I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13. I teach KS3 Activate (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry), AQA GCSE Biology, AQA GCSE Chemistry, and A Level Biology (OCR A).
I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13. I teach KS3 Activate (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry), AQA GCSE Biology, AQA GCSE Chemistry, and A Level Biology (OCR A).
A full 1-hour lesson resource designed for a mixed ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Chemistry topic on “electrolysis”.
This lesson focuses on the extraction of aluminium from its ore using molten cryolite.
This resource contains:
A ‘5-in-5’ retrieval-style starter
A lesson hook - how many ways have you used aluminium this week?
Introduction slides (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
Embedded YouTube video
Written multiple choice quiz based on the video, with answers
‘Speed exam questions’ - short answer questions from ExamPro with answers
Written exam questions for students to practise, with scaffolding if necessary
Answer slides
Game of splat as plenary task - practising key words
A full 1 hour PowerPoint lesson on the structure of mammalian muscle, as well as the process of muscle contraction.
This lesson contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
A retrieval practice task on the types of muscle
Direct instruction slides, dual coding with reduced cognitive load
Guided class discussions
Frequent checks for understanding
Guided independent tasks with answer slides
Embedded exam questions with answer slides
A 10-question plenary quiz (either written or whiteboard), with answer slides
This is a 1 hour lesson resource designed for a lower ability year 11 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science Biology topic ‘Homeostasis’.
This lesson focuses on the structure of the nervous system:
Nerves vs. neurones
The function of a neurone
Central nervous system and peripheral nervous system
Labelling a neurone
Stimulus, receptor, effector, response
My lesson resources are always designed to contain the following:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
From topic 2.1.4 Enzymes, spec points:
a) the role of enzymes in catalysing reactions that affect metabolism at a cellular and whole organism level
b) the role of enzymes in catalysing both intracellular and extracellular reactions, with catalase and amylase as examples
My lesson resources always contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
From topic 2.1.4 Enzymes, spec point:
c) The mechanism of enzyme action.
To include the tertiary structure, specificity, active site, lock and key hypothesis, induced-fit hypothesis, enzyme-substrate complex, enzymeproduct complex, product formation and lowering of activation energy.
My lesson resources always contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
A complete topic, containing six full 1-hour lessons based on the OCR A Biology specification.
These lessons cover the unit 2.1.4 Enzymes (not the PAGs, only theory lessons).
The lessons should be delivered in this order:
Role of enzymes
Mechanism of enzyme action
Effect of temperature / pH on enzyme activity
Effect of substrate concentration on enzyme activity
Coenzymes, cofactors and inhibitors
End-product-inhibition
All of the lesson resources in this bundle contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
From topic 2.1.4 Enzymes, spec point:
(f) the effects of inhibitors on the rate of enzyme-controlled reactions, “the role of end-product inhibition.”
My lesson resources always contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
From topic 2.1.4 Enzymes, spec points:
(e) the need for coenzymes and cofactors in some enzyme-controlled reactions
(f) the effects of inhibitors on the rate of enzyme-controlled reactions.
My lesson resources always contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
Tes paid licence
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on using a light microscope.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Label a light microscope (eyepiece lens, objective lenses, fine focus knob, coarse focus knob, stage)
Use a light microscope to view prepared slides
Describe how to increase the resolution and magnification of an image using a light microscope
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on the structure of animal cells.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Label an animal cell (cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria, nucleus)
Describe the function of each of the above organelles
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on specialised animal cells.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Identify four specialised animal cells from diagrams (red blood cell, sperm cell, egg cell, nerve cell)
Describe the function of four specialised animal cells (red blood cell, sperm cell, egg cell, nerve cell)
Describe the basic adaptations of two specialised animal cells, and link their adaptations to their functions (red blood cell and sperm cell)
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on unicellular organisms.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Name two unicellular organisms (amoeba and euglena)
Describe the basic structures found in unicellular organisms (amoeba and euglena) and their functions
Compare the structures of euglena to the structures found in animal cells and plant cells
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a mixed ability year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on the male reproductive system.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Label the male reproductive system using the correct key terminology
Describe the role of each of the male sex organs
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on fertilisation and implantation.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Describe the process of fertilisation
Describe what happens during sexual intercourse
Describe the process of implantation
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on the female reproductive system.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Label the female reproductive system
Describe the function of each of the organs in the female reproductive system
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on the development of a foetus / fetus during pregnancy, and childbirth.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Label the placenta, umbilical cord and fluid sac on a diagram
Describe the roles of the placenta, umbilical cord and fluid sac
Describe the main stages of childbirth
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a mixed ability year 9 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy specification, at the start of the topic ‘Quantitative Chemistry’.
This lesson is focused on calculating relative formula mass.
From this lesson, students should be able to independently calculate relative formula mass.
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This lesson is designed for a year 7 class studying the KS3 Activate curriculum.
This lesson is focused on the menstrual cycle.
From this lesson, students should be able to describe the main changes that occur during the menstrual cycle, mostly linked to the thickness of the uterine lining.
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 8 class.
This is the 7th lesson in “Chapter 1 - Health and Lifestyle” from Activate 2, Biology.
This lesson should be suitable to teach to any KS3 Biology class, even by those where Biology is not their specialism.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Define the term ‘drug’
Describe the difference between medicinal drugs and recreational drugs
Name some examples of illegal drugs
Describe the effects of recreational drugs on the body
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 8 class.
This is the 4th lesson in “Chapter 1 - Electricity and Magnetism” from Activate 2, Physics.
This lesson should be suitable to teach to any KS3 Physics class, even by those where physics is not their specialism.
This lesson contains
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Define the term ‘potential difference’
Describe how to measure potential difference in a circuit
Recall that voltmeters must be connected to a circuit ‘in parallel’
Draw circuit diagrams and build circuits where a voltmeter is connected in parallel across a component
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task