A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
This lesson explains the principles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PowerPoint has been designed to cover point 6.1.3 (d) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification
A quick quiz competition is used to introduce the PCR abbreviation before students are encouraged to discuss the possible identity of the enzyme involved and to recall the action of this enzyme. Students will learn that this reaction involves cyclical heating and cooling to a range of temperatures so the next part of this lesson focuses on each temperature and specifically the reasons behind the choice. Time is taken to examine the key points in detail, such as why Taq polymerase has to be used as it is not denatured at the high temperature as well as the involvement of the primers. This process is closely linked to other techniques like electrophoresis which is covered in a later lesson and ties are continuously made throughout the lesson
This process is mentioned in other uploaded lessons in this module such as electrophoresis and genetic engineering to allow students to understand how it is critical for DNA analysis
This bundle of 8 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B11 (Inheritance) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Inheritance as the transmission of genetic information
Chromosomes, genes and alleles
Inheritance of sex in humans (XX and XY)
The haploid and diploid nucleus
Mitosis and the production of genetically identical cells
Meiosis and the production of gametes
Understanding genetic terminology (e.g. genotypes)
Using Punnett crosses to interpret the results of monohybrid crosses
Interpret pedigree diagrams
Phenotypic and genetic variation
Continuous and discontinuous variation
Natural selection
Selective breeding
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This is a fully-resourced lesson that is written for GCSE students and focuses on the calculations associated with the numerous equations that electrical power is found in. The lesson includes a fast-paced lesson presentation and a series of questions on a worksheet which has been differentiated two ways.
Over the course of the lesson, the students will meet the different equations which include the factor of electrical power. Their whole range of mathematical skills will be tested, including rearranging the formula, conversion between units and simplifying two equations into one. The understanding of each of these skills and equations is checked through a range of tasks, each of which has a displayed mark scheme and explanation at the end so that students can self-assess their understanding. Students are encouraged to discuss and come up with insightful questions and answers.
This is a fully-resourced lesson that has been written for GCSE students and focuses on the meaning of the term, potential difference, and guides students through using this factor in calculations. A range of student-led tasks will challenge the students to recognise how a voltmeter needs to be set up to measure the potential difference and then gets them to use the readings to calculate other factors. Their mathematical skills will be tested throughout and students will be asked to analyse their answers and study a series circuit to learn the key rule about potential difference in these types of circuits. Progress checks have been written into the lesson at regular intervals so students are constantly assessing their understanding.
This bundle of 11 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic P2 (Electricity) of the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Circuit diagram symbols
Electric charge and current
Current, resistance and potential difference
Resistors
Diodes
Series and parallel circuits
Electricity in the home
Power
The National Grid
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 5 lessons covers all of the content in Topic B2 (Cells) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Living organisms are made of cells
Structure of a plant cell and an animal cell
Functions of the organelles in animal and plant cells
Structure and function of specialised cells
Calculating magnification and size
Defining diffusion
The factors that influence the rate of diffusion
Movement through the cell membrane by diffusion
The movement of water by osmosis
The effects on plant tissues by solutions with different water potential
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 6 lessons covers all of the content in Topic C9 (The Periodic Table) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
The Periodic Table as a method of classifying elements and its use to predict properties
Describe the relationship between group number and outer shell electrons
Describe and predict the properties of the Group 1 elements
Describe the properties and reactions of the Group 7 elements
The transition elements
The noble gases
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 13 lessons covers all of the content in Topic C3 (Atoms, elements and compounds) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Identifying physical and chemical changes
Differences between elements, compounds and mixtures
Differences between metals and non-metals
The terms solvent, solute, solution and concentration
The structure of the atom
Electronic configurations
Isotopes
The formation of ions by gain or loss of electrons
Simple covalent structures
Dot and cross diagrams for covalent structures
Allotropes of carbon
Giant covalent structures
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 6 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C10 (Metals) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Describe the general properties of metals
Describe metallic bonding in terms of the lattice and electrons and use this to explain malleability and conductivity
Describe alloys as a mixture of a metal with another element
Explain why alloys are used instead of pure metals
The reactivity series
The use of carbon for the extraction of metals from their ores
The series of reactions in the extraction of iron
Extraction of aluminium
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 9 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic P1 (Motion) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Define speed and calculate average speed
Distinguish between speed and velocity
Define and calculate acceleration
Plot distance-time graphs and speed-time graphs
Calculate acceleration and distance travelled from a speed-time graph
Distinguish between mass and weight
Recall and use the equation W = mg
Describe how forces can affect a body
Plot and interpret extension-load graphs
Understand Hooke’s Law
Friction and air resistance
Resultant forces
Calculating moments
The principle of moments
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 7 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C14 (Organic Chemistry) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Name and draw the structures of the alkanes and alkenes
Separation by fractional distillation
The names of the fractions and the properties of molecules within a fraction
The properties and reactions of the alkanes
Alkenes as unsaturated hydrocarbons
The cracking reaction to produce alkenes
Recognising saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons
The formation of ethanol by fermentation or hydration of ethene
Complete combustion of ethanol
Polymers
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 5 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic C2 (Experimental techniques) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Understand the use of paper chromatography
Interpreting paper chromatograms
Pure and impure substances
Separation methods including filtration, crystallisation, distillation, fractional distillation and paper chromatography
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 6 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic C8 (Acids, bases and salts) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Describe neutrality and relative acidity or alkalinity in terms of pH
Describe the characteristic properties of acids including the reactions with metals, bases and carbonates
Describe and use the tests for cations, anions and gases
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 6lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B7 (Transport) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
The functions of the xylem and phloem
The transport of water through the xylem vessels
Transpiration as the loss of water vapour
Factors affecting transpiration rate
Name and identify the structures of the mammalian heart
The transport of blood in arteries and veins
The blood vessels associated with the heart and lungs
Coronary heart disease
The structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries
The function of red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This bundle of 4 lessons covers the majority of the content in sub-topic P5.1 (Wave behaviour) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Physics specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Waves and their properties
Wave velocity
Sound properties and uses
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to allow students to assess their knowledge of the topic of cells and related topics as covered in the GCSE Biology and GCSE Combined Science courses. As cells are the building blocks of living organisms, a strong understanding of this topic is critical for the success of a student on these two courses.
