A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
This is a fully-resourced lesson that looks at how the atomic number and electron configuration of an atom can be used to place an element in the Periodic Table. This lesson has primarily been designed for GCSE-aged students but can be used with younger students who are studying the Table and know about electron configurations.
The lesson begins by looking at the atomic number and ensuring that students recall how this number can be used to identify the number of protons (and electrons) in an atom. Time is taken to link to Dmitri Mendeleev and how he used the atomic number in his original formatting. Moving forwards, students will be challenged to write the electron configurations for a number of atoms from group 2 and then to identify the connection between the number of electrons in the outer shell and the group number. Again, time is taken to make links to other related topics such as the alkali metals, halogens and noble gases and how their chemical properties are similar based on this outer shell number. Students will discover how the period number is linked to the number of occupied shells. The remainder of the lesson uses two understanding checks to challenge the students to bring together their knowledge to place an element in the correct place in a blank Periodic Table when given information about the atomic number or electron configuration.
This bundle of 4 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C1g (Covalent bonding) of the Edexcel iGCSE Chemistry specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Know that covalent bonding involves the sharing of electrons
Be able to draw dot and cross diagrams for a range of structures involving covalent bonds
Describe the structure of simple covalent substances and relate this to their properties
Explain why substances with giant covalent structures are solids with high melting and boiling points
Explain how the structures of diamond, graphite and buckminsterfullerene affects their physical properties
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 4 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C1d (The Periodic Table) of the Edexcel iGCSE Chemistry specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Understand how elements are arranged in the Periodic Table
Deduce the electron configurations of the first 20 elements
Identify elements as metals and non-metals according to their properties and position in the Periodic Table
Understand why the Noble gases do not readily react
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 9 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C4 (Organic chemistry) of the Edexcel iGCSE Chemistry specification. The sub-topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
[a] Introduction
Know that a hydrocarbon is a compound of hydrogen and carbon atoms only
Know what is meant by the term homologous series and functional group
Understand how to name compounds containing up to six carbon atoms
Be able to write the structural and displayed formula of an organic molecule
[b] Crude oil
Know that crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons
Describe how the process of fractional distillation separates crude oil into fractions
Know the names and properties of the main fractions
Know the possible products of complete and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons with oxygen in the air
Understand why carbon monoxide is poisonous
Describe how long chain alkanes are converted to alkenes and shorter chain alkanes by cracking
[c] Alkanes
Know the general formula for the alkanes and explain why they are classified as the saturated hydrocarbons
Understand how to draw the structural and displayed formula for the alkanes
[d] Alkenes
Know that alkenes contain the functional group C=C and know their general formula
Explain why the alkenes are described as the unsaturated hydrocarbons
Understand how to draw the structural and displayed formula for the alkenes
Describe how bromine water can be used to distinguish between an alkane and an alkene
[e] Alcohols
Know that the alcohols contain the functional group -OH
Understand how to draw structural and displayed formula for the first 4 alcohols
Know that ethanol can be manufactured by reacting ethene with steam and by the fermentation of glucose
[f] Carboxylic acids
Know the functional group of the carboxylic acids
Understand how to draw structural and displayed formula for the acids
Describe the reactions of the acids with metals and metal carbonates
Know that vinegar is an aqueous solution containing ethanoic acid
[h] Synthetic polymers
Know that an addition plymer is formed by joining many small molecules called monomers
Understand how to draw the repeat unit of an addition polymer
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 4 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C2e (Extraction and uses of metals) of the Edexcel iGCSE Chemistry specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Know the most metals are extracted from ores found in the Earth’s crust and the unreactive metals are often found as the uncombined metal
Explain how the method of extraction is related to the position of the metal in the reactivity series
Know that an alloy is a mixture of a metal and one or more elements
Explain why alloys are harder than pure metals
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the sub-topics found within Topic C1 (Key concepts in chemistry) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
Describe how the model of the atom has changed over time with the discovery of the subatomic particles
Describe the structure of an atom and know that atoms contain the same number of protons as electrons
Calculate the number of protons, electrons and neutrons when given the atomic and mass number
Identify elements as metals or non-metals
Predict the electron configuration of the first 20 elements
Explain how ionic bonds are formed by the transfer of electrons
Explain the structure of an ionic compound as an ionic lattice
Explain how a covalent bond is formed
Be able to draw dot and cross diagrams for simple covalent structures
Describe the structure and properties of graphite and diamond
Calculate the relative formula mass
Explain the law of the conservation of mass
Calculate the concentration of a solution
Recall Avogadro’s constant and use in mole calculations
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the sub-topics found within Topic C8 (Fuels and Earth Science) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
The separation of crude oil into simpler, more useful mixtures by fractional distillation
The differing properties of the fractions
The complete and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons
The chemical process of cracking
The Earth’s early atmosphere
Human activity and climate change
The composition of today’s atmosphere
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 1 (Key concepts in Chemistry) of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification. Topic 1 is assessed in both papers 1 and 2, and therefore this lesson has been written in the detail that means it is likely to be used over the course of a number of lessons.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Explain why atoms contain equal numbers of protons and electrons
Recall the meaning of the term mass number of an atom
Describe atoms of a given element as having the same number of protons in the nucleus and that this number is unique to that element
Describe isotopes as different atoms of the same element containing the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
Calculate the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms given the atomic number and mass number
Calculate the relative atomic mass of an element from the relative masses and abundances of its isotopes
IONIC BONDING
Explain how ionic bonds are formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms
Recall that an ion is an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative charge
Calculate the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in simple ions given the atomic number and mass number
Explain the formation of ions in ionic compounds from their atoms, limited to compounds of elements in groups 1, 2, 6 and 7
Deduce the formulae of ionic compounds (including oxides, hydroxides, halides, nitrates, carbonates and sulfates) given the formulae of the constituent ions
COVALENT BONDING
Explain how a covalent bond is formed when a pair of electrons is shared between two atoms
Explain the formation of simple molecular, covalent substances, using dot and cross diagrams
TYPES OF SUBSTANCE
Explain the properties of typical covalent, simple molecular compounds
Recall that graphite and diamond are different forms of carbon and that they are examples of giant covalent substances
Describe the structures of graphite and diamond
Explain the properties of metals, including malleability and the ability to conduct electricity
CALCULATIONS INVOLVING MASSES
Calculate relative formula mass given relative atomic masses
Calculate masses of reactants and products from balanced equations, given the mass of one substance
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which includes a quiz competition called “POLLUTE THE AIR…WITH THE ANSWER” where they have to compete to be the 1st to recognise a pollutant gas from a series of clues whilst crucially being able to recognise the areas of this topic which need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams
A fully resourced lesson presentation (53 slides) and associated worksheet that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and a quiz competition to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within TOPIC 5 (Energy changes) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification point C4.5). The lesson includes useful hints and tips to encourage success in assessments. For example, students are shown how to use the energy change in a chemical reaction to work out if it is an endothermic or exothermic reaction.
