Freedom of religious expression
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what freedom of religious expression means and why it is important in society.
Key learning points
- You have the right to follow, change or reject religion or belief.
- This right is protected by international law (UDHR, Article 18).
- Religious expression includes symbols, prayer, speech and rituals.
- Censorship can protect or limit beliefs depending on how it’s used.
- Extremism can lead to hate or harm, so freedom may be restricted.
Keywords
Censorship - when an authority such as the government or a media company controls or limits what people can see, read, hear or say
Extremism - holding radical views that reject others’ rights or promote hatred
Freedom of religion - the right to freely practise religion without discrimination or punishment; e.g. being allowed space or time to pray in the workplace
Common misconception
Freedom of religious expression only protects religious people.
This freedom includes non-religious views and protects everyone’s right to think freely and speak respectfully.
Teacher tip
Use an artefact or image that shows religious expression, for example, a prayer mat or rosary. Compare this with a story of someone choosing not to take part in a religious activity (e.g. opting out of collective worship). This helps students see how expression can look very different.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Human rights are based on the idea of inherent and fairness.
Q2.When was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted?
Q3.Not everyone receives rights equally due to and injustice.
Q4.Which of the following Christian values supports human rights?
Q5.Why is it important to respect the rights of others?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Match each word to its correct meaning:
when there are limits on what people can see, read, hear, or say
holding radical views that reject others’ rights or promote hatred
is the right to freely practise religion without discrimination
Q2.What does the right to reject religion mean?
Q3.Which document protects the right to freedom of religion?
Q4.Why is religious expression important to protect?
Q5.Freedom of religious expression includes beliefs.
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Freedom of religious expression, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 religious education lesson on: Freedom of religious expression, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 religious education lessons from the Religion, human rights and social justice unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.