Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers.
From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.
Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers.
From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.
This lesson is designed for AQA GCSE Chemistry and introduces electrolysis as a way of extracting metals from ores/metal compounds.
Lesson Objectives:
Name the parts of the electrolysis practical
Carry out a basic practical for the electrolysis of copper chloride
Predict the products of the electrolysis of a molten salt
Explain why we use electrolysis to extract metals
This Lesson Contains:
Lesson Powerpoint, including all answers and powerpoint notes to aid delivery and challenge tasks and mini-whiteboard AFL quiz
Blank electrolysis diagram handout for printing (editable and PDF)
Student worksheet/table (editable and PDF)
Complete answers
Practical risk assessment and instructions
This is a KS3 Biology lesson covering the defintions of tissues and organs, examples of both in humans and plants, and the functions of some of the key organs.
This lesson may require students to have access to the internet.
This resource contains:
Teacher powerpoint including teacher guidance and answers
Student worksheet (PDF and Editable versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and Editable versions)
Lesson Objectives:
Define the terms “tissue” and “organ”
Identify some of the key organs in the human body
Identify some of the key organs in plants
Describe what some key organs do
This is a KS3 Biology lesson covering the human skeleton, including teaching students some of the names/positions of key bones in the body as well as the structure and function of bones. There are several versions of the student led activity that can be tailored to teacher/class needs.
This lesson may require students to have access to the internet.
This resource contains:
Teacher powerpoint including teacher guidance and answers
Student worksheets (PDF and Editable versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and Editable versions)
Lesson Objectives:
Label some of the main bones in the skeleton
Describe the structure of a bone
Describe the functions of the skeletal system
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with non-science/non-physics specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson covers drag and friction, the different places we get both and where they are useful and not useful, as well as a simple student practical to measure the effects of different surfaces on friction.
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes, full answers, interactive activities, student practical with follow-up questions, and plenary
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities and EAL (including dual-coding)
Practical investigation of the effects of different surfaces on friction
Careers links
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Describe the effect of drag forces and friction
Explain how drag forces and friction arise
Describe how drag forces and friction can be reduced
Students will be working scientifically to:
Measure force using a newton meter
Record data in an appropriate table
use my observations to make a conclusion
This lesson is the first lesson in the “Space” topic and covers some of the main objects that can be found in the night sky as well as describing our place in the universe. The lesson contains various links to online videos, modelling software and simulations that really help students understand the vastness of space and allow them to explore the universe in which we live.
This Lesson Contains:
Lesson powerpoint, including activity delivery instructions for teachers, full answers, plenary task, AFL whiteboard task and discussion activities
Lesson Objectives:
Describe the objects that you can see in the night sky
Describe the structure of the universe
This is the third lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist” topic. This lesson revises what discrete, catagoric and continuous data are, and practices getting students to select the correct graph (bar chart, line graph or pie chart) to use for different examples of data. Students will also practice drawing their own pie charts.
The lesson powerpoint is interactive and packed with quick and easy AFL tasks to help teachers assess the class understanding of content, and can be sped up or slowed down as necessary.
The lesson is complete and is a “click and teach” style lesson that will require little to no prep work for the teacher, so is ideal for those short on time and non-specialist teachers.
This lesson includes:
Teacher powerpoint with full answers built into slides, teacher delivery and hints in “notes” section, worked examples, AFL finger voting activites to assess understanding, answers to student worksheet
Student worksheet (PDF)
Lesson Objectives:
Select the appropriate graph to display data
Present data as a pie chart
For this lesson students will need:
Calculators
Pencils
Protractors
This lesson is taught with the assumption that students have met “types of data” before, but have never drawn pie charts or calculated angles of pie charts.
This lesson covers the KS3 basics of animal cells, including their basic structure, the function of each part of the animal cell, and how to observe animal cells (cheek cells) under a microscope.