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Endothermic and exothermic reactions
Reaction profiles
Calculating energy changes in reactions
Fuel cells
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including a summary round called “E NUMBERS” which requires them to use all of their knowledge to work out the type of reactions that are shown.
A fast-paced, quick lesson which focuses on the key terminology that is involved in the separation topic so that students are confident with the definitions and to use them in context. A lot of the key terms begin with the prefix SOL and the opening task challenges students to use their Chemistry knowledge to convert numbers to letters to come up with these three letters. Having completed the crossword with the 5 key terms, solute, solution, solubility, solvent and soluble, students have to match the crossword clues with each term. Moving forwards, students are introduced to the term, saturated, and briefly shown the meaning of this word. The final task of the lesson challenges the students to use each of the 6 terms beginning with S to complete a passage about salt dissolving in a water.
This bundle of 7 lessons covers some of the content in Topic C6 (Global challenges) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Extracting metals from their ores
Extracting metals by electrolysis
Biological metal extraction
Fractional distillation of crude oil
The alkanes
Cracking hydrocarbons
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
A fast-paced lesson that looks at the key details of the different substances which are found along the pH scale. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students and to build on the foundation knowledge that they picked up at KS3. Along with the obvious Scientific knowledge associated with the lesson, both numeracy and literacy skills are challenged during the lesson. Time is taken to ensure that the meaning of pH is understood and new terms such as base are introduced, so that these are recognised when written in assessment questions. Students will recall the scale numbers associated with acidic, neutral and alkaline solutions and their knowledge will be extended through the introduction of hydrogen and hydroxide ions. A method for taking a pH reading using a pH probe is included which can be used should the teacher chose that it is required. Progress checks are written into the lesson at regular intervals so that students can constantly assess their understanding.
This is an informative and engaging lesson, which has been designed for GCSE but is perfectly suitable for younger students who are studying the states of matter. Students will have encountered this topic at KS3 and potentially before, and therefore the aim of this lesson is to consolidate that knowledge and to deepen in critical areas. A number of quick competitions have been written into the lesson to maintain engagement and to test prior knowledge in a different way. In addition, progress checks are found at regular intervals so that students can constantly assess their understanding. The start of the lesson looks at the different properties of the three states and ensures that particle diagrams are not only recognised but can be explained. A lot of students consider elements to be in one state only at all times and therefore time is taken to show them how the specific temperature is the determining factor on the state. Students are guided through using the melting and boiling points to determine which state a substance is in at a given temperature. The rest of the lesson focuses on changing state and the change in the particles at each of these stages.
This bundle of 5 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C3 (Quantitative Chemistry) of the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Relative formula mass
The mole
Conservation of mass
The mole and equations
Limiting reactants
Concentration of solutions
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 8 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C4 (Predicting and identifying reactions and products) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Chemistry specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
The alkali metals
The halogens
Displacement reactions of the halogens
The noble gases
The transition metals
Reactivity of elements
Detecting gases
Detecting cations
Detecting anions
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 4 lessons covers all of the content in the sub-topic C4.2 (Identifying the products of chemical reactions) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Chemistry specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Detecting gases
Detecting cations
Detecting anions
Instrumental methods of analysis
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 7 lessons covers the majority of the content in the C1 sub-topic called CALCULATIONS INVOLVING MASSES of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science & GCSE Chemistry specifications. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Calculating relative formula mass
Empirical formula
The law of the conservation of mass
Calculating masses in reactions
Calculating concentration of solutions
Avogadro’s constant
Mole calculations
Limiting reactants
Stoichiometry
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 8 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic C3 (Chemical changes) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science & GCSE Chemistry specifications. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Acid, alkaline and neutral solutions
Reactions of acids
Detecting gases
Neutralisation reactions
Acid-alkali titrations
Electrolysis of molten salts and solutions
Writing half equations
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 6 lessons covers all of the content in Topic C9 (The Periodic Table) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
The Periodic Table as a method of classifying elements and its use to predict properties
Describe the relationship between group number and outer shell electrons
Describe and predict the properties of the Group 1 elements
Describe the properties and reactions of the Group 7 elements
The transition elements
The noble gases
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding