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Little Scientists

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I teach a number of low ability classes. I want my pupils to do as well as they can. So here are a number of resources that I have developed to help them do that. From writing frames to entire lessons. I am currently making themed topics to rope in pupils, e.g. Disney themes.

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I teach a number of low ability classes. I want my pupils to do as well as they can. So here are a number of resources that I have developed to help them do that. From writing frames to entire lessons. I am currently making themed topics to rope in pupils, e.g. Disney themes.
Frozen Science - Dissolving
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Frozen Science - Dissolving

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This is a lesson aimed for a low ability KS3 class and has a theme of Disney's Frozen. Pupils begin with trying to see how many words they can make out of one of the lesson's keywords. Pupils then watch a video to get the keywords for the lesson and complete a question sheet as they do so. Pupils then do 3 experiments that show dissolution. Finally pupils do a code breaker that goes through the keywords of the lesson again. For homework pupils watch a video and write a letter to Anna describing the difference between melting and dissolving.
Frozen Science - Diffusion
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Frozen Science - Diffusion

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This is a lesson for a low ability KS3 class, with the theme of Disney's Frozen. Pupils begin with brainstorming how Elza and Anna can smell the hot chocolate. Diffusion is then explained to the pupils. Pupils then do an experiment to see how the temperature affects the rate of diffusion. Completing a sheet as they do so. Finally pupils put diagrams in order to show how diffusion happens in particles.
Star Wars Science - Forces Whole Topic
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Star Wars Science - Forces Whole Topic

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This unit is for a low ability KS3 class. The pretence of the unit is based on the film Star Wars to gain interest. Lessons include force diagrams, Hooke's Law, Speed and Acceleration.
Star Wars Science - Air Resistance
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Star Wars Science - Air Resistance

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This is a Star Wars themed lesson aimed at KS3. Pupils begin by doing a "Think, Pair, Share" on what will fall faster, an elephant or a feather and how they could make them fall at the same speed. The text is then hyperlinked so a video can be shown, when air is removed from the scenario. Pupils then watch an animation showing a parachutist and the way air resistance changes the forces and acceleration acting upon him. Pupils discuss which parachute will land first using the diagrams. Then pupils then investigate how surface area affects the speed in which a parachute falls. You will need tissue paper, string and a weight - I usually let them drop it from the balcony and down the stairs. Pupils then complete a gap fill exit ticket and draw force arrows on a parachutist. A QWC writing frame is also include for higher ability pupils and/or homework
Star Wars Science - Acceleration
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Star Wars Science - Acceleration

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This is for a KS3 class, with a Star Wars theme. Pupils begin by coming up with definitions for positive and negative acceleration. They then watch a video (link in the notes section) and write down 3 things that they have learned from it. Pupils watch a speed safety video (link in notes section) and use physics to prove it correct. Pupils then are given a question each and an answer sheet. They go around the room and ask each other the question they have, write in the correct box the answer, swap questions and continue until they have done 30 questions (cocktail party) Finally pupils complete an equation triangle using the template as an exit ticket.
Star Wars Science - Speed = Distance / Time
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Star Wars Science - Speed = Distance / Time

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This is for a KS3 class, but could be used for KS4 too. It is Star Wars themed. Pupils begin by doing a code breaker, which will give them the equation to calculate speed. Pupils then watch a Star War Mario Kart race and use a stopwatch to determine when events in the race happened, and filling out the data entry sheet (this has the speed Mario was going at each point). Pupils then turn their data into a graph and calculate the distance between set point on the graph by drawing rectangles and triangles and calculating area. Pupils then finally complete an exit ticket, which has a number of speed questions on it.
Star Wars Science - Hooke's Law
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Star Wars Science - Hooke's Law

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This is a low ability KS3 lesson with a Star Wars theme. Pupils begin by reading a magazine article from Young Scientist about Sir Isaac Newton (Pages 20-21). They write 2 things they found interesting about Sir Isaac and then 3 things that didn't know before about forces. Pupils then go over the equation for calculating spring constant. They then complete an experiment. Pupils create a graph and an extension is given to find the spring constant using the graph. Finally, they complete a gap fill and answer a question on units.
Star Wars Science  - Moments
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Star Wars Science - Moments

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This is aimed at a low ability KS3 class. It has the theme of Star Wars. I would like to say that the Star Wars examples are from RichardBonser (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/moments-levers-and-pivots-introduction-with-star-wars-11204405) Pupil begin by doing a wordsearch. They then go over the equation for a moment. The using examples they calculate moments. Pupils then discuss how changing the distance an affect the moment. Pupils complete some calculations and then do an experiment using meter rulers and wooden triangles. Finally they do a challenge question.
Star Wars Science - Force Diagrams
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Star Wars Science - Force Diagrams

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This is for a low ability KS3 class, with a Star Wars theme. The pupils begin by discussing how they would show movement on a picture. They then try drawing some arrows on some scenarios. This is then extended by pupils calculating resultant forces of each scenario. Pupils then do the Forces Dance Mat, the Star Wars music for this is in the notes section of the dancing Darth Vadar. Finally, pupils tweet the Stormtroopers on how force diagrams work
Star Wars Science - Types of Forces
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Star Wars Science - Types of Forces

