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.
A practical based lesson presentation (26 slides) that investigates how increasing the temperature affects the rate of reaction and helps students to explain the trend in the results. Students can either carry out the reaction between sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid or use the results which are provided. The equation to work out the rate of reaction is introduced to the students and they are challenged to plot the results on a line graph. A key term to be used in the explanation is introduced through a quick competition and then students are challenged to explain the trend
This lesson is fully-resourced, engaging and detailed and explains how the Contact process is one of the 3 steps involved in making sulfuric acid. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources, which are differentiated, have been written to cover point C6.1(d) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Chemistry specification.
The lesson begins with a challenge where students have to use the 1st letters of the answers to questions on previously covered topics to come up with the word CONTACT. At this point, the students are introduced to the contact process as the 2nd step in a 3 stage process to make sulfuric acid. The lesson goes through the details of each of the 3 steps but particular time is spent exploring the conditions needed for the contact process in step 2. Students are continuously tested on their knowledge of reversible reactions and the key concepts to do with equilibrium position and equilibrium yield are explained so they can understand how the conditions of 2 atmospheres and 450 degrees celsius are chosen. Again through a prior knowledge check of empirical formula, the students will be introduced to vanadium oxide as the catalyst. As well as exam-style questions with displayed answers to check on current understanding, there are discussion points as well as quick quiz competitions to introduce key terms and values in a memorable way.
This lesson describes how the chemical formula of an ionic compound can be deduced using the formulae of the constituent ions. The PowerPoint and accompanying worksheet have been designed to cover point 1.26 of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification and also cover the same point in the Chemistry section of the Combined Science course.
This lesson builds on the knowledge acquired in previous lessons when students learnt how to identify the charge of an ion based on the group of the atom. A step by step guide is used to show them how the transfer method can be used to write the formulae for compounds including halides and oxides. Time is taken to introduce the formulae for sulphate, carbonate, hydroxide and nitrate ions and the students are shown how brackets may be needed when writing formulae for compounds containing these ions. Understanding checks in the form of questions and quiz competitions are used to allow the students to assess their progress
This lesson explains the properties of the fullerenes and focuses on graphene in terms of its structure and bonding. The PowerPoint and the accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 1.38 of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification and also covers that same point on the Combined Science course.
The lesson begins by recalling the definition of an allotrope. The students are then introduced to graphene and will begin to understand how this covalent structure is related to graphite and will know the shared properties of these two materials. Time is taken to ensure that students can explain why graphene is able to conduct electricity. Moving forwards, students will meet the family of allotropes known as the fullerenes and will learn some important details about a few of these including C60
A fully resourced lesson, which includes an informative lesson presentation (22 slides) and differentiated worksheets that guide students through the topic of balancing symbol equations. The lesson takes the students through the steps involved and begins by getting them to be able to recognise when an equation is balanced or not. The difficulty of the equations to be balanced increases as the lesson progresses and students are given helpful hints to aid their progress.
This lesson is suitable for both KS3 and GCSE students
A detailed lesson which includes a lesson presentation (52 slides) and an associated worksheet that goes through the basis of electrolysis and then focuses on the examples when the electrolyte is a molten salt. The lesson has been designed to move in small steps with regular progress checks so that key details are fully understood. It begins by ensuring that students understand which ions are attracted to which electrode. The lesson then looks at how electrons are either gained or lost at the electrodes and this is related to redox reactions as well. Helpful hints and exam question tips are given throughout to aid students with this commonly assessed topic.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but could be used with both older and younger students
This is a fully-resourced lesson which looks at the properties of group 0 of the Periodic Table, the Noble Gases, and includes a lesson presentation (29 slides) and an associated worksheet. The lesson uses a range of engaging quiz competitions to enable the students to understand why these elements do not react. Other properties such as their boiling points are explored and there is continual reference to the other groups of elements so that students can make clear comparisons.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK), but it is also suitable for younger students who might be carrying out a project on the Periodic Table
A detailed lesson which uses a step by step guide to take students through titration calculations. The lesson begins by looking at jey terminology such as the “rough” and “titre”, which are discussed and explained so that there isnt any confusion. Time is taken to go over key steps in the method, such as using the molar ratio from the equation, so that students are prepared for these if they encounter in an assessment.
