KS3 Density - could be used with lower ability KS4

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.

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.

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.

Lesson used with a high ability year 7 class. Was used over several sessions. Covers: - What are asteroids? - How the moon was formed. - Who would you take with you to a new planet if an asteroid was to hit Earth? (profession cards in ppt, I printed these on card and gave them to each group to rank in order of importance)

Year 9 Physics lesson, could be adapted. Students to work in small groups to put the order of events in a power station into the correct sequence. Discussion of fission and fusion. Students given source cards and to decide how they would invest the government energy budget, using evidence to support their answers. Exam question practice - could peer assess using markscheme. Plenary: nuclear energy loop game

Resource used for a cover lesson on Space with my high ability year 7 class - could be adapted for different age groups or used as part of an extended project.

Lesson used with a high ability year 7 class. Purpose to get them focus on the skills required to be an astronaut and to consider how they are developing these skills in their own learning. Followed with a letter of application to join the Mars One project. Could be used as a reflective activity at the end of a space topic

Used with my high ability year 8 class - taught separate sciences so this passport is titled Biology, which can obviously be amended. 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.

Year 7 Science lesson - theme of exploration. As they enter the classroom there are an array of items spread out on their desks. I used opera glasses, a fossil collection, a meat thermometer, heart rate monitor, etc. The aim is to get them to brainstorm their thoughts, which focus on what we already know, rather than asking questions and concentrating on the unknown. Prompt them to consider this and develop their questioning! In groups they take a research topic where much doubt remains. They look at what people used to think, what scientists now believe and what we may find out in the future. Then present their findings to other groups, I used a carousel activity. Amazing results - one group looked at subatomic particles down to quarks! Could be spread over more than one lesson. Worked really successfully with my group, as children realised that science is evolving and many questions must be asked if we are to enhance human understanding.

Lesson designed for KS3 to creatively approach the topic of the tilt of Earth's axis and the seasons. Using hibernation and migration to explore these concepts. Students start by watching short clip (John Lewis Bear and the Hare) Research activity on the seasons and hibernation Choice of task: produce a documentary on the tilt of the axis OR to imagine a world without seasons (choose how to present this). Lower ability could make a model to demonstrate how the tilt affects the seasons. Taboo plenary For use over several lessons to enable students to explore this area fully. Fun and interactive!!! (and highlighting the hedgehog which is in huge decline in this country)

Practical lesson designed for my year 7 class. Putting knowledge of forces into action to design a paper aeroplane. Competition for team to create aeroplane which will travel the fastest!

British Science week 2016 This presentation explores the history of science and how it is capable of having both a positive and negative influence. It also looks at some key science talking points from 2015/2016. There is a short quiz, and finally some key questions to consider and hopefully spark an interesting discussion!

Year 7 Science lesson, could be adapted to use with other year groups Students work in groups, each group is researching a different type of plate boundary (conservative, constructive, destructive, collision). They then move around the room and teach other groups about what they have learnt. Focus if the Nepal Earthquake, and students use their learning from the lesson to explain what plate boundary there is in Nepal and why the Earthquake occurred.

Year 7 Science lesson, focus on forces, building considerations, and developing collaboration skills. Students to consider compression and tension as forces that affect building stability. Students to think about the factors which affect your building design. Students to design and create their own structure using spaghetti and marshmallows. Students to update the 'Leaning tower of learning'. Extension activity