prayer 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 think all Christians celebrate the Eucharist in the same way. Wrong: "All Christians believe the bread and wine literally become Jesus' body and blood." Correct: "Catholics believe in transubstantiation; Protestants have different views including consubstantiation and memorial symbolism."
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
- Synoptic links: explain how prayer connects to another Religious Studies topic you have studied
- Real-world: research one real-world use or example of prayer
- Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in prayer?"
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: RS Exam Tips — Prayer (10 mins)
- Exam practice: One past-paper question on prayer from the board websites (15 mins)
- Extension: Explain prayer to someone else in your own words (10 mins)