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Outstanding GCSE and A level chemistry resources

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(based on 460 reviews)

Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.
Number line labels
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Number line labels

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These are printed in 2 slide handouts and laminated they are then stuck to a number line made with red tape and 0.5m markers in green tape. A photo of the number line in my lab is provided to model how this activity may be set up. I have 2 number lines on the floor of my classroom at the front and back of the lab. Useful experiments on speed, diffusion and discontinuous vs continuous variables.
Alternatives to fossil fuels GCSE - includes combustion, balancing equations, 6 mark exam question
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Alternatives to fossil fuels GCSE - includes combustion, balancing equations, 6 mark exam question

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This is a thoroughly differentiated chemistry lesson that has been designed for the new 2016 specification for AQA. This specification does not require students to know biodiesel but does require students to know hydrogen and combustion. The lesson starts with a hydrogen balloon demo. Please take when doing this. Students can ignite the balloon if they use a lit split on the end of a metre ruler and stand back. They put the lit splint underneath the balloon which explodes. There is an alternative settler wordsearch for hyperactive classes that need to calm down at the start of the lesson. Students then write a disadvantage and advantage of using hydrogen as an alternative to petrol on post it notes and stick these on the whiteboard (one student per bench can do this - collecting the others from their bench). Students then write down the advantages and disadvantages of different fuels and write an answer to a 6 mark exam question where they compare the fuels and justify which one is best. They peer mark their answers using a student friendly marking grid. Finally students balance combustion symbol equations. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Student friendly marking grid - great for AFL, marking 6 mark questions and demonstrating progress
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Student friendly marking grid - great for AFL, marking 6 mark questions and demonstrating progress

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This is a student friendly marking grid that was designed following a staff CPD session that I attended where an art teacher related how she provided students with specific pre-written assessment points that were numbered to reduce copying out. There are 6 marking points. I make the first 3 easier points for weaker students to meet and the last 3 more challenging points to stretch the students and provide evidence of progress. The grid can then be copied to a word document and printed two grids to one A4 page. An example lesson is provided (alternatives to fossil fuels) to see how this can be used in lesson. The students reply to their EBI in their books. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Fractional distillation of crude oil GCSE - includes distillation, RSC practical, exam questions
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Fractional distillation of crude oil GCSE - includes distillation, RSC practical, exam questions

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This is a thoroughly differentiated GCSE chemistry lesson on differentiation that forms part of the AQA 2016 specification 4.7 organic chemistry scheme of work. The internet research homework should be set in advance so that students bring it to the lesson. A website is provided for them on the sheet. The match up starter checks their understanding from the fraction uses homework. This could be printed. For a very able class the fractional distillation mat could be used as the starter. The lesson then goes over what distillation is and then introduces fractional distillation. It is absolutely essential that students understand that distillation separates two substances based on their boiling points and that fractional distillation applies to two or miscible liquids (liquids that do not separate into layers and dissolve instead). They need to know that vaporisation and condensation are the two main steps of distillation. There are plenty of exam questions to demonstrate progress. A RSC practical is included. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Halogens GCSE - includes properties, forming ions, astatine predictions, electronegativity
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Halogens GCSE - includes properties, forming ions, astatine predictions, electronegativity

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This lesson has been designed for the 2016 GCSE AQA specification for the 4.1 atomic structure scheme of work. The lesson is thoroughly differentiated for higher and lower ability and includes a fun sodium reacting with chlorine demo. It is recommended that the Royal Society of Chemistry practical guidelines are followed - a link to these are included in the PowerPoint. The demo MUST be carried out in a fume cupboard as chlorine gas is extremely toxic. It is suggested that the sodium is heated on a brick rather than a deflagrating spoon then an inverted bell jar of chlorine gas is placed on top. This is because the chlorine gas reacts with the iron from the deflagrating spoon. The lesson starts with a recap of atomic structure (required prior learning) then moves on to the demo and then a discussion of how atoms react to form ions. Students then consider the properties of the halogens and carry out a task where they predict the properties of astatine using line graphs that they draw then present their work. A student friendly assessment grid is provided for students to peer mark their work. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Transition metals GCSE - includes role play,  kinesthetic, data sheet analysis, 6 mark question
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Transition metals GCSE - includes role play, kinesthetic, data sheet analysis, 6 mark question

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This GCSE chemistry lesson on transitions metals has been designed to meet the AQA 2016 specification and is part of the 4.1 atomic structure scheme of work. The lesson starts with a recap of the order of the reactivity series and asks students to put lithium and rubidium in this series using prior knowledge from reactions of the alkali metals (required prior learning). Students are then introduced to the key question for the lesson - this is revisited at the end. Students then watch a 4 minute video about the SR71 Blackbird (YouTube link is on the slide). This is the worlds fastest jet powered plane that is no longer used by the American military and flew at speeds of up to mach 3.2. Students then write on post it notes three properties that metals used to make this plane should have. If they struggle they could choose 3 properties from the data sheet. These are put on the whiteboard with their names on the notes and one student comes to the front to read out 3 post it notes. The teacher could compare the reactivity of iron filings and potassium with water (RSC practical link is included and can also be found online). Students then answer a few questions that require analysis of the data sheet. This is an important exam skill. They then use these answers to write an extended 6 mark question and then peer mark this using the student friendly marking grid. There is an optional 4 person role play task included in a separate PowerPoint for longer lessons or classes that are good with group work. The lesson menu can be printed and used with weaker students. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Biological polymers - GCSE chemistry
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Biological polymers - GCSE chemistry

