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 lot of time and effort has gone into the design of this revision resource as it covers the very important Atoms, elements and compounds topic (C3) of the CIE IGCSE Combined Specification which will be examined in June and November 2020 and 2021. This topic tends to contribute a high volume of the questions in the examination papers as it contains fundamental understanding. The resource contains a detailed and engaging PowerPoint (87 slides) and associated worksheets, which have been differentiated to allow differing abilities the chance to complete the task. The range of activities that include exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions aim to cover as much of the content as possible but the following topics have received particular attention:
Metals vs non-metals
Using the proton and nucleon number to calculate the number of sub-atomic particles
Atoms vs ions
Drawing dot and cross diagrams for ionic compounds
The structure of an ionic compound and the relation to its properties
Drawing dot and cross diagrams for simple molecules
Understanding of the terms solution, solvent, solute and soluble
Throughout the lesson, links have been made to other modules (e.g. Electricity and chemistry) so that students can see how they will be expected to make these connections. The detail of this lesson means that it can be used a number of times and is ideal for revision during the learning of C3, at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or terminal exams.
This revision resource contains an engaging PowerPoint (44 slides) and associated worksheets, all of which have been differentiated two ways to allow students of differing abilities to access the work. The range of activities cover the content of Topic C11 (Air and water) of the CIE IGCSE Combined Science specification, for examination in June and November 2020 and 2021. The aim was to cover as much of the content as possible but the following topics have received particular attention:
The composition of clean air
Changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
The formation of carbon dioxide
Common air pollutants and their effects on health and structures
The treatment of water to make it safe
The chemical tests for water
A number of quiz competitions are included in the lesson such as “POLLUTE the air…with the answer” where students compete to be the first to identify a common pollutant from the clues. These competitions act to engage them whilst the exam questions and quick tasks will enable them to assess their understanding of the content.
This lesson describes meaning of the mole and shows how this measurement is used in a range of calculations. The clear lesson PowerPoint presentation and accompanying question worksheet have been designed to cover points 1.50 & 1.51 of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification and also covers those points in the Chemistry section of the Combined Science course. This lesson has been specifically written to explain the concept in a concise manner so that the key details are understood and embedded. Students are shown how to recognise when a mole calculation requires them to use Avogadro’s constant and when they should the formula including the relative formula mass.
A short, concise revision lesson 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 unit C10 (Using resources) of the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification (specification point C5.10). The lesson includes useful hints and tips to encourage success in assessments.
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Potable water
Waste water treatment
Alternative methods of extracting metals
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds including one called “It’s time for acTION” which requires students to work out a process (ending in -tion) from the provided definition
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 10 (Using resources) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification point C4.10). The lesson includes useful hints and tips to encourage success in assessments.
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Potable water
Waste water treatment
Alternative methods of extracting metals
Using materials
The Haber process
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds including one called “It’s time for acTION” which requires students to work out a process (ending in -tion) from the provided definition
This revision lesson has been designed to challenge the students on their use of a range of mathematical skills that could be assessed on the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science papers. The mathematical element of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course has increased significantly since the specification change and therefore success in those questions which involve the use of maths can prove to be the difference between one grade and another or possibly even more.
The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities that include exam-style questions with displayed mark schemes and explanations so that students can assess their progress. Other activities include differentiated tasks, class discussion points and quick quiz competitions such as “It doesn’t HURT to CONVERT”, “YOU DO THE MATH” and “FILL THE VOID”.
The following mathematical skills (in a scientific context) are covered in this lesson:
The use of Avogadro’s constant
Rearranging the formula of an equation
Calculating the amount in moles using mass and relative formula mass
Calculating the relative formula mass for formulae with brackets
Calculating the relative atomic mass using the mass and abundance of isotopes
Using the Periodic Table to calculate the number of sub-atomic particles in atoms
Changes to electrons in ions
Balancing chemical symbol equations
Empirical formula
Converting between units
Calculating concentration in grams per dm cubed and volumes of solutions
Calculating size using the magnification equation
Using the mean to estimate the population of a sessile species
Calculating percentages to prove the importance of biodiversity
Calculating percentage change
The BMI equation
Calculating the acceleration from a velocity-time graph
Recalling and applying the Physics equations
Understanding prefixes that determine size
Leaving answers to significant figures and using standard form
Helpful hints and step-by-step guides are used throughout the lesson to support the students and some of the worksheets are differentiated two ways to provide extra assistance.