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This is a lesson for a low ability KS3 class. It has the theme of Star Wars. Pupils start with match some words with their definitions. There is then a circus activity where pupils go around a do small tasks to answer questions about different types of forces. Pupils then create a learning sheet for Luke Skywalker, so he can learn about 'The Force'. Finally pupils do a small literacy task as their exit ticket.
Frozen Science - State Changes
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Frozen Science - State Changes

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This is a Frozen themed lesson. It is for a low ability KS3 class. Pupils listen to Olaf's song from the film and you start a discussion on what Cristoff meant at the end of the song. As the song is on pupils can complete a match exercise. You then discuss the heating up on matter and what happens to Olaf. They can then complete the diagram. Pupils then watch the video and pupils complete the cooling down part of the diagram. There is a demo using a cloth and Malteasers to show how changes in energy changes they way the particles move. Pupils then complete a Olaf poster explaining what they have learned with diagrams. The exit ticket is then examples of each phase change.
Frozen Science - States of Matter
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Frozen Science - States of Matter

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This is a lesson with a Disney Frozen theme. The lesson is an introduction to the three states of matter. The lesson begins with pupils labeling what they think are solids, liquids and gases on a Frozen scene. They then listen to a song and are asked some questions based on it (the hyperlink for the song is in Elsa's speech bubble). Pupils then use a table to sort some objects, statements and diagrams into solids, liquids and gases. Pupils then do a series of experiments on custard (you want to make this with the consistency to be a non-Newtonian fluid). Finally, pupils write a conclusion about whether custard is a solid, liquid or gas based on their observations and what they have learned.
2 Year STEM/Science Club Plan Bundle
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2 Year STEM/Science Club Plan Bundle

3 Resources
Using both of these plans you can have a STEM Club on a two year rotation, assuming you run it for Year 7 and Year 8. Resources and links are all included. Also includes a trip plan for any clubs that do trips.
KS3 Science/STEM Club
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KS3 Science/STEM Club

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I have previously put up a scheme of learning for Science Clubs with themes, for the academic year of 2015-2016, https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks3-science-stem-club-11208097 As our Science Club runs over Year 7 and Year 8 a second scheme has now been written, so it can work on a two year rotation basis. The layout is slightly different, but has the same essential parts, with activities grouped into themes, which include: Dr Seuss and Oceanography
New AQA ELC and Combined: Trilogy
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New AQA ELC and Combined: Trilogy

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Have you got low ability pupils that you don't think will be able to cope with the intensity of next year of the AQA Combined Trilogy? Have you considered double entry? These planning resources show how you could teach the ELC content as well as meet the requirements for the Combined Trilogy so you can double enter your lower ability pupils. This way if they do not achieve in the Trilogy they can at least have an entry level certificate. These planning resources show how you would teach the Year 10 (Year 11 to follow) and how the TDAs of the ELC map with the Required Practicals of the Combined Trilogy. Hope this helps anyone who is concerned with their lower ability pupils next year.
Differentiating QWC Writing Frames Guide
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Differentiating QWC Writing Frames Guide

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Firstly, I would like to say thank you for purchasing or considering purchasing a QWC writing frame or bundle. I have found these an amazing resource, which if why I have made so many. But, how could they be differentiated? I know how tempting it can be to use these as a standalone task, and even stretch it out into a lesson. This document gives some ideas on how to differentiated for different classes as well as other activities you could do with the frames.
Distance - Time Graph
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Distance - Time Graph

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Used for a low ability GCSE class. Starts with watching a video of Usain Bolt and recording his time every 10m throughout his 100m run. Simple graph drawn from these results. Collective memory task Going through how to interpret a distance-time graph using the collective memory results. Quick discussion on how to calculate speed from distance - time graph Pupils them calculate speed at different points from their Usain Bolt graph. UPDATE: video was missing, it is now hyperlinked on the screenshot of the video
KS3 Science/STEM Club
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KS3 Science/STEM Club

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With a busy schedule sometimes it's hard to enjoy running a STEM Club if you have to think of tasks every week, especially towards the end of the year. Over the summer I created a scheme of work for your STEM Club. It was divided into themes, e.g. Superheroes and Fairy Tales. One and a half terms in, it seems to be working very well, for our KS3 and KS2 Science Clubs. Not all the resources are mine, but I've attached help sheets for some session. Most of the information is in the spread sheet outlining each session I hope you enjoy using this and it makes your life that little bit easier. For the Plastics Challenge information please go to http://practicalaction.org/plastics-challenge
Earthquakes in the Natural History Museum
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Earthquakes in the Natural History Museum

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This booklet was made for a KS3 trip to the Natural History Museum, London. The front of the booklet has a table indicating what the pupils are to take away from the trip (green = lower ability to blue = higher ability). The higher ability tasks include the entire booklet and blue boxes. I hope this helps anyone who is planning a trip but needs some resources to go with it. The answers can also be assessed (WWW/EBI) when you're back in school.
QWC Writing Frame with picture prompt - Ionising Radiation Risks
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QWC Writing Frame with picture prompt - Ionising Radiation Risks

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This writing frame is used to help pupils practice with their extended writing questions in Science. It uses smaller steps and leading questions for pupils to be able to answer the large question that they would see in the exam. The frame include keywords that the pupils should use in their answer and a picture in the center, either from the question itself or as a visual prompt. This is really useful for all pupils and ticks that literacy box!