1. Standard Grade Modern Studies
Changing Society
Standard Grade Modern Studies
Family Life Today

2. Changing Society : The Family
Family Life Today
Over the next few weeks we will be studying about UK family life in class. We will be looking at...
Changes to the structure of families over the years
Different types of families in the UK
Why family structure has changed
Know the costs involved in raising a family
The needs of families
Inequalities amongst families
How family needs are met

3. Learning Objective Success Criteria
To understand there are different types of family structures today in the UK and to understand how they have come about.
Learning Objective
Success Criteria
By the end of the lesson you will be able to...
Explain changes to the structure of families over the years
Describe the reasons why the structure of the family has changed
Identify 5 different family types you might find in the UK

4. How families have changed over the years
Traditionally families consisted of a mother,
father and children. This type of family was
known as the ‘nuclear’ or ‘conventional’ family.

5. How families have changed over the years
The mother and father met...

6. How families have changed over the years
Fell in love...

7. How families have changed over the years
Got married...

8. How families have changed over the years
And had a family...

9. How families have changed over the years
The man went out to work...

10. How families have changed over the years
Whilst the woman remained at home looking
after the children and running the house.

11. How families have changed over the years
Society is changing and so attitudes towards
family life and the family structure are
changing.

12. Why have families changed?
Increase in
divorce
People living
longer
More women
working
Society more
acceptable
Attitudes
changed towards
marriage
Increase in
lone parent
families
Religion less
important

13. Family Types in the UK Family types now include: Nuclear/Conventional
Changes in society have resulted
in the changing face of British
family and this means there are
many different types of families
other than nuclear or conventional
families.
Family types now include:
Nuclear/Conventional
Lone parent
Extended
Couple
Reconstituted/Step
Same-sex couples/Families

14. Family Types in the UK
To help you understand the different types of families in the UK and their family members, complete the table below with your partner. Both of you should copy and complete the table into your jotters.
Family Type
Family Members
Celebrity Example
Nuclear/Conventional
Mum, Dad, brothers, sisters
The Beckhams
Lone Parent
One parent and children
Extended
Grandparents/Aunts, etc.
Couple
No children
Reconstituted/Step
Lone parent family + new
Same-sex couples/families
Gay couple/ with children

16. Have I Been Successful? Rate your own learning:
In your jotters...
Rate your own learning:
GREEN – Understand fully what we have learnt
AMBER – Understand some of it
RED – Unsure about most/all of it
Write 1 or 2 sentences explaining how families have changed over the years eg. What were they like compared to what they are now like
Give 2 brief reasons why this has happened