I aim to create detailed lessons for KS3 and KS4 science lessons, simplifying content for both teachers and pupils. My lessons include a lot of pupil-centred tasks and modelling activities where appropriate to engage pupils in their learning. As an AQA examiner for the new GCSE trilogy and triple science course I include a lot of 'past paper' style questions in my lessons that match the type of questions students will be asked in examinations.
I aim to create detailed lessons for KS3 and KS4 science lessons, simplifying content for both teachers and pupils. My lessons include a lot of pupil-centred tasks and modelling activities where appropriate to engage pupils in their learning. As an AQA examiner for the new GCSE trilogy and triple science course I include a lot of 'past paper' style questions in my lessons that match the type of questions students will be asked in examinations.
A lesson on the AQA required practical carrying out tests to identify cations and anions in substances and instrumental analysis methods
Included in the resource is:
A starter question on chromatography with mark scheme incorporated into the powerpoint for review
Instructions to carry out the required practical (flame tests, testing using sodium hydroxide, testing for carbonates, sulfates and halides)
Review tasks requiring pupils to identify ions in substances and describe tests for anions and cations
A question booklet on the lesson with mark scheme incorporated into the powerpoint for review and challenging extension question
A revision mindmap for pupils to complete on testing for ions
Whiteboard plenary
Flash card homework task.
Bags of content, will cover a double lesson!
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at the energy transfer in neutralisation required practical. The lesson looks at the method involved in the required practical and how this might be adapted for a range of different chemical reactions, along with how to estimate the point of neutralisation from a graph of results
Lesson features include:
A starter consisting of 10 basic recall questions from previous learning with animated answers (properties of ionic compounds, isotopes, exothermic reactions, energy reaction profiles, history of the atom, ionic formula and conservation of mass )
A slide recapping the idea of exothermic reactions and energy reaction profile in an engaging context using a ‘sherbet lemon’ model
A series of slides prompting students to think about how to measure the energy transferred in a chemical reaction and the apparatus/ method used.
Slides guiding students through the required practical method, variables for the experiment, a ready-made results table to populate and instructions on how to plot and extrapolate data from the graph to calculate the exact point of neutralisation
A table with animated answers helping pupils to understand the range of chemical reactions the method could be used with and the variables that could be investigated for each
A host of short review questions looking at applying the required practical method to a different chemical reaction, analysing data and suggesting improvements to the apparatus used in the required practical
A worksheet containing exam-style questions. Answers are featured on the powerpoint to allow for assessment of pupil progress
A review sheet with prompt images that could be used as a short recap of the method used in the required practical in subsequent lessons
A lesson explaining the structure of polymers and properties of polymers, including a step-by-step method on drawing repeating units and explanation of the properties of thermosoftening and thermosetting polymers. The lesson also includes an explanation of the properties of solids, liquids and gases and a step-by-step method on how to predict the state of a substance when given the melting and boiling point.
The lesson features:
A starter consisting of 10 basic recall questions from previous learning with animated answers (ionic formula and properties of ionic compounds, covalent bonding diagrams, properties of simple covalent substances and graphite, properties of metals and alloys)
Slides introducing what a polymer is and how to draw repeating units
Practice questions on drawing repeating units with animated answers
A paired teaching activity on the difference between thermosoftening and thermosetting polymers
A discussion task to illicit prior knowledge on solids, liquids and gases
A summary table explaining the properties of solids, liquids and gases
Slides explaining how to predict the state of substances using number lines with two animated examples
Summary questions asking students to predict the state of substances using a data table containing melting and boiling points
A series of lessons covering the AQA Topic 1 - atomic structure unit. Each lesson features a 10 question starter with animated answers, interactive slides guiding pupils through concepts, links to videos and modelling suggestions together with many exam-style questions and answers to assess pupil progress. The lessons include the following topics:
Atomic structure
History of the atomic model
Groups on the periodic table (1, 7, 0 and transition metals)
Development of the periodic table
Separating techniques
Included in the bundle is a topic 1 revision sheet with questions/ prompts for students to complete
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at neutralisation reactions, writing ionic formulae and the process of making crystals of a soluble salt (AQA required practical)
Lesson features include:
A starter consisting of basic recall questions from previous learning (extraction of metals, reduction/ oxidation, properties of ionic compounds, covalent bonding diagrams, relative formula mass and moles)
Slides introducing the pH scale, weak/ strong acids and alkalis and the difference between an alkali and a base with AfL question (alongside an animated answer)
Slides with guided practice on how to name salts and writing ionic formulae for salts.
Slides and an acompanying worksheet providing plenty of practice on writing equations for metal and acid, acid and alkali and acid and metal carbonate reactions
A step by step explanation of the stages involved in making crystals of a soluble salt, including a table for pupils to fill in explaining the reason for each stage in the practical
Practice exam-style questions with scaffolded support. The questions focus on describing the method used to make a soluble salt and explaining errors in methods.
