KS3 Density - could be used with lower ability KS4

Lesson to a mixed ability year 7 group, 100 minute session but could be adjusted. Market place activity, using differentiated booklets. AfL Dice game. Followed by more ethics based activities, looking at how doctors can make the decision of who receives a donor organ. Developing higher order thinking skills (Bloom's) by ranking and justifying ideas. Donor cards to be printed, and used as exit pass for 3-2-1 plenary.

Used with year 9 and 10 classes (high ability) studying the new GCSE Biology course. The challenge sheet (shown on the ppt) near the end of the lesson was downloaded from another author on TES and is a fantastic resource (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/surface-area-to-volume-ratio-logic-challenge-11313026)

Used with high ability iGCSE Chemistry class. Notes on Diamond, Graphite (and Buckminster Fullerene) and Silicon dioxide. Students highlight and annotate this whilst looking at models of these structures and discussing them as a class. Use the information sheet as a comprehension activity by setting key questions [e.g. why does graphite conduct electricity but diamond does not?]

Year 7 - Topic on Space Lesson to follow the concept of applying to be an astronaut. Big focus on the skills which might be required. In small groups, students consider the profiles of different applicants, and come to a decision as to who they would hire (imagine they are working for NASA). What sort of experience and key skills are they looking for, and why? How might hobbies link to this? Focus: justifying and supporting ideas. Next students collect information on how astronauts live and survive in space. Information cards spread around the room, and there is also a video link (Kevin Fong RI Xmas Lecture). My school has iPads for research, but textbooks could also be used. Homework: choice of tasks. Students to fill in NASA application form, or to create a space survival guide for new astronauts.

A mock paper which I have put together for our year 13 students - taking questions from a variety of years and syllabuses to avoid the usual learning of mark schemes which I tend to encounter!!

Presentation to introduce learning in Science. Gets pupils to reflect on science in Primary schools and discuss their anxieties/excitement for secondary school science. In small groups, use A3 paper for pupils to draw their mental image of a scientist. 99% will go with the mad scientist stereotype. Look at each other's drawings, and then go through some images of 'real-life' scientist, to get pupils to reconsider their initial stereotype - making the point that we can all be scientists as we make hypotheses, analyse, and consider solutions. Skills sort (I laminated these) - Which skills are most important to a scientist. Pupils work in small groups, and generate excellent discussion, with teacher playing devil's advocate. Gets pupils to think about how scientists actually work. Finally pupils can redraw their scientists, annotating diagrams with the key skills which a scientist may showcase! Really fun lesson.

Activity designed for my year 8 form but could be used with any age group. Pupils are asked to write themselves a letter which they will revisit at the end of the year. Prompt questions are listed, in this case looking at the transition from year 7 to year 8 (many in my form have already struggled in this step up). Personal reflection time to consider how they have developed so far and what they hope to achieve in the year + steps to make such goals achievable. Pupils really enjoyed doing this and took the activity very seriously! Looking forward to them reading over their letters at the end of the year. Have also adapted the resource for my subject area (Science) - v easy to do. e.g. what was science like in year x? What are you looking forward to in science this year? What is making you feel apprehensive? etc.

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.

A topic I looked at with my form over two tutorial sessions. The first session, discussing what a dilemma is and allowing them to look through the scenario cards in pairs and discussing the issues, before sharing ideas as a class. The second session allowed individuals to respond more personally, recording their ideas on the worksheet. Extension to get them to link this to everyday life - what are the big moral dilemmas facing society? Session used to tie in with bullying and 'snitch' issues within this year group. To get them to think more closely about their actions and their implications and to develop decision-making skills.

Lesson designed for high ability class - but could be adapted to suit any needs. - Began lesson with recap to previous learning relating to the nervous system. - Assess prior knowledge using laminated structure labels and A3 eye diagram. - Students move around the room using the table, and assorted sheets to collect information. - Use this information to reorder their labelled diagram, now they have a enhanced understanding. - Discussion regarding perception of colour - Plenary ('To the left'): books closed, each group gets a new diagram. In silence, one person in the group labels a structure, and passes it to the left, and so on. pupils may amend each others' answers, but this is a silent activity to check understanding.

Designed for use with high ability year 9 class to cover the new GCSE scheme, mark scheme included. Have not included a question on cancer, as members of this class have recently lost family members.

Used with a high ability year 12 group as part of the mass transport topic. Used the 'Grilled Cheese' font, so titles may need changing if you do not have this font on your computer.

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.

Powerpoint and Comprehension activity used with a high ability year 11 class.

Year 9 - iGCSE Biology, higher ability. Lesson on human populations and limiting factors which affect population growth. Cover bacterial sigmoid curve (to be printed for students). I used an old sheet of exam questions (not uploaded) to test their understanding of growth curves. Next lesson: to look at population pyramids.

Introduction to plant organ systems, with a mixed ability year 9 class.

Used with a highly able year 12 class.

Used with a high ability GCSE class. Years 9,10, 11