Introduction to plant organ systems, with a mixed ability year 9 class.

Year 7 - Topic on Space Lesson to follow the concept of applying to be an astronaut. Big focus on the skills which might be required. In small groups, students consider the profiles of different applicants, and come to a decision as to who they would hire (imagine they are working for NASA). What sort of experience and key skills are they looking for, and why? How might hobbies link to this? Focus: justifying and supporting ideas. Next students collect information on how astronauts live and survive in space. Information cards spread around the room, and there is also a video link (Kevin Fong RI Xmas Lecture). My school has iPads for research, but textbooks could also be used. Homework: choice of tasks. Students to fill in NASA application form, or to create a space survival guide for new astronauts.

Used with a high ability year 12 group as part of the mass transport topic. Used the 'Grilled Cheese' font, so titles may need changing if you do not have this font on your computer.

Designed for high ability year 8s - in small groups, pupils use the provided information to plan a mini 'lesson' on their allocated deficiency. One pupils stays at their station to teach others - the rest move around the room, learning about the other deficiencies. They then return to their group, and teach their presenter about what they have learnt. Move on to look at BMIs, with some celeb data. Pupils are prompted to consider how this may not be a reliable measure of health. e.g. rugby player categorised as obese.

Used with high ability iGCSE Chemistry class. Notes on Diamond, Graphite (and Buckminster Fullerene) and Silicon dioxide. Students highlight and annotate this whilst looking at models of these structures and discussing them as a class. Use the information sheet as a comprehension activity by setting key questions [e.g. why does graphite conduct electricity but diamond does not?]

KS3 Density - could be used with lower ability KS4

A mock paper which I have put together for our year 13 students - taking questions from a variety of years and syllabuses to avoid the usual learning of mark schemes which I tend to encounter!!

Could be used with Year 10/11. Was formally observed, and graded OUTSTANDING. Interactive activities with one student from each group having to memorise a diagram of metallic structure and then describe it to their group. Plenary activity to revise covalent bonding before their test. Molecules can be changed to make this lesson suitable for less able groups. Students thoroughly enjoyed the lesson.

Lesson designed for KS3 to creatively approach the topic of the tilt of Earth's axis and the seasons. Using hibernation and migration to explore these concepts. Students start by watching short clip (John Lewis Bear and the Hare) Research activity on the seasons and hibernation Choice of task: produce a documentary on the tilt of the axis OR to imagine a world without seasons (choose how to present this). Lower ability could make a model to demonstrate how the tilt affects the seasons. Taboo plenary For use over several lessons to enable students to explore this area fully. Fun and interactive!!! (and highlighting the hedgehog which is in huge decline in this country)

A topic I looked at with my form over two tutorial sessions. The first session, discussing what a dilemma is and allowing them to look through the scenario cards in pairs and discussing the issues, before sharing ideas as a class. The second session allowed individuals to respond more personally, recording their ideas on the worksheet. Extension to get them to link this to everyday life - what are the big moral dilemmas facing society? Session used to tie in with bullying and 'snitch' issues within this year group. To get them to think more closely about their actions and their implications and to develop decision-making skills.

Lesson designed for high ability class - but could be adapted to suit any needs. - Began lesson with recap to previous learning relating to the nervous system. - Assess prior knowledge using laminated structure labels and A3 eye diagram. - Students move around the room using the table, and assorted sheets to collect information. - Use this information to reorder their labelled diagram, now they have a enhanced understanding. - Discussion regarding perception of colour - Plenary ('To the left'): books closed, each group gets a new diagram. In silence, one person in the group labels a structure, and passes it to the left, and so on. pupils may amend each others' answers, but this is a silent activity to check understanding.

Used with year 12 class to introduce ATP. Alongside questions from AQA online resource Kerboodle.

Used with high ability year 8 class, following a lesson on sexual and asexual reproduction. I chose to laminate the info sheets for use with several groups and to save future spending on photocopying! Would work really well in a school with iPads/class IT access so they could do their own research or as an extension find out about another animal.

Powerpoint and Comprehension activity used with a high ability year 11 class.

Year 9 - iGCSE Biology, higher ability. Lesson on human populations and limiting factors which affect population growth. Cover bacterial sigmoid curve (to be printed for students). I used an old sheet of exam questions (not uploaded) to test their understanding of growth curves. Next lesson: to look at population pyramids.

Lesson to a mixed ability year 7 group, 100 minute session but could be adjusted. Market place activity, using differentiated booklets. AfL Dice game. Followed by more ethics based activities, looking at how doctors can make the decision of who receives a donor organ. Developing higher order thinking skills (Bloom's) by ranking and justifying ideas. Donor cards to be printed, and used as exit pass for 3-2-1 plenary.

Activity designed for my year 8 form but could be used with any age group. Pupils are asked to write themselves a letter which they will revisit at the end of the year. Prompt questions are listed, in this case looking at the transition from year 7 to year 8 (many in my form have already struggled in this step up). Personal reflection time to consider how they have developed so far and what they hope to achieve in the year + steps to make such goals achievable. Pupils really enjoyed doing this and took the activity very seriously! Looking forward to them reading over their letters at the end of the year. Have also adapted the resource for my subject area (Science) - v easy to do. e.g. what was science like in year x? What are you looking forward to in science this year? What is making you feel apprehensive? etc.

Activity I used with my high ability year 10 class - trying to encourage them to think about skill development, rather than simple knowledge acquisition. Used an intro to highlight why metacognition and self-assessment are important parts of learning. Students then used a sheet to write down their learning high points and improvement points for these topics. Then looked back through the end of unit test and formative comments in their books - made improvements/corrections to their work and noted these down in steps taken. Sheet glued in for me then to respond to, giving them targets for the next topic, as well as effort and test grading.

Used with a highly able year 12 class.

Used as a 'Christmas' fun lesson with year 10, who had previosuly been studying the nervous system.