This Lesson Includes
Lesson powerpoint with full answers, guidance for teachers in delivery and engaging activities designed for EAL and AEN students, interactive plenary multiple choice quiz, challenge tasks for higher ability students
Practical order form/risk assessment
CLEAPPS Guidance on practical completion
Student key note/worksheet (PDF and Editable word versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and Editable word versions)
Lesson objectives
State what a cell is
Name the different parts of an animal cell
Describe the function of each part of an animal cell
Use a microscope to view animal cells (cheek cells)
This bundle is a complete topic pack containing all powerpoints, student worksheets, risk assessments, stretch and challenge tasks, and answer sheets for the Biology topic “Levels of Organisation”. It also contains many student-led activities on the powerpoints (particularly designed to make the learning of parts and functions of organs/joints etc… easier, more fun and student-led), plenary activities. There are also interactive slides to demonstrate concepts (e.g. gas exchange) as well as self-completing slides where answers can be clicked and move into the correct place (great for distance learning students and cover lessons).
Bundle includes:
Lesson 1: Tissues and Organs
Lesson 2: Organ Systems
Lesson 3: Gas Exchange
Lesson 4: Breathing
Lesson 5: The Skeleton
Lesson 6: Joints
Lesson 7: Muscles
Lesson Objectives:
Lesson 1: Tissues and Organs
Define the terms “tissue” and “organ”
Identify some of the key organs in the human body
Identify some of the key organs in plants
Describe what some key organs do
Lesson 2: Organ Systems
Define the term “organ system”
Identify some of the key organ systems in the human body and what they do
Describe the hierarchy of organisation in a multicellular organism
Lesson 3: Gas Exchange
Name the key parts of the lungs
Define the process of gas exchange
Describe how parts of the gas exchange system are adapted to their function
Compare inhaled and exhaled air
WS: Read data from pie charts and draw conclusions
Lesson 4: Breathing
Describe the physical changes that occur when a person inhales and exhales
Describe a method used to estimate lung volume
WS: Measure lung volume
WS: Correlate and analyse data from a practical experiment to draw conclusions
Lesson 5: The Skeleton
Label some of the main bones in the skeleton
Describe the structure of a bone
Describe the functions of the skeletal system
Lesson 6: Joints
Name and give examples of the types of joint found in the human body
Describe the role of joints in movement
Label the structure of a joint
Carry out the dissection of a joint
Lesson 7: Muscles
Describe what a muscle is and give some examples
Describe how muscles cause movement in the body
Describe how antagonistic muscles control movement at a joint
WS: Investigate the strength of muscles
This bundle is a complete topic pack containing all powerpoints, student worksheets, risk assessments, stretch and challenge tasks, and answer sheets for the Biology topic “Cells”. It also contains many student-led activities on the powerpoints (particularly designed to make the learning of parts and functions of cells easier, more fun and student-led), plenary activities, and reading and literacy tasks (for specialised cells and unicellular organisms)
Bundle includes:
Lesson 1: Observing cells with a microscope
Lesson 2: Animal Cells
Lesson 3: Plant Cells
Lesson 4: Specialised Cells
Lesson 5: Movement of Substances (diffusion) in and out of cells
Lesson 6: Unicellular Organisms (focusing on euglena and amoeba)
Lesson Objectives:
Lesson 1: Observing Cells
Name the parts of a microscope
Describe how to use a microscope to observe very small objects
Calculate the total magnification used to observe an object
View and focus objects under a microscope
Lesson 2: Animal Cells
State what a cell is
Name the different parts of an animal cell
Describe the function of each part of an animal cell
Use a Microscope to view animal cells (cheek cells)
Lesson 3: Plant Cells
Identify parts of a plant cell from a diagram
Describe the function of each part of a plant cell
Compare the similarities and difference between an animal and plant cell
Use a microscope to view plant cells (pond weed)
Lesson 4: Specialised Cells
Know what a specialised cell and an adaptation is
Give some examples of specialised cells
Identify and describe the adaptations of some specialised cells
Explain how an adaptation makes a specialised cell good at its function
Lesson 5: Movement of Substances in and out of cells
Name some substances that move into and out of cells
Describe the process of diffusion
Describe examples of diffusion in cells
**Lesson 6: Unicellular Organisms **
Know what a unicellular organism is
Name 2 examples of unicellular organisms
Describe the features of an amoeba
Describe the features of an euglena
A lesson resource for teaching the possible applications, advantages and disadvantages of nanoparticles and nanotechnology.
