Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers.
From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.
Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers.
From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.
A quick and simple student led activity designed for AQA GCSE Chemistry (Triple and Double award) explaining how crude oil is formed from plankton.
Students should put the cartoon panels in the right order, then match the correct description to each panel.
This can be a cut and stick activity or a numbering/line drawing activity.
Good for SEN and students in need of visual cues and support.
Resource download includes PDF and Editable Powerpoint versions.
Preview video of resources: https://youtu.be/WWaqwYbo6IY
A pair of GCSE Chemistry Lessons for Triple Science covering electrochemical cells and associated half equations.
Lesson 1: What are Electrochemical Cells?
Lesson Objectives:
Describe what an electrochemical cell is and what we use it for
Describe how to make an electrochemical cell
Identify factors which affect the size of the voltage produced by an electrochemical cell
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint
Student practical investigation
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
Lesson 2: How do Electrochemical Cells Work?
Lesson Objectives:
Recall the definitions for oxidation and reduction
Identify which elements are oxidised and reduced in an electrochemical cell
(H) – write half equations for oxidation and reduction taking place in electrochemical cells
Explain why alkaline/non-rechargeable batteries eventually stop working
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint, containing animation about how electrochemical cells produce electrical current and the reactions that take place within it
Student exam questions (23 marks worth) from AQA syllabus with mark scheme
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with SEN and non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes and answers in “notes” section
Student led lesson worksheet
Teacher answer sheet
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
Various activites to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Name simple compounds ending in –ide, -hydroxide and –ate
Name simple compounds using the mono-, di-, tri- naming system
Be able to identify the elements present in a compound from its name
Be able to name a compound from its formula
This lesson contains a student led lesson sheet, with the focus being on students learning through doing and practicing skills and identifying patterns and reasons themselves. Resources and slides ask students the key questions and develops ideas and concepts from the ground up and address common issues, mistakes and misconceptions.
This lesson contains AFL tasks which require mini-whiteboards but can be adapted if these are not available.
A 1-2 Lesson Resources on Hydrogen fuel cells, their uses, how they work and their advantages and disadvantages compared to petrol cars and electric cars.
Lesson Objectives
Describe, in basic terms, how a hydrogen fuel works
(Higher only) write balanced half equations for the reactions taking place inside a hydrogen fuel cell
Describe advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells
Evaluate the use of hydrogen fuel vehicles compared to electric and petrol vehicles
Lesson resources include:
Lesson powerpoint with printable diagrams for students
Explanations of half equations from fuel cell (both acid cell (not AQA) and alkaline cell (AQA) version) and balancing them
Relevant video links
6 marker question and mark scheme
Exam question pack on fuel cells and energy
Plenary AFL multiple choice quiz and debate activity
This lesson is designed for AQA GCSE Chemistry/Combined Science Trilogy and covers how to calculate relative atomic mass.
This lesson contains:
A lesson powerpoint complete with all answers, worked examples
Student worksheet (PDF and editable versions)
Worksheet answers (PDF and editable versions)
Lesson Objectives:
Define what an “isotope” is and identify examples
Calculate the relative atomic mass of elements from their relative isotopic masses and abundances
This lesson is the third lesson in the “Space” topic and covers the basics of how our solar system formed. The lesson contains links to online videos, whole class AFL tasks to assess understanding and two independent tasks for students to complete.
This lesson is designed to be easy to teach, student led and is ideal for non-specialist teachers.
This Lesson Contains:
Lesson powerpoint, including activity delivery instructions for teachers, full answers, AFL whiteboard task and discussion activities
Student Gap fill summary worksheet (PDF) AND answer sheet (PDF)
Student crossword activity worksheet (PDF) AND answer sheet (PDF)
Lesson Objectives:
Describe how the Solar System formed
A 1-2 lesson pack covering flame tests and positive metal ion tests.
This resource is designed for the AQA Triple Chemistry required practical from “Chemical Analysis”, and is relevant to higher and foundation students.
Lesson Objectives
Carry out simple flame tests to identify positive metal ions
Carry out simple precipitate tests to identify positive metal ions
Describe how to carry out a flame test and a precipitate test, including the names of any important reactants
Describe the problems and limitations of using flame tests and precipitate tests to identify positive metal ions
This resource contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including starter activity, practical instructions, tables, challenge task, multiple choice quiz plenary, and full answers
Student worksheet - including practical instructions, tables, and practical quesitons (PDF and editable word versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and editable word versions)
Risk assessment/order form - containing up to date CLEAPPS guidance as of Oct 2023.
A full lesson designed for GCSE chemistry AQA specification.
This lesson covers the case study of the extraction of aluminium oxide, the role of cryolite, what happens to the aluminium and oxide ions at the electrodes, and the need for the replacement of the positive electrode.
