I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I mainly teach Biology and Chemistry and have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13.
I teach the following curriculums:
- KS3 Activate
- AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry)
- AQA GCSE Biology
- AQA GCSE Chemistry
- OCR A, A Level Biology
I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I mainly teach Biology and Chemistry and have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13.
I teach the following curriculums:
- KS3 Activate
- AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry)
- AQA GCSE Biology
- AQA GCSE Chemistry
- OCR A, A Level Biology
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, measuring, Bunsen burners, writing methods, drawing tables
A lesson hook - funny graphs showing that correlation does not equal causation
A guided student discussion - name the different types of graph and chart
Direct instruction on categoric vs. discrete data
A checkpoint task on categoric vs. discrete data - which is which?
A fill in the blanks task, with answers
direct instruction - rules for drawing a graph
Spot the mistakes task in various graphs
Guided teacher model (visualiser required) - students draw graph along with teacher
Independent task - students draw their own line graph from a results table
A written plenary task
This resource was designed for a higher ability year 7 class to revise our recent topic on reproduction.
It could be used for a lower ability KS4 group.
There are two different versions of this resource with slight variations - one is more open and challenging, the other is more scaffolded. These have been clearly identified for you.
The areas covered in this revision placemat are:
Labeling the male reproductive system
Labeling the female reproductive system
The function of each of the key reproductive organs
Identifying the changes during puberty that occur in males and females
The stages of the menstrual cycle
Fertilisation
A brief overview of pregnancy and childbirth
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a low ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This is a theory lesson, so suitable for teaching random sampling with quadrats in the winter months!
This lesson focuses on the method of systematic sampling using transect lines.
This resource includes:
A ‘5 in 5’ retrieval-style starter
A retrieval practice (recalling method for random sampling)
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher model slides (examples)
An animated teacher model, helping students to visualise the method
Guided class discussions
Multiple choice hand signals quiz
‘Fill in the blanks’ closed task with answer slide
Exam questions, with optional scaffolds, and answer slides
Written plenary
This is a 1 hour lesson resource designed for a lower ability year 11 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science Biology topic ‘Homeostasis’.
This lesson focuses on reflex arcs, and neurotransmitter release at synapses.
My lesson resources always contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular ‘check for understanding’ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, measuring, Bunsen burners
A lesson hook - writing instructions for an alien to draw a stick man (guidance for teachers included)
A task on reproducibility - students follow instructions for drawing a house
Direct instruction on what makes a good scientific method
Independent task - writing instructions for making a cup of tea
Practical demo - teacher follows students’ instructions and makes cups of tea
Peer assessment slide
An independent task - students write a method for a scientific investigation
A written plenary task
This is a full 1 hour lesson resource designed for a mixed ability year 11 class studying the AQA Biology syllabus. It comes with a full PowerPoint presentation and printouts.
The PowerPoint contains the following:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Lesson hook
Embedded videos
Guided class discussions
Guided teacher model slides
Direct instruction slides (using dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
‘Check for understanding’ slides using hand signals, quizzes etc.
Independent tasks (exam questions), with answer slides
Challenge questions
A written plenary task based on an exam question
A full 1 hour lesson based on the Biology Required Practical 6 from AQA GCSE Combined Science (reaction times). Also suitable for students studying AQA GCSE Biology.
This resource was designed for a lower ability year 11 class, but could easily be adapted for other year groups or abilities.
This resource includes:
A fully guided PowerPoint, with chunked practical instructions
A student worksheet with practical instructions, results tables, and application questions
A conversion table for reaction times
The PowerPoint includes:
A ‘5-in-5’ retrieval-style starter
A lesson hook - an online reaction time game
Chunked practical instructions (slow practical) with use of colour coding and dual coding / imagery for ease of understanding
Models (e.g. a model results table showing how to find an anomaly)
Application questions
Model answers
A written plenary (an exam question, with a scaffold, a mark scheme, and a model answer)
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, and scientific apparatus
A retrieval practice slide checking students’ prior knowledge on reading scales (measuring cylinders, thermometers) - includes an answer slide
A health and safety slide
Practical activity making measurements of volume, temperature, length and mass - with printout of method and results tables
A written plenary task
This 1 hour lesson covers the following topics:
Causes of extinction
Evidence for extinction
The fossil record
The formation of fossils
This is designed with the GCSE AQA Combined Science specification in mind (and includes exam questions from this syllabus), but this should be fairly transferable.
This resource is a fully planned lesson with engaging lesson hooks, an embedded video, exam questions and scaffolded mark schemes, multiple choice quizzes, and a board game for students to play as a group.
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a low ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This is a theory lesson, so suitable for teaching random sampling with quadrats in the winter months!
This lesson focuses on the method of random sampling, as well as the calculations.
This resource includes:
A ‘5 in 5’ retrieval-style starter
A careers link (ecological consultant)
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
An embedded video
An animated teacher model, helping students to visualise the method
Model results
A teacher model on calculating a mean / estimations, with answer slides
Exam question on random sampling method, with optional scaffold, and answer slide
Exam questions on calculations, with answer slides
Written plenary
A full 1 hour lesson on fungal diseases from the AQA GCSE Biology syllabus. Also suitable for AQA GCSE Combined Science.
