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Spark Science

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Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers. From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.

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Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers. From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.
KS3 - The Solar System
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - The Solar System

(0)
This lesson is the second lesson in the “Space” topic and covers the structure of our solar system and the composition of the planets within it. The lesson contains various links to online videos, modelling software and simulations that really help students understand the vastness of space and allow them to explore the universe in which we live. It also addresses the misconception around the distances between selestial objects, gives students the opportunity to describe strenghts and weaknesses in scientific models, and an activity to get students to identify patterns and trends in data about the planets. This lesson is designed to be easy to teach, student led and is ideal for non-specialist teachers. This Lesson Contains: Lesson powerpoint, including activity delivery instructions for teachers, full answers, 3 main student activity tasks to choose from, plenary task, AFL whiteboard task and discussion activities Student Activity Worksheet and Answer Sheet (PDF) (Main task Option C) Lesson Objectives: Describe the structure of our Solar System Compare position and composition of the planets of the Solar System Identify trends and patterns in data and draw conclusions
KS3 - Choosing Graphs and Drawing Pie Charts
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Choosing Graphs and Drawing Pie Charts

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This is the third lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist” topic. This lesson revises what discrete, catagoric and continuous data are, and practices getting students to select the correct graph (bar chart, line graph or pie chart) to use for different examples of data. Students will also practice drawing their own pie charts. The lesson powerpoint is interactive and packed with quick and easy AFL tasks to help teachers assess the class understanding of content, and can be sped up or slowed down as necessary. The lesson is complete and is a “click and teach” style lesson that will require little to no prep work for the teacher, so is ideal for those short on time and non-specialist teachers. This lesson includes: Teacher powerpoint with full answers built into slides, teacher delivery and hints in “notes” section, worked examples, AFL finger voting activites to assess understanding, answers to student worksheet Student worksheet (PDF) Lesson Objectives: Select the appropriate graph to display data Present data as a pie chart For this lesson students will need: Calculators Pencils Protractors This lesson is taught with the assumption that students have met “types of data” before, but have never drawn pie charts or calculated angles of pie charts.
KS3 - Calculating Means, Medians and Modes
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Calculating Means, Medians and Modes

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This is the fourth lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist 2” topic. This lesson gets students to practice maniplulating data to find means, medians and modes. This lesson contains AFL whiteboard tasks to assess student understanding in real time, a data collection activity and various opportunities for students to practice calculations. This lesson resource contains all answers as well as challenge tasks. It is designed to be easy to follow and present, so is great for non-specialist teachers. Lesson resources: Lesson powerpoint containing teacher help/instructions in the “notes” section, AFL whiteboard activity, student data collection and manipulation activities, challenge tasks throughout Lesson objectives: Describe what a mean, median and mode are Calculate Mean, Mode and Median for a set of data For this lesson students will need: Calculators
KS3 - Bias, Evidence and Peer-Reviewing
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Bias, Evidence and Peer-Reviewing

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This is the last lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist 2” Topic. It covers types of evidence, sources of bias in research and evidence, the process of peer-reviewing and what things we should look for when deciding whether evidence (and the conclusions drawn from it) is good. This lesson is an interactive lesson filled with student activities and participation, including finger voting, class discussions/debates, and mini-whiteboard tasks. This lesson is designed to be “click and teach” and will require very little planning by the teacher, and with teacher delivery notes and all answers built into the slides it is perfect for non-specialists and those a little uncertain about the lesson content. Lesson Resources contain: Lesson powerpoint including class discussions, finger voting AFL tasks, whiteboard AFL tasks, discussion slides, careers links, plenary task, student summary questions, and full answers throughout Lesson outcomes: Describe how to assess sources of evidence Identify possible sources of bias Describe what a peer-review is
KS3 - Communicating Scientific Infomation
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Communicating Scientific Infomation

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This lesson is lesson 6 in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist 2” topic. This lesson focuses on how we communicate science to different audiences, and how we can tailor our writing and presentation of information to suit them. This lesson is designed to be a “click and teach” lesson with minimal planning needed from the teacher, which is great for non-specialist teachers. Lesson resources contain: Lesson powerpoint containing class activities and instructions, teacher delivery notes in “notes” section, discussion slides and full answers. PDF copies of different types of scientific communication (A childrens science book, newspaper article and scientific journal article) all about melting ice caps. PDF copy of a simple scientific journal article for students to adapt about the effects of temperature on seed germination (Students should have already looked at germination in Year 7) NOTE: All example pieces of scientific writing are all tailor made for this lesson and are of the correct reading age for Year 8 students. Lesson Outcomes: Describe the key features of effective scientific communication Describe how to adapt communication for different audiences
KS3 - Reading and Analysing Graphs
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Reading and Analysing Graphs