This lesson contains
A lesson powerpoint including all useful youtube video links, interactive plenary multiple choice quiz, electroplating challenge task and complete answers.
A guided reading activity with quesitons and complete answer sheet (PDF and editable versions)
An alternative information hunt sheet to be used with videos and/or the AQA GCSE Chemistry textbook, with complete answers (PDF and editable versions)
Video clip to aid in completion of both sheets
Lesson Objectives
State two reasons why extracting aluminium oxide from its ore is expensive
Describe why cryolite is added to aluminium oxide during electrolysis
Describe and explain what happens to ions at the positive and negative electrode (and give relevant half equations (Higher only))
Explain why the positive electrode must continually be replaced
This bundle contains all the content relevant to AQA Triple Chemistry students in the new 9-1 syllabus.
Includes 4 LESSONS worth of teaching materials:
This includes the standard tests and characteristic results/colour changes for:
positive metal ion flame tests (Li, Cu, K, Na, Ca),
positive metal ion precipitate tests with NaOH (Fe(III), Fe(II), Cu(II), Mg, Ca, Al)
sulfate test with barium nitrate/chloride
halide tests (Cl, Br and I) with silver nitrate
carbonate tests with dilute acid and lime water
These lessons contain full powerpoints, student worksheets, complete answers, risk assessments/technician order forms, stretch and challenge tasks, relevant exam questions, and AfL plenary activities
Lesson 1-2: Identifying positive metal ions (flame tests and precipitate tests)
Lesson objectives:
Carry out simple flame tests to identify positive metal ions
Carry out simple precipitate tests to identify positive metal ions
Describe how to carry out a flame test and a precipitate test, including the names of any important reactants
Describe the problems and limitations of using flame tests and precipitate tests to identify positive metal ions
Lesson 3 - Identifying negative non-metal ions
Lesson objectives:
Carry out simple precipitate tests to identify halide, sulfate and carbonate ions
Describe how to carry out precipitate tests to test for halide, sulfate and carbonate ions, including the names of any important reactants
Write balanced symbol and ionic equations for the reactions taking place in precipitation reactions
Lesson 4 - Instrumental Analysis and Flame Emission Spectra
Lesson objectives:
Know what instrumental techniques are
Describe advantages and disadvantages of instrumental techniques over other analysis techniques (e.g. flame tests)
Interpret flame emission spectra to identify unknown elements in a mixture
Lesson resources include:
Complete and full powerpoints - including starter activities, challenge activities, tables of results, practical instructions, questions with complete answers
Student worksheets and practical sheets with instructions and tables for results (PDF and editable word versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and editable word versions)
Practical risk assessments/order forms (up to date with CLEAPPS data as of Oct 2023)
Relevant practice exam questions with mark schemes and examiners reports.
This bundle contains the lessons, powerpoints and all relevant resources for teaching the Separate Science GCSE Chemistry AQA content on electrochemical cells and fuel cells.
This bundle contains 3-4 lessons of content including:
Lesson 1: What are Electrochemical Cells?
Lesson Objectives:
Describe what an electrochemical cell is and what we use it for
Describe how to make an electrochemical cell
Identify factors which affect the size of the voltage produced by an electrochemical cell
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint
Student practical investigation
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
Lesson 2: How do Electrochemical Cells Work?
Lesson Objectives:
Recall the definitions for oxidation and reduction
Identify which elements are oxidised and reduced in an electrochemical cell
(H) – write half equations for oxidation and reduction taking place in electrochemical cells
Explain why alkaline/non-rechargeable batteries eventually stop working
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint, containing animation about how electrochemical cells produce electrical current and the reactions that take place within it
Student exam questions (23 marks worth) from AQA syllabus with mark scheme
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
Lesson 3/4: What are Fuel Cells?
Lesson Objectives:
Describe, in basic terms, how a hydrogen fuel works
(Higher only) write balanced half equations for the reactions taking place inside a hydrogen fuel cell
Describe advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells
Evaluate the use of hydrogen fuel vehicles compared to electric and petrol vehicles
Lesson resources include:
Lesson powerpoint with printable diagrams for students
Explanations of half equations from fuel cell (both acid cell (not AQA) and alkaline cell (AQA) version) and balancing them
Relevant video links
6 marker question and mark scheme
Exam question pack on fuel cells and energy
Plenary AFL multiple choice quiz and debate activity
This is the 5th lesson in the “Working as a Scientist 2” Year 8 topic.
This lesson teaches students how to identify relationships in graphs using the line of best fit and how to describe trends in graphs. It also covers the ways we can improve our confidence in graphs/data, how to deal with outliers, and how to read values from a graph using the line of best fit.
