Baseline assessment: exercise for pupils - teacher's guide

Follow the link below to go to a series of interactive exercises for pupils designed to test their ability in both attainment target 1 (learning about religion) and attainment target 2 (learning from religion). The activities are intended to be used by Year 7 classes, just a little way in to the year (not too early, or they may feel you are going to judge them before they have a chance to find their way around the new school year; and not too late, or you will not provide an opportunity for them to show what knowledge and understanding they have brought with them from RE lessons in their previous year/school).

In order to run the exercise you will need to book the ICT suite, or use classroom laptops that are wirelessly connected to the internet.

Explain to pupils that they are going to do an RE assessment that is designed to test their knowledge and understanding of Christianity and one other religion or philosophy of life (such as Humanism) and their ability to express their own ideas about the big questions of life. Advise them to choose the religion they think they know most about from their previous RE lessons.

Guide pupils to the introductory page of the exercises (RE Assessment >>) and tell them that there are three parts to the assessment. Parts one and two test their knowledge and understanding of Christianity and one other religion or philosophy of life. This section is to be completed on their own, without consultation, though you may wish to model the 'drag and drop' technique for Activity 1 and explain that there are three links to be made.

When Activity 1 has been completed, pupils should type their full name into the box provided and print their answers before moving onto the next activity.

For Activity 2, remind pupils of the importance of reading the instructions carefully and choosing ONE religion or philosophy of life to show what they know and understand. Explain that in the first part of Activity 2, the aim is to click the right answers in as few guesses as possible - the lower the score, the better - so they will need to think first and click later! Pupils then type in their name and print results.

For Activity 3, tell pupils that they will have to work with at least one other member of the class for parts of the exercise. Ask them to read the instructions carefully and complete the set tasks.

When all sections have been completed, pupils print their final answers. Those who finish first could be set an additional internet-based research task, for example, finding out more about a particular religion from pof.reonline.org.uk or finding out the views of young religious believers on life after death from www.natre.org.uk/db/profile1.php.

The whole exercise could be repeated later in the year and pupils asked to compare their 'before-and-after' performance. How much progress has been made (at least in relation to the given level statements)?

RE Assessment (exercise for pupils) >>