Due to the detail of this lesson, it is estimated that it will take in excess of 3 hours of GCSE teaching time to cover the tasks and for this reason it can be used over a number of lessons as well as during different times of the year for revision.
This lesson describes the relationship between the structure and function of the giant covalent substances, graphite and diamond. The PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover points 1.35, 1.36 and 1.37 of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification also covers those same points in the Chemistry section of the Combined Science course
As shown in the picture, the lesson begins with a newspaper story about two prisoners who escaped from Pentonville prison by using a diamond-tipped drill and this immediately introduces the use of this allotrope of carbon in cutting tools. There is a clear focus on the link between the structure, bonding and respective uses. Time is taken to focus on the comparison between graphite and diamond in terms of their ability to conduct electricity. A step by step answer is used to explain why diamond cannot conduct electricity so that students can use this when forming their answer for graphite.
A fully resourced lesson that includes a lesson presentation (27 slides) and an accompanying worksheet that guides students through the topic of the electrolysis of solutions and enables them to state the products at the electrodes from these reactions. The lesson focuses on the rules at the cathode and then the anode and regular understanding checks are used to ensure that learning has occured.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds)
A fully-resourced lesson that looks at the meaning of the mole and shows how this measurement is used in calculations. The lesson includes a clear lesson presentation (32 slides) and a set of questions. This lesson has been written to explain in a concise manner so that the key details are understood and embedded. Students are shown how to recognise when a mole calculation requires them to use Avogadro’s constant and when they should the formula including the relative formula mass.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 -16 year olds in the UK)
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to allow students to assess their knowledge of the topic of electrolysis. This is a topic which is almost guaranteed to be on the GCSE paper every year and therefore a student’s ability to achieve good marks on this topic will have a big impact on their overall success. The lesson looks at the electrolysis of both molten salts and aqueous solutions and guides students through predicting the products at each of the electrodes as well as writing half equations to represent these reactions. Students will enjoy the range of activities including quiz rounds such as “Have you got the SOLUTION” whilst crucially being able to recognise the finer details of this topic which require their further attention before an end of topic assessment or the terminal GCSE exams.
This lesson explains how the complete combustion of hydrocarbons produces carbon dioxide and water and explains how write equations to represent these reactions. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources are part of the second lesson in a series of 2 which have been designed to cover the detail in point 7.1.3 of the AQA GCSE Chemistry & Combined Science specifications.
As shown in the cover picture, the lesson starts with a challenge where the students have to recognise the key term combustion from its suffix and a brief definition. Moving forwards, students will discover that the combustion of hydrocarbons releases energy and during this reaction, the carbon and hydrogen are oxidised. Time is taken to emphasise that sufficient oxygen needs to be present for complete combustion to occur and that if the supply is plentiful then carbon dioxide and water will be produced. The main part of the lesson uses a step by step guide to show students how to write word equations and balanced symbol equations for these reactions, before they are challenged to apply their understanding to write their own. All of the exam questions have mark schemes embedded into the PowerPoint to allow the students to self-assess. The final part of the lesson uses an internet article about carbon monoxide poisoning to introduce that this toxic gas can be produced when oxygen is insufficient.
This lesson describes the size and mass of atoms and describes the relative mass and electrical charge of the subatomic particles. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources are part of the first lesson in a series of 3 that has been designed to cover specification points 1.1.4 - 1.1.6 of the AQA GCSE Chemistry & Combined Science specifications.