This lesson has been designed primarily for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but is suitable for older students covering this at A-level
A fully-resourced lesson that looks at a number of the allotropes of carbon which need to be known for GCSE Science. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (40 slides) and associated worksheets. The lesson begins by recalling the definition of an allotrope. Students are then introduced to graphene and will understand how this is related to graphite and know the properties of these two materials that are shared. Time is taken to ensure that students can explain why graphene is able to conduct electricity. Moving forwards, students will meet the family of allotropes known as the fullerenes and will see some important details about a few of these.
This lesson has been written for students studying GCSE (14 - 16 year olds in the UK).
A fully-resourced lesson which looks at the chemical reaction that is aerobic respiration and ensures that students can apply their knowledge to application questions which challenge them to make links to related topics. The lesson includes a practical-based lesson presentation (19 slides) and associated worksheets containing differentiated questions.
The aim of the beginning of the lesson involves getting students to understand the term, concentration, so that they are able to use it accurately in their descriptions. This is a term which is commonly wrongly used by students. Moving forwards, students will carry out a practical to collect valid results so that they can apply their knowledge of concentration to explain a trend. Certain practical skills are challenged during the lesson such as the drawing of a results table to display the results. A worksheet containing questions on the practical is differentiated so that students who need assistance are still able to access the learning.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students but can be used with KS3 students who are learning about chemical reactions.
This bundle of 7 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C1b (Elements, compounds and mixtures) of the Edexcel iGCSE Chemistry specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Understand how to classify a substance as an element, compound and mixture
Understand that a pure substance has a fixed melting and boiling point
Separating mixtures by simple distillation
Separating mixtures by fractional distillation
Separating mixtures by filtration and crystallisation
Separating mixtures by paper chromatography
Interpreting and analysing chromatograms
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 engaging and motivating lesson presentations and associated worksheets uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to test the students on their knowledge of the key topics of the Chemistry modules of OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The knowledge of the following modules can be assessed using these lessons:
C1: Particles
C2: Elements, compounds and mixtures
C3: Chemical reactions
C4: Predicting and identifying reactions and products
C5: Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions
C6: Global challenges
A fun and engaging lesson presentation (74 slides) and accompanying differentiated worksheets that uses exam questions with displayed mark schemes and competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of Module C4 (Predicting and identifying reactions and products). The following topics within the combined Science specification are covered by the tasks:
C4.1 Predicting chemical reactions
Group 1 - the alkali metals
Group 7 - the halogens
Halogen displacement reactions
Group 0 - the noble gases
Reactivity of elements
C4.2 Identifying the products of chemical reactions
Detecting gases
Students will be able to use the understanding checks to see which areas of the specification need more attention
This bundle of 6 engaging and motivating lesson presentations and associated worksheets uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to test the students on their knowledge of the key topics of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Chemistry specification. The knowledge of the following modules can be assessed using these lessons:
C1: Particles
C2: Elements, compounds and mixtures
C3: Chemical reactions
C4: Predicting and identifying reactions and products
C5: Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions
C6: Global challenges
An engaging lesson presentation (67 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within TOPIC 7 (Organic chemistry) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification point C4.7)
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes
Fractional distillation and petrochemicals
Properties of hydrocarbons
Cracking and alkenes
Alkenes
Alcohols
Carboxcylic acids
Addition polymerisation
Condensation polymerisation
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “What FRACTION of this is correct” and “Are you on FORM” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
An engaging lesson presentation (54 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within unit C8 (Chemical analysis) of the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification (specification point C5.8)
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Pure substances
Chromatography
Identification of common gases
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “Take the CHROMATOGRAPHY hotseat” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
This bundle of 5 revision lessons covers the content which is found in Topics 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification and therefore can be assessed on Paper 2 in the terminal exams.