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This is the 5th lesson in the “Working as a Scientist 2” Year 8 topic. This lesson teaches students how to identify relationships in graphs using the line of best fit and how to describe trends in graphs. It also covers the ways we can improve our confidence in graphs/data, how to deal with outliers, and how to read values from a graph using the line of best fit. It is a comprehensive lesson, with large amounts of student participation on mini-whiteboards (so loads of chances for AFL and intervention if needed). The lesson can be lenghtened or shortened with slides cut out depending on student ability and prior knowledge. Students can then practice their skills independently by drawing and analysing their own graph on the student worksheet. Lesson resources: Lesson powerpoint with all answers built in automatically, various mini-whiteboard AFL tasks for students, discussion activities, scaffolding and dual coding to support lower ability/EAL/AEN students. Student worksheet PDF Student worksheet answers PDF Lesson objectives: Identify linear and directly proportional relationships Take readings from a graph using a line of best fit Describe how to improve confidence in conclusions made from graphs For this lesson you will need mini-whiteboards
KS3 - Working as a Scientist 2
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Working as a Scientist 2

7 Resources
This bundle is the complete lesson resources needed to teach core “Working Scientifically” skills to KS3 students, following the UK national curriculum. These lessons are interactive, engaging, student-led and focused. This topic contains careers links, reading opportunities and AFL strategies throughout (including mini-whiteboards and finger voting) to help you know how your students are doing. All questions, worksheets and tasks come with complete answers. Lessons included: Accuracy, Precision and Hypotheses Writing risk assessments Choosing graphs and Drawing Pie Charts Calculating Means, Medians and Modes Reading and Analysing Graphs Communicating Scientific Information Bias, Evidence and Peer-reviewing
KS3 - Animal Cells
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Animal Cells

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This lesson covers the KS3 basics of animal cells, including their basic structure, the function of each part of the animal cell, and how to observe animal cells (cheek cells) under a microscope. This Lesson Includes Lesson powerpoint with full answers, guidance for teachers in delivery and engaging activities designed for EAL and AEN students, interactive plenary multiple choice quiz, challenge tasks for higher ability students Practical order form/risk assessment CLEAPPS Guidance on practical completion Student key note/worksheet (PDF and Editable word versions) Student worksheet answers (PDF and Editable word versions) Lesson objectives State what a cell is Name the different parts of an animal cell Describe the function of each part of an animal cell Use a microscope to view animal cells (cheek cells)
KS3 - Using a Microscope
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Using a Microscope

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This complete lesson teaches students the parts of the microscope, how to use one, what they’re used for, and how to calculate magnification. This lesson contains: Complete lesson powerpoint, including mini-whiteboard AFL tasks for calculating magnification and full answers Student handout sheet (with and without hints for AEN students) Plenary task Lesson Objectives Name the parts of a microscope Describe how to use a microscope to observe very small objects Calculate the total magnification used to observe an object View and focus objects under a microscope
KS3 - Specialised Cells
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Specialised Cells

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This lesson covers examples of specialised cells, their adaptations and how those adaptations make them suited for their function. **This lesson resource includes: ** Complete lesson powerpoint Student led circus investigation task sheet (PDF and editable versions) Answer sheet (PDF and editable versions) Information cards for task on different specialised cells (PDF and editable versions) Automatically checking multiple choice plenary quiz (great for mini-whiteboard AFL) Lesson Objectives Know what a specialised cell and an adaptation is Give some examples of specialised cells Identify and describe the adaptations of some specialised cells Explain how an adaptation makes a specialised cell good at its function
KS3 - Diffusion in Cells
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Diffusion in Cells

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This lesson covers the KS3 biology curriculum looking at diffusion in cells and describing the movement of some of the key particles that move in and out of cells. Lesson objectives: Name some substances that move into and out of cells Describe the process of diffusion Describe examples of diffusion in cells This Lesson Contains: Complete lesson powerpoint with animations, video clip link, student tasks and guidance for teachers Student gap fill worksheet for higher and lower ability (differentiated) (PDF and Editable versions) Answer sheet for student gap fill
KS3 - Unicellular Organisms
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Unicellular Organisms

