Overview
This introductory Health & Social Care lesson builds secure foundational knowledge of PIES development and the determinants of health. Students explore how physical, intellectual, emotional and social factors shape wellbeing, before analysing how wider determinants — such as income, housing, education and social networks — influence health outcomes across different groups. The lesson encourages critical thinking, case‑study application and evaluative discussion, preparing learners for assessment tasks later in the unit.

• Editable PowerPoint
• In‑lesson tasks to build understanding and application
• Group/peer work opportunities to deepen discussion and analysis

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Define PIES factors and apply them to an individual’s health and development.
• Identify physical, social and economic determinants of health using real‑world examples.
• Analyse how different factors interact, influencing wellbeing in complex ways.
• Evaluate how inequalities affect health outcomes across populations and communities.

This lesson is clear, engaging and assessment‑aligned. It introduces essential terminology, supports mixed‑ability classes, and encourages meaningful discussion through structured peer tasks. The editable format makes it easy to adapt for your learners, while the focus on real‑world determinants helps students connect theory to lived experience.

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.