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This GCSE chemistry lesson has been designed for the 2016 specification for AQA. The lesson begins with a recap of addition and condensation polymers. It then moves on to covering the key biochemical points that students need to know for GCSE chemistry and deliberately leaves out GCSE biology content. The lesson then moves on to students comparing the strength of their own bioplastics from the previous lesson with nylon. If students make the bioplastics in this lesson then allow at least 2 days for the bioplastic to dry before testing it. The lesson concludes with students analysing their data. Please rate this resource leave feedback.
Group 2 nitrates and carbonates - AS Chemistry
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Group 2 nitrates and carbonates - AS Chemistry

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This is an engaging AS Chemistry lesson on the group 1 and 2 nitrate and carbonate decompositions and has grades C to A. The starter is fire writing using sodium nitrate solution. Please read CLEAPPS safety and Royal Society of Chemistry advice on this compound and the practical. For grade C students describe the reactions. For grade B students explain the decompositions and for grade A they evaluate their answers. An extra activity such a diamond 4 could be included for students to rank their answers. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Ions and ionic formulae GCSE - includes charges on ions, how ions form and ionic formulae
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Ions and ionic formulae GCSE - includes charges on ions, how ions form and ionic formulae

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This is a lesson written for the AQA 2016 chemistry specification that covers the following: the three types of bonding, the reaction of sodium chlorine demo, how to work out the charge on an ion by comparing the number of protons and electrons, why ions form (stable octet) and how to work out the formula on an ionic compound using a method that I have created called 'WiSC'. The lesson concludes with a differentiated plenary. Please take the time to carefully look through this presentation before the lesson as there a lot of animations that carefully sequence different concepts. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
A level carbonyl oxidation lesson applied to scents
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A level carbonyl oxidation lesson applied to scents

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This is a lesson designed as part of the Edexcel A2 unit 4 scheme of work on carbonyl compounds. In this lesson students can carry out a practical (grade C) to compare the oxidation of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The oxidation and distillation of a primary alcohol is demonstrated. Students then develop their understanding (grade B) by considering which type of oxidant would be best to oxidise geraniol (rose scent) to germinal (lemon scent). Geraniol could be used in the demo. The grade A task is writing organic redox half equations. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Advanced titrations lesson - AS Chemistry
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Advanced titrations lesson - AS Chemistry

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This is an AS Chemistry lesson on advanced titration calculations for a very able class. Though this has grades C to A the concepts in back titration and the grade A zeolite research task together make this a fast paced lesson designed to challenge very bright students. An easier more differentiated version of this lesson will be uploaded to TES later in the year that will be accessed by weaker students. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Combustion GCSE lesson - covers balancing symbol equations and writing word equations
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Combustion GCSE lesson - covers balancing symbol equations and writing word equations

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This is a lesson on combustion that covers combustion products, writing word equations and writing symbol equations. There is a fun methane bubbles demo that illustrates what combustion is. Details for how to carry this out are available online. I suggest using an oven glove for extra safety. There are two worked examples using particle diagrams that help students balance equations. There is an alternative method to balancing equations (the column method) that is included at the end of the lesson. There are exam questions included in the lesson. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Mass spectrometry for A level Chemistry
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Mass spectrometry for A level Chemistry

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This is a thorough set of structured resources on mass spectrometry . The starter is a fun Just a Minute literacy activity that recaps GCSE understanding of mass spectrometry. There is then a highly structured series of slides that discuss how bond enthalpy (bond strength) data can be used to determine which bonds in a molecule will break. Slide 14 (bond enthalpy data) can be printed as a handout for the students to use for the grade C task. The grade B/A task is where students identify molecules from their mass spectrometry spectra. The mass spectra to be identified can be laminated and students can annotate the laminates using whiteboard pens. The answers and a markscheme is provided on the PowerPoint. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Gas laws AS level chemistry
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Gas laws AS level chemistry

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This is a lesson for the new 2015 A level chemistry specification that covers the ideal gas law. There are clear AFL tasks for the middle of the lesson (grade C) and end of the lesson (grade B and grade A). It is suggested that the lesson before this lesson a homework is set to research conversions and the Kelvin temperature scale. Slides 23 and 24 may be printed per student for students to peer assess each others work. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Alcohols GCSE - includes dot and cross digram, fermentation vs hydration, displayed formulae
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Alcohols GCSE - includes dot and cross digram, fermentation vs hydration, displayed formulae

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This is a thoroughly differentiated GSCE chemistry lesson on alcohols for the 2016 GCSE chemistry specification. It forms part of the AQA organic chemistry scheme of work, topic 4.7. The lesson starts with students recapping prior learning on molecular formulae. Students are then introduced to the idea that the substance in alcohol is ethanol and that there are 2 main ways of making ethanol. They write word and symbol equations for these 2 methods. More able students draw the displayed formula and dot and cross diagram of ethanol (2016 specification requirement) whilst weaker students complete the equations activity. Students then compare the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods of making ethanol. The lesson concludes with an exam question plenary. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Structure of the atom GCSE - includes isotopes and electron shells
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Structure of the atom GCSE - includes isotopes and electron shells

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This forms part of the chemistry scheme of work for the new 2016 specification. The homework task is set in advance so that students can mark their homework as a starter activity. There is an optional starter activity to show students as they walk in which is a recap of what atoms and elements are. The video is the worlds smallest video created by IBM. It shows atoms of an element moving around - the key point being that atoms of a particular element are identical. The first activity looks at understanding how to work out the number of subatomic particles. Students are then introduced to the concept of isotopes. The next activity looks at electron shells the more able students are introduced to ions. The lesson finishes with an exam question plenary. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Relative formula mass and relative atomic mass GCSE tarsia
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Relative formula mass and relative atomic mass GCSE tarsia

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This is a fun GCSE chemistry tarsia for revision of calculating relative formula mass. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: relative atomic mass of atoms and isotopes (isotopes are limited to isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen) and relative formula mass of different compounds. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.