This is designed for low KS3 class, with a Frankenweeie theme. Pupils begin by deciding which material to use to help bring Sparky back to life. Pupils watch a video and then do a quick match exercise. They then conduct an experiment to test a variety of conductors and insulators, filling in a table as they go. As a plenary they write a postcard to Victor Frankenweenie. There is also a virtual experiment attached which can be used as a homework or as the experiment.

This is a low ability KS3 lesson, with the theme of Disney's Frozen. Pupils begin with a "Think, Pair and Share" of how they will obtain fresh water from salt water on a beach. They then go onto do the rock salt experiment, creating a solution and then separating the salt and water, for higher ability classes get them to capture the fresh water, rather than letting it evaporate. Pupils then go onto a chromatography practical. Use a number of different green pens (one being the sample) and get pupils to determine which green pen was used in a scenario. You could also demo distillation of ink. Pupils finally complete the "Purifying a Solid" clue task to revisit key terms. There is also an extended writing homework available.

This is a low ability KS3 lesson, with a theme of Tim Burton's Frankenweenie. Pupils begin by looking at a diagram of a circuit and discussing why it would not work. Pupils then draw series circuit diagrams from descriptions and decide if the circuit is open or closed. Pupils go onto an interactive website to create circuits and investigate how the number of bulbs and cells affect the brightness of bulbs (I find this more reliable than the actual electrical equipment). Pupils consolidate their learning with a Cloze exercise. Finally pupils design a series circuit that will bring Sparky back to life.

This is a KS3 lesson, for a low ability class. It has a theme of Frankenweenie. Pupils begin by using mini whiteboards to brainstorm how to create a circuit that ensures other light bulbs work if one goes out. They then watch a quick video and use this to write a summary sentence about the differences between series and parallel circuits. Pupils in groups model a parallel circuit, for a lower ability class you can do this as a class. Pupils are given components, and the remainder are electrons and are given plastic balls to represent energy. Pupils then complete a Cloze exercise. Finally pupils do a comprehension task about parallel and series circuits, and as an extension draw circuits for Christmas Tree lights and a house.

This is the first lesson of the Energy topic. It is designed for KS3 and has a Jurassic Park theme, where pupils design a new theme park for Richard Hammond. The start pupils look at images and try and come up with a title for the lesson. Pupils then do a number of jigsaw puzzles to make them to start thinking about the different types of energy and where they can be found. Pupils then create a mnemonic to help them remember all the types of energy. Pupils then create posters for Mr Hammond on the different types of energy he will see in his new park, using ideas from theme parks they already know. Finally pupils do a scavenger hunt using QR codes to answer some question to check their learning (internet access is not needed for this)

This is a KS3 lesson with a Jurassic Park theme. Pupils begin by brainstorming ways that heat is lost in a house. They then do a QR hunt to research different types of insulation in buildings, I put mine up around the school or room in the places you would find that particular type of insulation. Pupils then write a letter to John Hammond describing how he could reduce heat loss in his park. Finally pupils attempt a QWC question using a writing frame.

This is a low ability KS3 lesson, with a Ghostbusters theme. Pupils begin by creating a word cloud using keywords and using the size of the word to represent their understanding of that word. 4 experts are chosen to run 4 demos, sound travelling in a solid, liquid, gas and vacuum. Take these pupils aside and explain to them each demo and make sure they understand the information enough to explain to other pupils. While you are doing this, the other pupils are completing a data analysis task. Pupils then do go to each demo and get it explained to them - completing the worksheet. Pupils then write a letter explaining how to trap a ghost so it cannot communicate with other ghosts. This is then peer assessed.

This is for a low ability KS3 group, with a Ghostbusters theme. Pupils begin by using images to determine the title of the lesson. They then listen to sounds and try to describe them (link in notes section of ppt). Pupils then do a circus activity where there are a number of ways to make sound and try to decide the common factor. Pupils then line up facing forwards and teacher demonstrates how sound travels. Finally pupils try to answer the question "If a tree falls in a forest with no one around to hear it fall, does it make a sound?"

