Sociology return – how can ERA help with the delivery of new academic year content?
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Sociology and Criminology teacher and subject specialist, Marina Dickings has seen first-hand how powerful the right resources can be in the classroom. She uses ERA media clips and programmes to foster engagement and bring complex concepts to life for her A-level students. In this blog, Marina has curated a range of topical video clips that teachers can apply across the sociology curriculum to make lessons more engaging, relatable and memorable.
Horizon – what makes us human? With Professor Alice Roberts
Curriculum links
- Yr 12 Introduction to Sociology
- Yr 13 course recap
- Socialisation
- Nature versus nurture
With the return to A level Sociology this September, it can be tricky to find appropriate visual content for the introductory lesson and/or revisit of ‘What is Sociology’. In this programme Professor Alice Roberts does a good overview of the animal/human experience both genetically and in the every day. She looks at the key questions and differences, offering some discussion opportunities for how the human genome, lifestyle and psychology has changed. Professor Roberts also looks at the differences in behaviour, giving birth, acquisition of knowledge and culture.
Panorama: Mods & Rockers
Curriculum links
- Yr 13 Crime & Deviance
- Role of the media
- Moral panics
BBC | Panorama (1964)
Mods and Rockers as a piece of ‘Crime and deviance’ content can be difficult to find visual content. However, a little-known clip from years ago still available from Panorama gives a good insight into the issue, both from Mods and the Rockers perspective, there’s a debate to be had on the difference in attitudes based upon genders and the role of the media.
Panorama: the secrets of scientology
Curriculum links
- Beliefs in Society
- New Age & New Religious Movements
- Secularisation
- Pick & Mix
An interesting expose showing the growing popularity and religious influence of ‘Scientology’ both from a historic perspective as well as individual experiences. The religion is using ‘church’ which originates in Christianity which shows some pick and mixing of religious characteristics and traits. It also showed some lived experiences of those who once belonged to the church of Scientology with the political, charitable and international status of this movement/religion/cult also discussed.
The British Family: Children (Episode 4)
Curriculum links
- Family & Households
- Childhood
- Frank Feredi
- State policy on the family
A great series, available on ERA, is presented by Kirsty Young. Featuring various foci on the family this episode looks at the experiences of children and the changes in childhood from post-war Britain to modern blended/step families. Within the episode too is a conversation about parental fears with Sociologist Frank Feredi.
We’d love to hear from more Sociology teachers using ERA media resources in their classrooms. If you have any topics, practical tips or fresh ideas you’d like to share with teachers alike, reach out and share them with us.