The lesson begins by introducing giga as a prefix of size and this leads into a task where the students have to order the other prefixes from largest to smallest. This introduces the nanometre and students will learn the size of the radius of an atom is 0.1nm. Time is taken to compare this size against that of a football and a human egg cell to try to put this atom radius into context. Moving forwards, the term “subatomic particles” is introduced and the students are challenged to recall the names of the three types along with their location within the atom from their lessons on the development of the atomic model earlier in topic 1. They are told that most of atom’s mass is in the nucleus and therefore can work out the protons and neutrons have much higher relative masses than electrons. They will also learn the relative electrical charges of the particles and are challenged to use this to state the overall charge of an atom and the nucleus.
There is a considerable amount of Maths written into this lesson including the use of standard form and conversion between units and step by step guides are used to support the students with this work
This REVISION resource has been designed to motivate and engage students whilst they are challenged on their knowledge of the content in topics C6-C10 of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification which can be assessed on PAPER 2. This is fully-resourced and contains a detailed PowerPoint (146 slides) and accompanying worksheets, some of which have been differentiated.
The resource was written with the aim of covering as many of the sub-topics in C6-C10 as possible, but the following ones have been given a particular focus:
The general formulae of the alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids
Reversible reactions and equilibrium
Changing conditions and the position of equilibrium
The factors affecting the rate of reaction
Complete combustion of the alkanes and climate change
The changes in carbon dioxide levels over time
Addition and condensation polymers
Fractional distillation and the properties of the fractions
Analysis and interpreting chromatograms
Detecting cations
This lesson can be used in combination with the PAPER 1 REVISION resource that I have uploaded.
This detailed revision lesson challenges the students on their understanding of the reactions of acids with metals to produce salts and hydrogen. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources focus on the details of point 4.2.1 in the AQA GCSE chemistry and combined specifications, and time is spent reminding the students that these reactions are redox reactions.
The students are given the general word equation for acids reacting with metals and are challenged to recall how to name the salts according to the metal and acid involved in the reaction. They are reminded that redox reactions involve the loss and gain of electrons and are challenged to identify the substances which are reduced or oxidised in specific examples.
In addition to the reactions of acids with metals, this revision lesson also challenges them to write chemical formulae, balance symbol equations, and to identify the tests for gases.
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quiz tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 4 (Stoichiometry) of the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) specification. The lesson covers the content in both the core and supplement sections of the specification and therefore can be used with students who will be taking the extended papers as well as the core papers.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
CORE
Use the symbols of the elements and write the formulae of simple compounds
Construct word equations and simple balanced chemical equations
Define relative molecular mass, Mr, as the sum of the relative atomic masses
SUPPLEMENT
Determine the formula of an ionic compound from the charges on the ions present
Construct equations with state symbols
Define the mole and the Avogadro constant
Use the molar gas volume, taken as 24 dm3 at room temperature and pressure
Calculate stoichiometric reacting masses, volumes of gases and solutions, and concentrations of solutions expressed in mol / dm3.
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “In the BALANCE” where they have to compete to be the 1st to balance an equation and recognise the number of moles involved 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 fun, engaging and detailed lesson presentation (29 slides) on the properties of metals and non-metals. This lesson focuses on the key properties and their key terms such as malleable and ductile. A number of quick competitions are used to introduce these terms to the students and once provided with the definitions, the students are expected to put these properties correctly with the metals (or non-metals). Progress checks occur throughout the lesson so that the understanding of the students can be checked.
This lesson is designed for both KS3 and GCSE students.
A quick, concise lesson presentation (15 slides) which together with a question worksheet focuses on ensuring that students can define an isotope and pick these substances out from a selection of substances. The lesson begins by looking at the number of sub-atomic particles in an aluminium atom so that students can recall what is shown by the atomic and mass numbers. This will enable students to calculate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in three given isotopes and as a result, complete a definition of these substances. The remainder of this short lesson involves 4 application questions where students either have to recognise isotopes from a table or from a diagram and also are asked to write out the formula of an isotope. Ideally this lesson will be taught in conjunction with a lesson on atomic structure.
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 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.