Lesson/Resource Outcomes:
State possible uses of nanoparticles
Describe advantages of using nanoparticles
Describe some of the possible risks of using nanoparticles
Resource contains
Student worksheet (pdf and word doc)
Complete answer sheet (pdf and word doc)
5 A4/A3 printable information/newspaper article sheets (Reading level 3-4) on the uses of nanoparticles in medicine, electronics, cosmetics, clothing and catalysts
Exam question set on nanotechnology & mark schemes
A lesson pack covering negative non-metal ion tests (halide, sulfate and carbonate).
This resource is designed for the AQA Triple Chemistry required practical from “Chemical Analysis”, and is relevant to higher and foundation students.
Lesson Objectives
Carry out simple precipitate tests to identify halide, sulfate and carbonate ions
Describe how to carry out precipitate tests to test for halide, sulfate and carbonate ions, including the names of any important reactants
Write balanced symbol and ionic equations for the reactions taking place in precipitation reactions
This resource contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including starter activity, practical instructions, tables, challenge task, multiple choice quiz plenary, and full answers
Student worksheet - including practical instructions, tables, and practical quesitons (PDF and editable word versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and editable word versions)
Risk assessment/order form - containing up to date CLEAPPS guidance as of Oct 2023.
This bundle is a complete topic pack containing all powerpoints, student worksheets, challenge tasks, plenary activities, and answer sheets for the KS3 Physics topic “Forces”. It also contains many specially selected student-led activities on the powerpoints (particularly designed to make teaching the concepts of forces, fields, resultant forces, and weight, easier, more fun and student-led).
There are also self-completing slides where answers can be clicked and move into the correct place (great for distance learning students and cover lessons).
This bundle contains the following lessons:
Forces
Drawing Force Diagrams
Hooke’s Law
Drag and Friction
Fields
Calculating Weight
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Lesson objectives/outcomes:
Lesson 1 – Forces
Students should be able to:
• Explain what forces are
• Compare different types of forces
• Describe how to measure forces and give the unit of force
Lesson 2 – Drawing Force Diagrams
Students should be able to:
• Describe how forces are represented
• Identify the direction a force acts on an object
• Draw and/or label force arrows on diagrams for simple example
Lesson 3 – Hooke’s Law
Students should be able to:
• Describe how forces deform objects
• Describe how solid surfaces provide a support force
• Investigate and use Hooke’s Law
• Take accurate measurements
• Plot a graph
• Draw a line of best fit on a graph
Lesson 4 – Drag and Friction
Students should be able to:
• Describe the effect of drag forces and friction
• Explain how drag forces and friction arise
• Describe how drag forces and friction can be reduced
• Measure force using a newton meter
• Record data in an appropriate table
• use my observations to make a conclusion
Lesson 5 – Fields
Students should be able to:
• Describe what a “field” is
• Describe the effects of fields
Lesson 6 – Calculating Weight
Students should be able to:
• Describe the difference between weight and mass
• Calculate the weight of an object
• Explain why weight is different on different planets
• Convert units
• Calculate values using a calculator
Lesson 7 – Balanced and Unbalanced Forces
Students should be able to:
• Describe the difference between balanced and unbalanced forces
• Explain why objects are in equilibrium
• Explain the changing motion of objects
• Calculate resultant forces in one dimension
This lesson is the first lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist” topic.