This resource contains:
A 5 in 5 style retrieval starter
A lesson hook on parasitic fungi in ants
A hook / discussion on making links between athlete’s foot and mushrooms
Direct instruction on athlete’s foot - causes, methods of spread, prevention
A choice task ‘choose the difficulty’ - three deliberate practice questions on athlete’s foot (with answers)
Retrieval practice linking tobacco mosaic virus to photosynthesis topic
Direct instruction on rose black spot
Lightning questions on rose black spot
A practice exam-style question on rose black spot with guided peer assessment
A ‘question olympics’ game - retrieval from this topic
A plenary task
This lesson was designed for a lower ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification.
This lesson covers the Linnaean classification system, the binomial naming system, and the three-domain system of classification.
This is a full 1 hour lesson which contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction slides on classification
An embedded video (catchy song!)
Guided student discussions
Plenty of checkpoints (e.g. multiple choice hand signal questions)
Visual teacher-led models
Student written tasks
Exam questions with scaffolds, and modeled answers
A written plenary
This revision place mat was designed for a lower ability year 11 group studying the topic ‘homeostasis’.
This resources covers the following topics from AQA GCSE Combined Science:
Structure of a neurone
Reflex arc
Ruler drop test method for reaction time
Endocrine system - matching hormones to glands
Blood glucose control (foundation tier only, no glucagon)
Diabetes (type 1 vs. type 2)
An end of year science quiz suitable for all secondary school science pupils, designed for years 7-10.
There are six rounds. Each round is in the style of a classic television game show.
The rounds are:
Round One - Who wants to be a millionaire? Students answer multiple choice questions from a range of topics (Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Students can unanimously decide to use one of the lifelines available.
Round Two - Are you smarter than a 10 year old? Students answer multiple choice questions from the primary school science curriculum, from school years 3-6.
Round Three - The price is right! Students make numerical estimates based on scientific questions, e.g. how many times your heart beats a day. The team closest to the correct answers wins. Points are deducted if students go over the correct answer.
Round Four - Wheel of fortune. Scientific key terms are displayed on the board with most of the letters missing. A short clue is given. Students have to figure out what the key terms are.
Round Five - Pointless. Students are asked a scientific question where they need to name something. Points are given for the most obscure answer.
Round Six - Countdown. Students are given eight letters in a jumble, and a brief clue. Students have until the end of the countdown clock to solve the jumbled science key word.
This lesson resource was designed for a lower attaining year 10 class studying AQA GCSE Combined Science.
This is a full 1 hour lesson.
This PowerPoint contains:
A “5 in 5” retrieval style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction on Lamarck’s theory
Direct instruction on Darwin’s theory of natural selection
A teacher model showing natural selection in flowers
A guided activity where students assess written responses to an exam question on natural selection in Arctic hares using a mark scheme
An independent exam question on natural selection in giraffes, with guided self assessment
Direct instruction on antibiotic resistance
A deliberate practice task on antibiotic resistance and how it develops, with guided self assessment
A written plenary task (an exam question with a mark scheme)
A full 1 hour lesson resource on puberty for a KS3 Biology class.
This resource was originally designed for a mid-set year 7 class, girls only. However, this would be suitable to deliver to any KS3 class of any ability or gender.
This PowerPoint involves:
A “5 in 5” retrieval style starter
A group activity annotating an outline of a female’s body to show the changes that occur during puberty
An embedded video on the changes in males during puberty
Direct instruction on the effects of hormones on starting puberty
A multiple choice hand signal quiz
A ‘choose the word’ written task, with guided self assessment
A written true or false quiz to address misconceptions about puberty
A T-table task sorting changes in puberty into males only, females only, or both males and females
A homework task to write a response to an agony aunt letter
A written plenary task
A full lesson resource on viral diseases from the AQA GCSE Biology specification.
This lesson was designed for a mixed ability year 9 class.
This resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ retrieval starter
Details on how viruses replicate
Direct instruction and a discussion on tobacco mosaic virus
An exam question on tobacco mosaic virus with guided self assessment
A video on HIV and AIDS
A ‘fact or fiction’ quiz about HIV and AIDS
Direct instruction on measles
A hand signal quiz on measles
An open task to design a fact sheet on either AIDS or measles for a doctors’ office
A plenary task
A revision placemat designed for KS3 sutdents based on nutrition.
This could also be suitable for lower ability KS4 students.
The revision placemat covers:
Which nutrients are found in which foods
The function of each nutrient in the body
Labelling the digestive system
The action of protease, lipase and amylase
Labelling the parts of an enzyme / Lock and key theory
Food tests
Effect of temperature on enzymes
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, plus questions on lab safety
An embedded animated video showing and naming key scientific apparatus in the lab
A scavenger hunt activity, for students to find key practical equipment in the science lab
Introduction slides on 2D drawings of apparatus
Whiteboard quiz on naming / drawing apparatus, with answers
An independent task on drawing apparatus, with answers
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, and measuring
A lesson hook about fireworks
Retrieval practice - recap Bunsen burner safety
Direct instruction on how to light a Bunsen burner
A health and safety slide
An apparatus slide
Clear practical instructions on how to light a Bunsen burner
Clear practical instructions on how to do flame tests
A written plenary task