It is a comprehensive lesson, with large amounts of student participation on mini-whiteboards (so loads of chances for AFL and intervention if needed). The lesson can be lenghtened or shortened with slides cut out depending on student ability and prior knowledge.
Students can then practice their skills independently by drawing and analysing their own graph on the student worksheet.
Lesson resources:
Lesson powerpoint with all answers built in automatically, various mini-whiteboard AFL tasks for students, discussion activities, scaffolding and dual coding to support lower ability/EAL/AEN students.
Student worksheet PDF
Student worksheet answers PDF
Lesson objectives:
Identify linear and directly proportional relationships
Take readings from a graph using a line of best fit
Describe how to improve confidence in conclusions made from graphs
For this lesson you will need mini-whiteboards
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes and answers in “notes” section
Student led lesson worksheet (including practical worksheet)
Teacher answer sheet
Practical risk assessment/order form
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
Various activites to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Describe what a pure substance is
Identify examples of pure substances in every day life
Identify pure substances from particle diagrams and examples
Carry out a practical investigation to identify pure substances
This lesson contains a student led lesson and practical which focuses on students learning through discussion and investigation.
Resources and slides ask students the key questions and develops ideas and concepts from the ground up and address common issues, mistakes and misconceptions.
This lesson contains AFL tasks which require mini-whiteboards, but can be adapted if these are not available.
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes and answers in “notes” section
Student led lesson worksheet
Teacher answer sheet
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
Various activites to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Identify elements in chemical formula (using a periodic table)
Count the number of atoms in formulas containing subscripts
Count the number of atoms in formulas containing multipliers
This lesson contains a student led lesson sheet, with the focus being on students learning through doing and practicing skills and identifying patterns and reasons themselves. Resources and slides ask students the key questions and develops ideas and concepts from the ground up and address common issues, mistakes and misconceptions.
This lesson contains AFL tasks which require mini-whiteboards, but can be adapted if these are not available.
A comprehensive, engaging and interactive lesson package designed with non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes and answers in “notes” section
Student led lesson worksheet
Teacher answer sheet
Elements, Compounds and Mixtures printable decision tree
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
Various activites to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Describe what a mixture is
Give examples of mixtures in every day life
Identify mixtures from particle diagrams and examples
This lesson contains a student led lesson sheet, with the focus being on students learning through doing, practicing skills and identifying patterns and reasons themselves. Resources and slides ask students the key questions and develops ideas and concepts from the ground up and address common issues, mistakes and misconceptions.
This lesson contains AFL tasks which require mini-whiteboards and molymods, but can be adapted if these are not available.
This lesson covers what longitudinal and transverse waves are, the features of both kinds of waves, examples of these waves and what happens when waves meet barriers or each other. This is a perfect introduction lesson to KS3 topic on sound and waves.
This Lesson Contains:
Lesson powerpoint, including instructions for key demonstrations of both types of waves, full answers, plenary tasks, AFL whiteboard and discussion activities
Student worksheet (PDF and editable version)
Student worksheet answers sheet (PDF and editable version)
Lesson Objectives
Name the two different types of waves and label their features
Give an example of each kind of wave
Describe what happens when waves hit a barrier
Describe what happens when waves superimpose
This is a KS3 Biology lesson covering the physical changes that happen in our bodies when we breathe (limited to diaphragm, rib cage and lung volume) as well as using the bell jar demonstration of the effect of pressure on lung volume. This lesson also contains a practical to measure lung volume and manipulate the data of that practical.
This lesson contains:
Teacher powerpoint - including teacher guidance and answers
Student printable table (PDF and Word)
Lesson Objectives:
Describe the physical changes that occur when a person inhales and exhales
Describe a method used to estimate lung volume
WS: Measure lung volume
Correlate and analyse data from a practical experiment to draw conclusions
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with non-science/non-physics specialist teachers in mind! This lesson covers what balanced and unbalanced forces are, how to calculate resultant forces in one dimension, and the effects balanced and unbalanced forces have on the motion of an object.
This resource contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes, interactive AFL tasks, student written task, and full answers to all activities.
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
Various activites to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Describe the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces
Explain why objects are in equilibrium
Explain the changing motion of objects
Calculating resultant forces in one dimension
Worksheet to help students understand how to work out whether a substance is a solid, liquid or gas based on it’s melting point or boiling point.
Worksheet document contains answers at the end.
Contains PDF copy and editable PPT version
This resource contains a worksheet where students can practice drawing ionic bonding for a range of examples.
Examples get harder as the sheet progresses. First questions are structured with electron shells and brackets drawn for them.
Resource contains PDF copy and an editable PPT version.
Fully drawn answer sheet attached at the end of each document.
