I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I mainly teach Biology and Chemistry and 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 the following curriculums:
- KS3 Activate
- AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry)
- AQA GCSE Biology
- AQA GCSE Chemistry
- OCR A, A Level Biology
I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I mainly teach Biology and Chemistry and 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 the following curriculums:
- KS3 Activate
- AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry)
- AQA GCSE Biology
- AQA GCSE Chemistry
- OCR A, A Level Biology
A full 1-hour lesson resource designed for a mid-ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science curriculum.
This resource focuses on introducing enzymes, specifically on the action of enzymes and lock and key theory.
This resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ retrieval-style starter
A lesson hook
An introduction task on what an enzyme is
Teacher input slides on enzyme action (active site, substrate, product)
Multiple choice hand signal quizzes
Student independent task, drawing and labelling enzyme-substrate complex (with answer slide)
Teacher model slides, naming the enzyme, substrate and product
Student independent task naming enzyme, substrates and products (with answer slide)
Guided class discussion about locks and keys, how they work
Teacher input slides on the lock and key theory, with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Guided class discussion, applying lock and key theory as to why protease can’t be used to break down starch
Student independent practice on lock and key theory (with optional scaffold, and answer slide)
Written plenary
A full 1 hour PowerPoint lesson designed for a lower ability year 11 class.
This lesson covers the four main factors affecting rate of reaction, based on the AQA Combined Science syllabus. Also suitable for AQA Chemistry.
This lesson includes:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction slides, with dual coding/diagrams and reduced cognitive load
Guided classroom discussions
Useful teacher-led models
independent tasks with scaffolding, and answer slides
Guided exam questions with scaffolding, and answer slides
A written plenary
This is a full 1 hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Biology syllabus.
This lesson covers the definition of a species, and the theory of speciation.
This lesson PowerPoint contains:
A “5-in-5” retrieval-style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction slides (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
An embedded youtube video on speciation
Guided class discussions
Regular checks for understanding (hand signals, true/false quizzes etc.)
A guided teacher model of the theory of speciation
An independent task for students (cut and stick flow chart / story board on speciation)
An exam question with mark scheme included
Worksheets included for the flow chart and exam question.
This lesson was designed for a higher ability year 11 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus, Biology.
This lesson teaches students how to calculate surface area to volume ratio in simple steps, then links this to exchange surfaces / the size of organisms.
This resource includes:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Retrieval practice
Direct instruction slides (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
Guided ‘worked examples’ (teacher models)
Regular checks for understanding (quizzes)
Guided ‘turn and talk’
Independent practice tasks, with answer slides
Exam questions with scaffolds provided and answer slides
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school
A slide on expectations in science lessons
An activity spotting lab safety issues from an image, with answers (can be printed if preferred)
An embedded music video
An introduction into hazard symbols
A hand signal quiz on hazard symbols
An independent task on hazard symbols, with answer slide
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, measuring, Bunsen burners, writing methods
A lesson hook - activity where students try to remember information from a chunk of text compared to information from a table
Direct instruction on how to draw a table
A worked example for drawing a results table
A ‘spot the mistake’ task - students find the errors in various results tables
Independent tasks with answers - students draw their own results tables
A written plenary task
Final lesson designed for a year 7 class on an ‘introduction to science’ unit.
Students bring together everything they have learned to design their own investigation on how the volume of water affects how long it takes to boil.
The PowerPoint is fully guided with answers and requires students to:
Write an aim and prediction for their investigation
List the apparatus they will need, and draw their 2D diagrams
Write a method for their investigation
Design their own results table for their investigation
Draw a line graph from model results
A full lesson on bacterial diseases designed for a mixed ability year 9 class doing the AQA GCSE Biology specification.
This lesson contains:
A 5 in 5 style retrieval starter
An introduction into pathogens - what they are, the four types
A video on salmonella
A true or false quiz on salmonella
An open written task on salmonella with peer assessment
Direct instruction slides on gonorrhoea
Lightning cold call questions on gonorrhoea
An open task to design a fact sheet on gonorrhoea for a doctor’s office
Guided self assessment
A plenary task
A lesson on peat bogs based on the AQA GCSE Biology syllabus.
The lesson resource contains:
A “5 in 5” style starter
An interesting lesson hook
Direct instruction on peat bogs as carbon sinks
An embedded video from a news report on the destruction of peat
Reading comprehension task: A link to an online article with beautiful illustrations, and a printed copy of the text from this link that students can follow along with
A hand signal quiz to check for understanding
Exam style questions with mark schemes
A ‘write to your local MP’ task, with guided peer assessment
A plenary task ‘Give me 5’
This lesson was designed for a lower ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification.
This lesson covers:
What is variation?
What is the difference between continuous and discontinuous variation?
What are examples of continuous and discontinuous variation?
Which examples of variation are controlled by genetic or environmental factors?
