On this page I will be uploading specific resources for the OCR A level Sociology specification for first teaching in September 2025. Whilst these are linked to the OCR proposed specification, they can be used for other exam boards where applicable.
What is sociology and the sociological imagination?
The first unit of teaching OCR A level sociology concerns the fundamental ideas of what sociology is, how sociologists approach society and what sociology means in practice. Some of the key ideas are outlined below:
What is the Sociological Imagination?
Introduction to Sociology
Sociology stories: a short 3 minutes video that highlights some of the issues that students will encounter in the course of their studies with a powerpoint for teachers to expand on the issues.
Sociology stories 1.2 Powerpoint for teachers
What is Culture?
Local culture task
In this task, students should make comparisons between their own culture in the area they live in and mainstream culture as represented by what they see and perceive through the media. Does how students live their lives reflect what they see in the media? If not, why not? And what questions does that raise about the nature of society? Below are two images, one of the handout, and the second a representation of my local culture being based in Liverpool. Students could use either the template provided (as a pdf handout below) or could create their own montage of pictures/words from their own local area.
Another feature of different cultures is based upon social class. Below is a simple activity to get students to compare the cultural norms of the traditional middle-class and and traditional working-class. Of course, in contemporary society this comparison is far too simplistic, as individuals cultural norms intersect with many other concepts, but it is useful to demonstrate that groups in society have different norms that shape their daily lives.
Culture, Socialisation and Identity
Cultural Hybridity – A short PPT on examples of cultural hybridity in the UK
Age and Identity Task
Different factors influence our identity as we get older. In our early childhood, parents socialised us into early forms of our identity. But as we get older, we are exposed to other socialising agents and as we develop our sense of self, we come to make more independent choices about our own identity. In this task, students should look to consider which agencies of socialisation will impact on their identity at different stages in their life-course.
An alternative one sheet handout can be downloaded here:
Ethnicity and Identity
Paul Gilroy’s book “The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness,” published in 1993, explores how the culture of African diasporas (people of African descent living outside Africa) is shaped by their shared history and experiences across different countries.
The study “Changing Ethnic Identities” by Tariq Modood and colleagues (1994) is an influential piece of research that examines how ethnic identities among minority groups in Britain are shaped and transformed. Conducted in the early 1990s, this study aimed to explore the experiences of people from various ethnic minority backgrounds and how they viewed themselves and their place in British society.
Cultural Card Sort
A simple card sort for pupils to sort examples of cultural artifacts into high and popular culture. However, as with sociology, things aren’t always straightforward as there are 10 cards where the lines between high and popular culture are blurred. Instructions and explanations for the blurred lines between popular and high culture included.
Media representations of different groups
A good way for students to examine how different groups are represented in the media is through conducting a content analysis. This requires students to watch TV, films and other forms of media and collate data on how different groups are represented in the media. A simple homework assignment that requires them to engage in one of their favourite activities, yet gets them to think analytically about what they are seeing rather than simply have media on in the background whilst multi-tasking on a phone. A sample content analysis template can be downloaded below.
Key Theories
A creative way to get students to summarise the key sociological theories is to create magazine covers of the sociological theories. This involves getting pictures of key sociological figures from a range of perspectives, and getting students to create magazine covers using key terms and concepts associated with that approach. Examples of the main sociological perspectives I mocked up using adobe express are below – but you could use other design software, or simply cut and paste for a lesson that gets students to consolidate their knowledge and get to mess around with pens and glue (which we all know they secretly love!).
This activity can also be used to highlight gender differences in how groups are represented in the mass media. Examples can include specific reference to sociological studies. Below are some examples I have created based upon female and male representations in media – with reference to specific studies
Knowledge Organisers
Below you can upload knowledge organisers of different sociological theories which are covered in Component A – functionalism, Marxism, feminism and interactionism. These cover the very basics of sociological theory and should be added to when looking at specific topic areas for further development. However, many of the key themes occur throughout the course, particularly structural and social action perspectives, conflict and consensus and broad concepts such as social solidarity, the role of socialisation, exploitation, dominant ideologies, patriarchy and the meanings and motivations of individuals
Additionally, there is a comparison table that can be downloaded to help students summarise their knowledge of these different theories
Powerpoints
I don’t usually subscribe to lengthy PowerPoints and prefer students to be doing things, rather than being passive recipients of information – However, sometimes, it is just necessary to go through some of the more complex topics in class and so there are a range of Ppts below, each with accompanying notes and questions to check your students’ learning.
Theory Teaching Activities
Key Term Glossaries
There are two versions of the key terms glossary – one with key terms completed with basic definitions and links to specific sociologists (Teacher version) and a version with just key terms and space for students to write in their own definitions (Student version). These documents are word document and are editable so you can add in further key terms if required. All I ask is that you retain the branding, as it helps to direct students to other information that may be of use to them.