Sample scheme of work
This is a sample from the Scheme of Work for year one of AS and A level Sociology that we are providing to support teaching of the new specification.
The Scheme of Work will be published in full on this website to coincide with the forthcoming publication of AQA A level Sociology Book One by Rob Webb et al. The
complete Scheme of Work will be divided into topics of approximately one week’s teaching each. This sample covers three of those topics – one each from Education,
Research Methods and Families and Households.
Using the scheme of work
Education Workbook, Families & Households Workbook, and Research Methods Workbook refer to the student workbooks that we shall be publishing on this website to
coincide with the publication of Book One. Meanwhile, sample topics from the three Workbooks are now available on the website for you to examine.
Topic refers to the Topic in the scheme of work’s companion textbook, Rob Webb et al, AQA A level Sociology Book One.
Learning objectives are measurable outcomes for the student on completion of the topic. Students’ achievement of these objectives will be checked by means of the
activities and assessments indicated in the Scheme of Work.
Independent/flipped learning comprises activities that can be completed by students either in class or independently outside of class.
References to textbook and to specific page numbers are to Rob Webb et al, AQA A level Sociology Book One.
Additional articles and clips are provided under Resources as the basis for optional extension activities that you may wish to undertake with your students. They can also be
used for students’ independent study outside of class.
Differentiated assessment for AS and A level: ‘Questions to try’ in the Assessment column include both AS and A level questions.
Sample 1: Education
Wk
1
Topic
Class
differences
in
achievement
(1) external
factors
Learning
Objectives
Classroom Activities
After studying this
Topic, students will:
Getting Started Activity, p.17
Box 4 questions, p.19
Be able to describe the
patterns of class
differences in
achievement.
‘Investigating parental attitudes to
education’ questions, p.20
Understand the
difference between
internal and external
factors affecting
achievement.
Discussion Activity, p.20: ‘A child’s
background can disadvantage
their education’
Box 5 questions, p.22
‘Investigating material deprivation
and underachievement’ questions,
Resources
Textbook, pp.17-25
Independent/flipped
learning
Education Workbook pp.1-7
Media Activity, p.23:
‘Child poverty and
achievement’
Clip (in Media Activity):
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=Uh6G0rzuLIw
Research Activity, p.24:
‘Investigating cultural
capital’
Assessment
Summary paragraph from Discussion
Activity, p.20
Report from Media Activity, p.23
Summary of Research Activity, p.24
QuickCheck Questions, p.25
Additional articles and clips
AS and A level Questions to try, p.25
“Social class has more effect on
children than good parenting,
study finds”:
http://www.theguardian.com/edu
Wk
Topic
Learning
Objectives
Understand and be able
to evaluate the role of
different external
factors, including
cultural deprivation,
material deprivation and
cultural capital.
Classroom Activities
Resources
p.23
cation/2010/dec/07/social-classparenting-study
Research Activity, p.24:
‘Investigating cultural capital’
“It's official: class matters”:
http://www.theguardian.com/edu
cation/2006/feb/28/schools.educ
ation
Independent/flipped
learning
Assessment
Independent/flipped
learning
Assessment
“Poverty and Education“:
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=aBgF-OOMSHs
“Breadline Britain”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=JkmhBISVmcg
Sample 2: Research Methods
Wk
1
Topic
Participant
observation
Learning
Objectives
After studying this
Topic, students will:
Know the different types
of observational
methods.
Be able to explain the
main stages in
conducting a participant
observation study.
Be able to evaluate the
strengths and
limitations of overt and
covert participant
observation.
Be able to apply their
understanding of
observational methods
to the study of
Classroom Activities
Getting Started activity, p.138
Analysis and Evaluation
questions, p.139
Webquest Activity, p140: ‘Black
Like Me’
Analysis and Evaluation question,
p.140.
Resources
Textbook, pp.138-145
Webquest Activity, p.140
‘Black Like Me’
Research Methods Workbook,
pp.43-48
Additional articles and clips
“Research ethics: how far
should we go to push academic
boundaries?”:
http://www.theguardian.com/hig
her-educationnetwork/blog/2011/dec/09/resea
rch-ethics-institutional-reviewboards
Analysis and Evaluation question,
p.143
“When is reality not real?”:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/maga
zine/7927117.stm
Research Activity, p.144: ‘The
rules of the game’
“Sociology 101”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=Ys0pIHTac4&index=3&list=PLRs
nnfE6w0PJSGT2Fj5lrzBM8tXd9
IRdV
Summary paragraph from Webquest
Activity, p.140
Notes from Research Activity, p.144
Research Activity, p.144:
‘The rules of the game’
QuickCheck Questions, p.145
AS and A level Questions to try, p.145
Wk
Topic
Learning
Objectives
Classroom Activities
Resources
Independent/flipped
learning
Assessment
Classroom Activities
Resources
Independent/flipped
learning
Assessment
education.
Sample 3: Families and Households
Wk
7
Topic
Families and
social policy
Learning
Objectives
After studying this
Topic, students will:
Know some of the ways
in which social policies
may affect families.
Understand the different
sociological
perspectives on families
and social policy.
Be able to analyse
these perspectives and
evaluate their
usefulness in explaining
the relationship
between families and
social policy.
Getting Started activity, p.234
Textbook pp.234-241
Application question, p.236
Families & Households
Workbook, pp.49-54
Analysis and evaluation question,
p237.
Application question, p.240
Discussion activity, p.240: ‘The
impact of policy on family life’.
Reading pp.234-241
textbook
Media Activity, p.235:
‘China’s one-child policy’.
Summary from Media Activity p.235
Handout from Webquest activity,
p.239
QuickCheck Questions, p.241
Additional articles and
clips
“UK family policy is social
engineering?”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=XgZ32zf498g
“Marriage tax allowance registration
open”:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ukpolitics-31548181
“Politicians need to act on
parenting, says Cameron”:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_po
litics/8451861.stm
Webquest activity p.239
‘Improving family policy’.
AS and A level Questions to try, p.241