The following topics are covered in this revision lesson:
The key differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
The structure of a bacterial cell
Specialised cells
The individual functions of the organelles
Calculating size
Students will be engaged through the range of activities which includes quiz competitions such as “CELL, CELL, CELL” where students have to compete to identify specialised cells from descriptions. This lesson can be used at any time during the year as a revision material, in the lead up to mocks or as a final revision lesson before the GCSE terminal exams.
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 3 (Atoms, elements and compounds) of the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) specification. The lesson covers the content in both the core and supplement sections of the specification and therefore can be used with students who will be taking the extended papers as well as the core papers.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
CORE
State the relative charges and approximate relative masses of protons, neutrons and electrons
Define proton number (atomic number) as the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
Define nucleon number (mass number) as the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
Define isotopes as atoms of the same element which have the same proton number but a different nucleon number
Describe the build-up of electrons in ‘shells’ and understand the significance of the noble gas electronic structures and of the outer shell electrons.
Describe an alloy, such as brass, as a mixture of a metal with other elements
Describe the formation of ions by electron loss or gain
Describe the formation of ionic bonds between elements from Groups I and VII
Describe the giant covalent structures of graphite and diamond
Relate their structures to their uses, e.g. graphite as a lubricant and a conductor, and diamond in cutting tools
SUPPLEMENT
Describe the formation of ionic bonds between metallic and non-metallic elements
Explain the differences in melting point and boiling point of ionic and covalent compounds in terms of attractive forces
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “The name’s BOND” where they compete to be the 1st to name the type of bond being described whilst crucially being able to recognise the areas of this topic which need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams
This is an engaging and fully-resourced revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quiz tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 1 (Key concepts in Biology) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology 9-1 specification.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Explain how the sub-cellular structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are related to their functions
Describe how specialised cells are adapted to their function
Know that changes in microscope technology, including electron microscopy, have enabled us to see cell structures and organelles with more clarity and detail than in the past
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between quantitative units in relation to cells
Explain how substances are transported into and out of cells, including by diffusion, osmosis and active transport
Core Practical: Investigate osmosis in potatoes
Calculate percentage gain and loss of mass in osmosis
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “CELL, CELL, CELL” where they have to compete to quickly identify specialised cells from their descriptions whilst crucially being able to recognise the areas of this topic which need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.
This is a detailed and engaging REVISION lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 3 (Waves) of the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Physics 9-1 specification (4PH1) for first assessment in June 2019.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Use the following units: degree (°), hertz (Hz), metre (m), metre/second (m/s) and second (s)
Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves
Know the definitions of amplitude, frequency, wavelength and period of a wave
Know and use the relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave
Use the relationship between frequency and time period
Explain that all waves can be reflected and refracted
Know that light is part of a continuous electromagnetic spectrum that includes radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma ray radiations and that all these waves travel at the same speed in free space
Know the order of the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of decreasing wavelength and increasing frequency, including the colours of the visible spectrum
Explain some of the uses of electromagnetic radiations
Draw ray diagrams to illustrate refraction
Know and use the relationship between refractive index, angle of incidence and angle of refraction
Describe the role of total internal reflection in transmitting information along optical fibres and in prisms
Explain the meaning of critical angle c
Know and use the relationship between critical angle and refractive index
Know that sound waves are longitudinal waves which can be reflected and refracted
Know that the frequency range for human hearing is 20–20 000 Hz
Understand how the loudness of a sound relates to the amplitude of vibration of the source
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “Should you WAVE goodbye” where they have to decide whether a passage about a sub-topic of waves is completely correct whilst all the time evaluating and assessing which areas of this topic will need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual International GCSE exams