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.
30 minute discussion based activity with my form group looking at the current clown craze, and discussing the possible implications of this.
Generated much discussion. Led to looking at 'what makes a good news story'. Whilst this alongside Kim K being robber, and Brangelina breaking up, 7 species of bees have become endangered. Excellent talking point.
Discussion used with my form group - links to wider conversation regarding footballers returning to the game after a crime (cases of death by dangerous driving, and outcry regarding footballers being signed after their prison sentence). Worked well with the boys in my class.
Used with high ability year 10 class.
Work through SOLO levels of understanding. Accompanied by AQA textbook, but any would do/could be shown in lesson with students later demonstrating their understanding.
Used with a high ability year 9 class, following lessons on diffusion and osmosis.
You may need to save gif of man rolling down hill (link to diffusion) and have used the font grilled cheese (may need reformatting if you don't have the font installed)
Used with a high ability year 9 class to introduce osmosis.
- I use the font grilled cheese, which I have downloaded onto my computer. You may need to reformat the font if you have not got this downloaded yourself.
Lesson used with a high ability year 7 class. Was used over several sessions.
Covers:
- What are asteroids?
- How the moon was formed.
- Who would you take with you to a new planet if an asteroid was to hit Earth? (profession cards in ppt, I printed these on card and gave them to each group to rank in order of importance)
Short intro with PowerPoint presentation.
Students given SOLO sheet to work through, with support from new AQA textbook. Enables pupils to develop their understanding at their appropriate level of learning, meaning some will progress through the sheet further than others.
PowerPoint used with my year 12s, who were preparing to go into local primary schools to teach science lessons. Based on principles from my training year, so could be used as an intro to trainee teachers.
Covers - questioning, learning styles, AfL
Resource used for a cover lesson on Space with my high ability year 7 class - could be adapted for different age groups or used as part of an extended project.
Lesson used with a high ability year 7 class.
Purpose to get them focus on the skills required to be an astronaut and to consider how they are developing these skills in their own learning.
Followed with a letter of application to join the Mars One project. Could be used as a reflective activity at the end of a space topic
Comprehension activity to cover key areas of conservation including legislation (CITEs, SSSIs), seed banks and national parks.
Loop activity which I ran as a group competition.
Year 7 Science lesson - theme of exploration.
As they enter the classroom there are an array of items spread out on their desks. I used opera glasses, a fossil collection, a meat thermometer, heart rate monitor, etc.
The aim is to get them to brainstorm their thoughts, which focus on what we already know, rather than asking questions and concentrating on the unknown. Prompt them to consider this and develop their questioning!
In groups they take a research topic where much doubt remains. They look at what people used to think, what scientists now believe and what we may find out in the future. Then present their findings to other groups, I used a carousel activity.
Amazing results - one group looked at subatomic particles down to quarks!
Could be spread over more than one lesson. Worked really successfully with my group, as children realised that science is evolving and many questions must be asked if we are to enhance human understanding.
Used with my high ability year 7 class.
Glued the passport into the front of their books, and added their 'passport photo' in which they drew themselves as scientists.
Investigation skills linked heavily to the KS3 National Curriculum.
Following a practical students write the data in the table heading, and tick off the skills they have developed/demonstrated. Could enhance this with a red amber green system to show the progress they are making towards a skill.
When writing up a practical I encourage them to finish with a reflection in which they link back to these skills. I found previously they struggled to describe skills so this gives them a prompt.
Aim to demonstrate each skill through a range of different practicals across the year, such that by then end they may hope to achieve 'expert' status. I produced this to link to the idea of the new A-level CPAC criteria and the idea of demonstrating mastery of practical techniques.
With each new book they may receive a new passport.