It covers what accurate and precise data means/looks like, as well as the difference between a prediction and a hypothesis.
This lesson is designed with formative assessment in mind and a large use of hand/finger voting and mini-whiteboards for AFL feedback.
It contains all answers to the tasks and is great for a non-specialist science teacher.
Lesson Objectives:
Write a hypothesis from variables
Describe the difference between accurate and precise
I will work scientifically to:
Identify variables in a practical
Identify data that is accurate and precise
This lesson contains:
Powerpoint - including quizzes to test understanding, student questions to answer, challenge tasks throughout, and full answers. The powerpoint also uses colour-coding to help support AEN and EAL students follow and understand concepts in the lesson.
This is the fourth lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist 2” topic.
This lesson gets students to practice maniplulating data to find means, medians and modes.
This lesson contains AFL whiteboard tasks to assess student understanding in real time, a data collection activity and various opportunities for students to practice calculations.
This lesson resource contains all answers as well as challenge tasks. It is designed to be easy to follow and present, so is great for non-specialist teachers.
Lesson resources:
Lesson powerpoint containing teacher help/instructions in the “notes” section, AFL whiteboard activity, student data collection and manipulation activities, challenge tasks throughout
Lesson objectives:
Describe what a mean, median and mode are
Calculate Mean, Mode and Median for a set of data
For this lesson students will need:
Calculators
This is the last lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist 2” Topic.
It covers types of evidence, sources of bias in research and evidence, the process of peer-reviewing and what things we should look for when deciding whether evidence (and the conclusions drawn from it) is good.
This lesson is an interactive lesson filled with student activities and participation, including finger voting, class discussions/debates, and mini-whiteboard tasks.
This lesson is designed to be “click and teach” and will require very little planning by the teacher, and with teacher delivery notes and all answers built into the slides it is perfect for non-specialists and those a little uncertain about the lesson content.
Lesson Resources contain:
Lesson powerpoint including class discussions, finger voting AFL tasks, whiteboard AFL tasks, discussion slides, careers links, plenary task, student summary questions, and full answers throughout
Lesson outcomes:
Describe how to assess sources of evidence
Identify possible sources of bias
Describe what a peer-review is
This bundle is the complete lesson resources needed to teach core “Working Scientifically” skills to KS3 students, following the UK national curriculum.
These lessons are interactive, engaging, student-led and focused. This topic contains careers links, reading opportunities and AFL strategies throughout (including mini-whiteboards and finger voting) to help you know how your students are doing.
All questions, worksheets and tasks come with complete answers.
Lessons included:
Accuracy, Precision and Hypotheses
Writing risk assessments
Choosing graphs and Drawing Pie Charts
Calculating Means, Medians and Modes
Reading and Analysing Graphs
Communicating Scientific Information
Bias, Evidence and Peer-reviewing
This complete lesson teaches students the parts of the microscope, how to use one, what they’re used for, and how to calculate magnification.
This lesson contains:
Complete lesson powerpoint, including mini-whiteboard AFL tasks for calculating magnification and full answers
Student handout sheet (with and without hints for AEN students)
Plenary task
Lesson Objectives
Name the parts of a microscope
Describe how to use a microscope to observe very small objects
Calculate the total magnification used to observe an object
View and focus objects under a microscope
An interactive powerpoint resource designed to be used for distance learning from home.
Also contains interactive questions, a cheat sheet of common ions and practice questions.
Students should be able to:
Predicting the formula of salts from their names and ions
A simple but effective wall display of some of the most common chemical formulas used in chemistry (especially relevant for the KS3 and GCSE Chemistry syllabus).
Worksheet to be used to help students understand the steps in carrying out a simple acid-base titration.
Worksheet also contains key questions about the set up of the experiment and the collecting of data.
Contains both a PDF copy and an editable PPT copy
Full answer sheet included at the end of each document