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

sawm: fasting

FoundationHigherAll Boards

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

Fastmail

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: sawm: fasting

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Write down everything you already know about sawm: fasting. Then check against the key terms: RS Exam Tips — Sawm: Fasting, 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: RS Exam Tips — Sawm: Fasting, 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: sawm: fasting. 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 reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Check Out

Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about sawm: fasting.

Lesson 2: Core Concepts: sawm: fasting

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Review Previous Lesson

Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on sawm: fasting. Check them against the notes below.

Main Content (35 minutes)

Key Fact: Sawm (fasting) during Ramadan is the third Pillar of Islam. Muslims do not eat, drink, smoke or engage in sexual activity from dawn (Fajr) to sunset (Maghrib) for the entire month of Ramadan — the month when the Qur'an was first revealed to Muhammad.
RS Exam Tips — Sawm: Fasting: 1. For Sawm: Fasting 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 Sawm: Fasting to its real-world impact on believers and society
UK Context: In the UK, summer Ramadan fasting days can last over 18 hours, from approximately 2:30am to 9:30pm. Despite this extreme challenge, surveys show that over 90% of British Muslims fast during Ramadan, with many reporting that the spiritual benefits far outweigh the physical difficulty.
UK Context: During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, British Muslims faced the unusual challenge of fasting during Ramadan while mosques were closed. Communities adapted by organising virtual iftars, online tarawih prayers and contactless food distribution to those in need, demonstrating how the spirit of Ramadan could be maintained even under extreme restrictions.
UK Context: In 2024, the Muslim Council of Britain issued guidance to schools on supporting fasting students during exam season, recommending that schools provide quiet rest areas, allow students to avoid strenuous PE activities, and schedule important exams for the morning when fasting students have more energy. This reflects the growing recognition of Ramadan as an important part of British life.

Practice (10 minutes)

Q: Explain two reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan.

Answer: 1) Self-discipline and taqwa — fasting teaches Muslims to control their physical desires and focus on spiritual matters. By resisting the urge to eat and drink, Muslims strengthen their willpower and their devotion to Allah. 2) Empathy with the poor — experiencing hunger during daylight hours helps Muslims understand the daily suffering of those who do not have enough food. This motivates greater charity (zakah) and compassion.

Plenary (5 minutes)

Explain Back

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

Lesson 3: Application: sawm: fasting

Duration: 50 minutes

Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Quick Recall

Recall the key terms: RS Exam Tips — Sawm: Fasting, 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 reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan.

Answer: 1) Self-discipline and taqwa — fasting teaches Muslims to control their physical desires and focus on spiritual matters. By resisting the urge to eat and drink, Muslims strengthen their willpower and their devotion to Allah. 2) Empathy with the poor — experiencing hunger during daylight hours helps Muslims understand the daily suffering of those who do not have enough food. This motivates greater charity (zakah) and compassion.

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: sawm: fasting

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 sawm: fasting 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 jihad means "holy war." Wrong: "Jihad means holy war." Correct: "Jihad means "struggle" or "striving." Greater jihad is the internal spiritual struggle to live as a good Muslim. Lesser jihad is armed struggle, which has strict conditions and is a last resort."
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
  • Synoptic links: explain how sawm: fasting connects to another Religious Studies topic you have studied
  • Real-world: research one real-world use or example of sawm: fasting
  • Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in sawm: fasting?"

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)