Topic 1: Key concepts in Chemistry
Topic 6: Groups in the Periodic Table
Topic 7: Rates of reaction and energy changes
Topic 8: Fuels and Earth Science
Topic 9: Separate Chemistry
The lessons uses a range of activities which include exam questions with fully explained answers, differentiated tasks and engaging quiz competitions to enable the students to assess their understanding of the different topics and crucially to recognise those areas which need further attention.
This revision lesson contains a motivating and engaging powerpoint (67 slides) and associated worksheets which have been designed to challenge student knowledge of the Periodic Table. The lesson involves a wide range of activities which include exam questions with clear answers to allow students to self-assess, quiz competitions and differentiated tasks. The students will enjoy the transitions between the different activities whilst crucially being able to evaluate their understanding of this key topic in Chemistry. Deliberately, the lesson hasn’t been written for any particular exam board or exclusively for Combined Science or Chemistry, but instead it covers the topics which are shown below and this will allow teachers to pick and choose which parts they want to do in a particular lesson.
Properties of the alkali metals (group I)
Properties of the halogens (group VII)
Properties of the noble gases (group 0)
Formation of ionic compounds between group I and VII elements
Reactivity of the alkali metals and the halogens
Displacement reactions of the halogens
The transition elements
Organisation of the Periodic Table
Predicting properties of the unknown or rare elements
As the title suggests, the content of this lesson has been written to be GCSE standard and therefore is most suitable for use with 14 - 16 year olds. However, it could be used with younger students who are doing work on the topic and want to challenge themselves
This revision resource has been designed to include a range of activities that will engage the students whilst they assess their understanding of the content of topic C2 (Experimental techniques) of the CIE IGCSE Combined Science specification for examination in June and November 2020 and 2021. Exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions such as “SEPARATE the FACT from the FICTION” will challenge the students on their recall of the content as well as their ability to apply this knowledge.
The lesson was written to cover as much of the content as possible, but the following topics have received particular attention:
• Simple distillation and fractional distillation
Choosing appropriate apparatus
Experimental and investigational skills
Crystallisation and filtration
Paper chromatography
Calculating the retention factor
This resource contains an engaging PowerPoint (45 slides) and associated worksheets and is ideal for use at the end of this topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual terminal exams
This is a fully-resourced lesson which uses exam-style questions, quiz competitions, quick tasks and discussion points to challenge students on their understanding of the content in topics C1 - C4, that will assessed on PAPER 3. It has been specifically designed for students on the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course who will be taking the FOUNDATION TIER examinations but is also suitable for students taking the higher tier who need to ensure that the fundamentals are known and understood.
The lesson has been written to cover as many sub-topics as possible, but the following have been given particular attention:
The relative mass and charge of protons, electrons and neutrons
Using the Periodic table to calculate numbers of the sub-atomic particles
Writing elements and compounds in chemical symbol equations
Simple and giant covalent structures
Explaining the difference in conductivity of graphite and diamond
Drawing dot and cross diagrams for ionic compounds
The transfer of electrons during the formation of an ionic bond
Writing chemical formulae for ionic compounds
Conservation of mass and balancing symbol equations
Calculating the relative formula mass
Electrolysis of molten salts and aqueous solutions
Extraction of metals
In order to maintain challenge whilst ensuring that all abilities can access the questions, the majority of the tasks have been differentiated and students can ask for extra support when they are unable to begin a question. Step-by-step guides have also been written into the lesson to walk students through some of the more difficult concepts such as drawing dot and cross diagrams, diamond and graphite and writing chemical formulae.
Due to the extensiveness of this revision lesson, it is estimated that it will take in excess of 3/4 teaching hours to complete the tasks and therefore this can be used at different points throughout the duration of the course as well as acting as a final revision before the PAPER 3 exam.