This is a lesson based around the concept of adaptations. Areas covered:
- general and specific adaptations
- surface area to volume ratios
- camel case study
- polar bear case study
- cactus case study
- summary questions
The main tasks include an information hunt, there are a total of 24 cards with information about adaptations for camels/polar bears. These can be placed around the room and students must get up and annotate their diagrams. This is a great active learning task, and I often add rules such as you cannot move the information, and you can only write at your desk (forcing students to memorise small chunks of information).
There is also a 10 mark exam style question that can be used as a plenary or homework. I have made the slides as informative as possible with lots of pictures (image credits within the PowerPoint notes section). For the worksheets I have created separate files for 'paper savers' these try to condense as much on to one A4 sheet (6 diagrams), especially important if you have printing restrictions.
A differentiated resource for producing a labelled diagram of the kidney. There are two main versions of this activity, but both of them require the information cards. These can be printed out and placed around the room.
The first version is an all in one A4 sheet that has the diagram and labels that can be cut out and stuck on. This is better suited to lower ability students, they can find out where the parts are by looking at the information around the room.
The second version requires the diagram with no labels. Students have to collect the information from around the room and write it on their diagram. I run this as a memory game, giving students two rules: they can only write on their diagram at their desk, and they cannot move the information sheets.
The PowerPoint features an example for students to follow (for the cut and stick). It also has the diagram for you to project and annotate on a white board if necessary.
This is a card sort to help students learn the names of items at the grocers (30 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed.
A differentiated resource for producing a labelled diagram of the eye. There are two main versions of this activity, but both of them require the information cards. These can be printed out and placed around the room.
The first version is an all in one A4 sheet that has the diagram and labels that can be cut out and stuck on. This is better suited to lower ability students, they can find out where the parts are by looking at the information around the room.
The second version requires the diagram with no labels. Students have to collect the information from around the room and write it on their diagram. I run this as a memory game, giving students two rules: they can only write on their diagram at their desk, and they cannot move the information sheets.
The PowerPoint features an example for students to follow (for the cut and stick). It also has the diagram for you to project and annotate on a white board if necessary.
A differentiated resource for producing a labelled diagram of the endocrine system. There are two main versions of this activity, but both of them require the information cards. These can be printed out and placed around the room.
The first version is an all in one A4 sheet that has the diagram and labels that can be cut out and stuck on. This is better suited to lower ability students, they can find out where the parts are by looking at the information around the room.
The second version requires the diagram with no labels. Students have to collect the information from around the room and write it on their diagram. I run this as a memory game, giving students two rules: they can only write on their diagram at their desk, and they cannot move the information sheets.
The PowerPoint features an example for students to follow (for the cut and stick). It also has the system diagram for you to project and annotate on a white board if necessary.
This is a card sort activity that can be used to learn the EU member states, their flags, and their capital cities.
- The ‘teacher copy’ shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The ‘student version - jumbled’ is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The ‘quick cut’ is designed so that you can produce 7 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has four cards 7 times over.
2022 Update: addition of current and pre-brexit variations.
This is a lesson that teaches students the key parts of sound waves (peak, trough, amplitude, and wavelength). It teaches them how changing the properties of a sound (pitch/volume) changes the shape of the wave. There is also a step by step instruction showing students how they can accurately draw their own waves.
This is a perfect task for low ability or younger groups and a great task as part of a sound topic. I've have used it personally with several classes and they always enjoy producing accurate pieces of work that they are proud of (I have included a sample from one of my SEN students).
This is a card sort to help students learn the names of animals in Russian (30 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed.
This is a card sort to help students learn words for 2D shapes (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn words for 2D shapes (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn words for 2D shapes (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn words for 2D shapes (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn words for numbers (30 words in total). This resource covers 1-20 and 30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,1000,1000000. This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
A differentiated resource for producing a labelled diagram of the digestive system. There are two main versions of this activity, but both of them require the information cards. These can be printed out and placed around the room.
The first version is an all in one A4 sheet that has the diagram and labels that can be cut out and stuck on. This is better suited to lower ability students, they can find out where the parts are by looking at the information around the room.
The second version requires the diagram with no labels. Students have to collect the information from around the room and write it on their diagram. I run this as a memory game, giving students two rules: they can only write on their diagram at their desk, and they cannot move the information sheets.
This is a card sort to help students learn the basic colours (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn the basic colours (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn the basic colours (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn the basic colours (10 words in total). This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn words for numbers (30 words in total). This resource covers 1-20 and 30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,1000,1000000. This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.
This is a card sort to help students learn words for numbers (30 words in total). This resource covers 1-20 and 30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,1000,1000000. This would be a useful task with younger groups or low ability groups. There are three separate files, depending on how you want to present the task.
- The 'teacher copy' shows a grid with all items already matched.
- The 'student version' is a random layout, print this out and give to students. They can then cut out the items and match them, or stick them into their workbooks.
- The 'quick cut' is designed so that you can produce 10 packs of cards quickly and easily using a guillotine. Each page has the same card 10 times over. This allows you to remove words that may not be suitable or needed. Alternatively you can print the same page twice double-sided to produce flash cards.