This is KS3 lesson with a Jurassic Park theme. Pupils start with three pictures and pupils use letters to figure out the title of the lesson (it is set up to look like 4pics1word). Pupils then play Yes/No to find out about the three different ways energy is transferred. Pupils then do 3 mini experiments using instructions cards. Who Wants to be a Millionaire is then available as a plenary. Finally pupils do an exit ticket where they decide on the type of energy transfer in different scenarios, they are to explain their choice. There are two homeworks, a QWC writing frame which is available to purchase on its own and a QR scavenger hunt.

This is designed for a low ability KS3 class and has a theme of Frankenweenie. Pupils start with a Think, Pair and Share activity on how Victor brought Frankenweenie back to life (for a high ability group, I would give them the Frankenstein text) Then use the Van der Graff to show pupils electricity and ask them to define it from this. Pupils then watch a video about what electricity is and complete a gap fill exercise. Pupils then create a flashlight using just a few easy to come by components. Then teach the symbols kinaesthetically, there is a video but I tend to do it myself. Go through this a number of times and finally get pupils to match the symbol with the component.

This is a KS3 lesson, with a Jurassic park theme. Pupils begin by sorting the types of energy sources into groups. They then have to justify their groupings. Pupils then when a quick video (link in picture) and are asked to note down the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources. Pupils are then put into groups and asked to research different types of energy sources (link in notes section of ppt) ready to present to a number of judges (Dragon Den style). The pretence is that they are selling their type of resource to John Hammond to use to run Jurassic Park. Pupils then present this, to make sure all students are engage, there is a table that they fill in with the information that they hear. Finally pupils complete a six mark question using a QWC writing frame on the evaluation of different energy sources.

This booklet contains all the required practicals for Combined Physics (AQA). It begins with a contents page, which has the list of practicals and the skills the pupils will learn during the practical. The skills have a RAG box so pupils can self assess how well they think they can do the skill. The contents also has a space for the date when the practical was done and a column for exam question feedback. Each required practical has a sheet for pupils to fill in. Each sheet follows the same format. Pupils fill in the risk assessment, results, conclusion and evaluation for each practical. Graph paper is included where needed. Finally, each practical has questions relating to the practical and practice exam questions that are either about the practical or similar practical or ask the pupils to apply what they have learnt from the practical.

I have previously put up a scheme of learning for Science Clubs with themes, for the academic year of 2015-2016, https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks3-science-stem-club-11208097 As our Science Club runs over Year 7 and Year 8 a second scheme has now been written, so it can work on a two year rotation basis. The layout is slightly different, but has the same essential parts, with activities grouped into themes, which include: Dr Seuss and Oceanography

With a busy schedule sometimes it's hard to enjoy running a STEM Club if you have to think of tasks every week, especially towards the end of the year. Over the summer I created a scheme of work for your STEM Club. It was divided into themes, e.g. Superheroes and Fairy Tales. One and a half terms in, it seems to be working very well, for our KS3 and KS2 Science Clubs. Not all the resources are mine, but I've attached help sheets for some session. Most of the information is in the spread sheet outlining each session I hope you enjoy using this and it makes your life that little bit easier. For the Plastics Challenge information please go to http://practicalaction.org/plastics-challenge

This is a lesson aimed for a low ability KS3 class and has a theme of Disney's Frozen. Pupils begin with trying to see how many words they can make out of one of the lesson's keywords. Pupils then watch a video to get the keywords for the lesson and complete a question sheet as they do so. Pupils then do 3 experiments that show dissolution. Finally pupils do a code breaker that goes through the keywords of the lesson again. For homework pupils watch a video and write a letter to Anna describing the difference between melting and dissolving.

This is for a KS3 class, but could be used for KS4 too. It is Star Wars themed. Pupils begin by doing a code breaker, which will give them the equation to calculate speed. Pupils then watch a Star War Mario Kart race and use a stopwatch to determine when events in the race happened, and filling out the data entry sheet (this has the speed Mario was going at each point). Pupils then turn their data into a graph and calculate the distance between set point on the graph by drawing rectangles and triangles and calculating area. Pupils then finally complete an exit ticket, which has a number of speed questions on it.