Simple, easy to follow instructions for carrying out the soluble salt practical
A worksheet containing exam-style questions. Answers are included with the sheet to enable assessment of pupil progress
Review questions with animated answers
A lesson/ series of lessons looking at atoms, elements,compounds, mixtures, the structure of the atom and the history of the atomic model.
Lots of content that could easily cover 3 lessons. A variety of interactive tasks, included,such as:
-Using sweets to model atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures
-A link to a clip from an american sitcom providing a simple, student-friendly analogy for the structure of the atom
-Assessment opportunities using whiteboards
-Visualisation opportunities using props to aid the teaching of developments in the atomic model -
props are easily available/ easy to create with instructions on how to relate each prop to the model of the atom it is demonstrating in the notes section of the powerpoint. The use of these props really helped my students to understand the plum pudding model, Dalton's atomic theory and Rutherford's gold foil experiment.
-A past paper question comparing the current nuclear model to the plum pudding model
-A homework sheet/ worksheet with answers animated at the end of the powerpoint
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at drawing the structure of alkenes and alcohols, describing reactions of alkenes and the process of fermentation to produce ethanol. The lesson includes:
- A 'find someone who' starter grid looking at previous learning (fractional distillation, combustion and cracking)
- Information slides with prompt questions to facilitate students linking the lesson content to prior knowledge/ understanding
- A task to compare the structure of alkanes and alkenes with prompt questions
- Two demonstrations/ practicals with animated questions and answers on the powerpoint
- A true/ false question grid to assess understanding of lesson content
- Review questions to assess achievement of each learning objective
- A past paper questions worksheet with animated answers on the powerpoint
A series of 11 simplistic revision mats designed for the Foundation Triple Chemistry specification.
The revision mats contain:
Key definitions with space for students to write in the key term
Basic recall questions/ comprehension tasks followed by short answer questions to test understanding
Summaries of the required practical activities and sample questions based on these RPA’s
There is a revision mat for each topic 1-10 with an additional revision mat for electrolysis (Topic 4 - Chemical changes)
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at the Haber process and production of NPK fertilisers
Lesson features include:
A series of basic recall questions from previous learning (water treatment, the purification of water required practical, rusting, methods to prevent corrosion, alloys, alternative methods of copper extraction, recycling and sustainability)
A fun introduction to the background of the Haber process with a slide on important developments of the 20th Century and the life of Fritz Haber (containing a ‘spot the false statement’ activity about his life)
An information card and cloze activity to help students recall conditions for the Haber process and slide containing a description of the Haber process step-by-step
Exam-style questions on conditions and reactants needed in the Haber process with animated answers on the powerpoint
Recap slide on the concept of equilibrium and instructions for an active modelling task to perform in the classroom with pupils (instructions for the task are found on the ‘notes’ section on slide 21)
Recap slides on Le Chatelier’s principle that provide information and questions for students to apply the principles to the Haber process reaction
Opportunity for pupils to apply the active modelling task in the classroom to show the effect of changing temperature and pressure on the Haber process (instructions for this are found in the ‘notes’ section of the slides)
A multitude of review questions of varying demand to assess pupils’ understanding of the equilibrium trade-off in the Haber process (the answers to the questions are animated on the powerpoint)
Slides introducing what NPK fertilisers are and their importance with prompt questions and answers
Slides containing a variety of exam-style questions on the manufacturing of NPK fertilisers
A series of exam-style questions on a Word document with animated answers on the powerpoint
Lots to choose from here!
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at the structure of carboxylic acids, reactions of carboxylic acids and the formation of polymers by addition and condensation polymerisation. The lesson also recaps content from topic 2 and topic 10, covering the difference between thermosetting and thermosoftening polymers and the issues surrounding the disposal of polymers. Lesson features include:
- A question grid with basic recall questions from previous learning (fractional distillation, cracking, combustion, alkenes, alkanes and alcohols) complete with answers
- Recap on homologous series
- Slides describing the structure and reactions of carboxylic acids with a printable table for students to complete together with review questions
- Slides describing the formation of a polymer with an activity requiring students to draw the repeating unit from polymer chains and monomers
- A host of short review questions on polymerisation with animated answers on the powerpoint
- A paired teaching activity on thermosetting and thermosoftening polymers for students to complete. This is then followed by a independent learning task on the two types of polymer with success criteria provided
- A worksheet containing past paper questions. Answers are featured on the powerpoint to allow for assessment of pupil progress
A lesson describing gas tests for oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine and carbon dioxide. Features instructions for how to carry out each test and a review set of questions on chromatography and gas tests. Answers to the questions are included in the powerpoint to allow for self/peer assessment of answers
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at exothermic and endothermic reactions, labelling and explaining energy profile diagrams and calculating the overall bond energy for reactions.