This is a full 1 hour lesson resource which contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction slides (low cognitive load, dual coding)
Guided student discussions
Teacher models
Frequent checkpoints (quizzes, multiple choice hand signals)
A Venn diagram with answers
Written student responses
Modeled answers
A student group activity
A written plenary task
A full 1-hour lesson resource designed for a mixed ability year 9 class studying the AQA GCSE Biology topic “Ecosystems”.
This lesson focuses on levels of organisation in an ecosystem.
This resource contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
A turn and talk task, with answer slide
Introduction slides on levels of organisation (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
Checkpoints - Short written tasks in book to maintain engagement
Hand signal quizzes to check understanding (with answer slides)
Written task - matching key vocab to definitions (with answer slides)
Class discussion - link to levels of organisation in an organism
Embedded YouTube video from Amoeba sisters
Whiteboard quiz, with answer slides
Written plenary task
A full 1-hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Chemistry topic “Electrolysis”.
This lesson focuses on the electrolysis of molten ionic compounds, with a specific focus on predicting the products at each electrode. OIL RIG (oxidation and reduction) is discussed in regards to the reactions at each electrode.
This lesson contains:
A ‘5-in-5’ retrieval-style starter
A retrieval practice (class discussion on ion formation)
A brief recap on the process of electrolysis
Guided teacher model practising naming the products at each electrode
Hand signal quizzes with answers to check for student understanding
A table for students to copy and complete, predicting products at each electrode
Answer slide
Slides explaining OIL RIG
Flow chart for students to complete, with answer slide
Printable exam questions from ExamPro for students to practise, with answer slides
Written plenary
A full 1-hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 9 class studying the AQA GCSE Biology topic “Ecosystems”.
This lesson covers interdependence in communities, stable communities and competition.
This full 1-hour lesson resource contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
An embedded YouTube video as a lesson hook
Introduction slides on interdependence (reduced cognitive load, dual coding)
Teacher model slides on interdependence in food webs
A ‘thumbs up, thumbs down’ hand signals quiz, with answers
An exam question for students to practice, with answer slides
Introduction slides on competition, with pictures
An embedded YouTube video on competition in plants
A written recall task with answer slides on competition
A guided ‘turn and talk’
A written exam question on competition, with answer slides
Introduction slides on stable communities
Exam question with answer slides on stable communities
Plenary - written exam question
This lesson was designed for a higher ability year 11 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This lesson is an overview of the three types of cell transport, and uses movement of substances across a root hair cell as a specific example.
This resource includes:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Direct instruction slides (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
Regular checks for understanding (quizzes)
Guided ‘turn and talk’
Independent practice tasks, with answer slides
Exam questions with scaffolds provided and answer slides
A written plenary task
This lesson was designed for a higher ability year 11 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This lesson covers the three main factors affecting the rate of diffusion (temperature, surface area and concentration gradient). It includes a practical investigating temperature on the rate of diffusion in potassium permanganate crystals. Equipment list and method included on the slides.
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Direct instruction slides (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
Regular checks for understanding (quizzes)
Guided ‘turn and talk’
A class practical
Independent practice tasks, with answer slides
A written plenary task
This lesson was designed for a higher ability year 11 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This lesson is an overview of the three types of cell transport, and uses movement of substances across a root hair cell as a specific example.
This resource includes:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Direct instruction slides (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
Regular checks for understanding (quizzes)
Guided ‘turn and talk’
Independent practice tasks, with answer slides
Exam questions with scaffolds provided and answer slides
A written plenary task
This lesson was designed for a higher ability year 11 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This lesson is an overview of active transport, also discussing adaptations of the intestinal epithelial cells.
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Direct instruction slides (dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
Regular checks for understanding (quizzes)
Guided ‘turn and talk’
Independent practice tasks, with answer slides
Exam questions with scaffolds provided and answer slides
A game ‘Articulate’
A written plenary task
A full one hour lesson for a Year 13 class studying A Level Biology with the OCR A syllabus.
This resource comes with a full PowerPoint and three worksheets.
This resource contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
A retrieval practice (labelling structures in the heart)
A lesson hook
Direct instruction slides (dual coding, low cognitive load)
Check for understanding slides (hand signal, multiple choice questions)
Teacher model talking through negative feedback loop
Guided class discussions
Independent practice slides (exam questions) with answer slides / mark schemes
Plenary whiteboard quiz with answers
A knowledge organiser / revision poster on the AQA GCSE Chemistry topic ‘electrolysis’.
The knowledge organiser covers the key information on the following:
The process of electrolysis
Oxidation and reduction
Electrolysis of aqueous solutions
Extraction of aluminium using electrolysis
Required practical on electrolysis
Half equations in electrolysis
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 7 class introducing them to acids and alkalis.
This is an introduction lesson to “Chapter 4 - Acids and Alkalis” from Activate 1, Chemistry.
This lesson should be suitable to teach to any KS3 Chemistry class, even by those where Chemistry is not their specialism.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Know that alkalis are the chemical opposites of acids
Give examples of common acidic and alkaline solutions
Describe the hazards of using acids and alkalis
State how to control the risks of using acids and alkalis
Compare concentrated and dilute solutions
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