The lesson features:
A series of basic recall questions from previous learning (questions on calculating P, N, E, alloys, electrolysis, covalent bonding, formation of ions, giant covalent structures and extraction of metals)
An introduction to the terms endothermic and exothermic using images for students to decifer the meaning of the terms
An animated introduction to energy reaction profiles, explaining how to label the diagrams and the difference between endothermic and exothermic reaction profiles
Numerous review questions in the style of past-exam questions to allow for teacher assessment of progress - labelling reaction profiles, recognising a reaction profile as endo or exothermic, describing reactions as exothermic or endothermic from temperature change values
A step-by-step introduction into bond energy calculations to reduce cognitive overload - pupils are shown how to calculate bond energies for single structures including several practice examples before being shown a worked example of how to work out whether a reaction is exothermic or endothermic using a bond energy calculation.
Two ‘have a go’ bond energy calculations with animated answers to allow for student self-assessment.
A 4 page worksheet containing practice exam-style questions on calculating bond energies, drawing energy reaction profiles and explaining whether reactions are exothermic or endothermic. Answers are included in the worksheet
Lots to choose from here!
A series of lessons looking at the formation of ions, describing how ionic bonds are formed alongside drawing dot and cross diagrams, working out the formula of an ionic compound from a lattice diagram and the charges on the ions and properties of ionic compounds. The powerpoint features a lot of worked examples and plenty of opportunity for student practice with questions that progress from simple to more complex examples. Lesson features include:
A 10 question starter quiz based on previous learning with animated answers (questions based on Topic 1 - atomic structure)
Slides recapping prior learning on electron configurations leading to how metal and non-metal ions are formed with step-by-step scaffolding provided. Students complete questions based around drawing ions and describing how ions have formed based on the charge
Slides introducing how ionic compounds are formed with a discussion question of a dot and cross diagram. This has been animated to allow the teacher to talk through step-by-step what is taking place. There are more worked examples and numerous questions on drawing dot and cross diagrams are incorporated into the presentation
Slides guiding pupils on how to work out the ionic formula, looking at non-metal ions consisting of 1 element initially before progressing to non-metal ions involving two elements where brackets are used
A modelling task to build a 3D giant ionic lattice and opportunity to describe the structure with structured sentence starters provided
A link to an engaging video looking at melting salt to introduce properties of ionic compounds
A review task with success criteria summarising ions, ionic bonding diagrams and structure and properties of ionic compounds
Numerous review question slides with animated answers
A double lesson looking at the role of Newlands and Mendeleev in the development of the periodic table, comparing early versions of the periodic table to the modern periodic table and explaining how the separating techniques of filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography work.
Lots of content in the lesson, including:
The lesson features:
A starter consisting of 10 basic recall questions from previous learning with animated answers (labelling the plum pudding model, electron configurations, isotopes, what the mass number tells you about an atom, displacement reactions, group 1 reactions with water, periodic table arrangement, atomic structure)
A printable sheet for students to make notes on comparing the 3 versions of the periodic table
Summary notes for the periodic tables created by Newlands and Mendeleev
A link to a video explaining how Mendeleev organised the elements in his periodic table
A series of exam style questions and animated answers testing students understanding of the different periodic tables
Slides explaining how the separation techniques of filtration, evaporation, distillation and chromatography work and accompanying worksheet for students to fill in (this could be done as a carousel activity)
Summary questions asking students to name the technique most suitable to separate a variety of mixtures
A lesson describing the structure of metals, explaining the properties of metals in relation to the structure, explaining what an alloy is and examples of alloys and how their composition relates to their use.
The lesson features:
A starter consisting of 10 recall questions from previous learning with animated answers (graphene, ionic formula and ionic bonding diagrams, properties of ionic and covalent substances, structure of diamond, properties of graphite and uses of fullerenes)
A slide introducing metallic bonding with a comparison to ionic and covalent bonding
A series of slides explaining the structure and properties of metals, with prompts to help students explain the properties independently before viewing model answers that are animated on the powerpoint
An explanation for what an alloy is and why alloys are harder than pure metals
A table of specific alloys and their uses (linking to Topic 10 - using resources) that could be cut out for students to look at using a carousel activity
A host of short review questions on metals and alloys
A formative assessment task with success criteria included requiring pupils to link a series of statements written on visual hexagons to explain the properties of metals and compare this to ionic and covalent bonding
A lesson describing the properties of graphene and uses of nanoparticles. The lesson features:
-Questions linked to commonly asked past paper questions with animated answers to assess student understanding
-Two links to engaging videos describing the uses of graphene and explanation of what a nanoparticle is
-Possible modelling task using different types of chocolate to come up with a definition for the term 'allotrope'
-Extension task comparing graphene to the structure and properties of diamond and graphite