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This lesson covers the KS3 national curriculum on unicellular organisms, focusing primarily on euglena and amoeba. This lesson looks at what unicellular organisms are as well as their parts and what each part does, and how they are similiar/different to animal/plant cells. Lesson Objectives: Know what a unicellular organism is Name 2 examples of unicellular organisms Describe the features of an amoeba Describe the features of an euglena This lesson resource includes: Interactive lesson powerpoint with answers, teacher delivery guidance and plenary task Student led reading task worksheet with questions (PDF and editable) Reading task answer sheet (PDF and Editable)
GCSE Chemistry - Diamond and Graphite
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

GCSE Chemistry - Diamond and Graphite

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A comprehensive, engaging, challenging, and interactive lesson package designed with non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind. This lesson covers content from GCSE AQA Chemistry and Combined Science Trilogy. It covers the properties, structure and bonding in graphite and diamond, as well as explaining the key properties of diamond and graphite (electrical conductivity, melting point, hardness) to its structure and bonding. This lesson contains: Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes, delivery instructions and answers in “notes” section Bank of exam style questions on graphite and diamond taken from past AQA papers with mark schemes (PDF and editable versions) Printable images of graphite and diamond for students to annotate (PDF and editable versions) Lesson resources contain: In-built challenge tasks throughout AFL mini-whiteboard tasks throughout In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities and alternative task for lower ability classes Colour coding throughout to aid EAL, SEN and other learners Various activites to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources Full answers to all questions (mostly automated into slides to make it easier for you to deliver) Objectives: Students will be able to… State some properties of diamond and graphite Compare the properties of diamond and graphite Compare the structure and bonding in diamond and graphite Explain the similarities and differences in the properties of diamond and graphite in terms of structure and bonding
KS3 - Formation of the Solar System
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Formation of the Solar System

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This lesson is the third lesson in the “Space” topic and covers the basics of how our solar system formed. The lesson contains links to online videos, whole class AFL tasks to assess understanding and two independent tasks for students to complete. This lesson is designed to be easy to teach, student led and is ideal for non-specialist teachers. This Lesson Contains: Lesson powerpoint, including activity delivery instructions for teachers, full answers, AFL whiteboard task and discussion activities Student Gap fill summary worksheet (PDF) AND answer sheet (PDF) Student crossword activity worksheet (PDF) AND answer sheet (PDF) Lesson Objectives: Describe how the Solar System formed
KS3 - Why we Get Seasons
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Why we Get Seasons

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This lesson is the fourth lesson in the “Space” topic and covers why we get different length days and different temperatures at different times of year. The lesson contains a mini-student practical, animated gifs to illustrate concepts clearly, AFL miniwhiteboard tasks to assess understanding, and a link to an online modelling software that really helps students understand the changing angles and position of the sun at different times of year. This lesson is designed to be easy to teach, student led and is ideal for non-specialist teachers. This Lesson Contains: Lesson powerpoint, including activity delivery instructions and tips for teachers, full answers, gif illustrations, simulation link, plenary task, AFL whiteboard tasks and discussion activities Lesson Objectives: Explain the apparent motion of objects in the sky Explain why hours of daylight and temperature change during the year Describe seasonal changes in different places on Earth
KS3 - Phases of the Moon
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Phases of the Moon

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This lesson is the fifth lesson in the “Space” topic and covers why the moon appears to change shape in our sky and the names of the phases of the moon. The lesson contains a mini-student practical, AFL mini-whiteboard tasks to assess understanding, challenge tasks for higher ability students, and a link to an online modelling software that really helps students understand the changing phases of the moon. This lesson is designed to be easy to teach, student led and is ideal for non-specialist teachers. This Lesson Contains: Lesson powerpoint, including activity delivery instructions and tips for teachers, full answers, simulation link, mini-class practical (and optional alternatives), plenary task, AFL whiteboard tasks and discussion activities Student phases of the moon worksheet (PDF) and answer sheet (PDF) Lesson Objectives: Name/Sketch/Describe the phases of the Moon Explain why you see phases of the Moon
KS3 Biology - Levels of Organisation
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 Biology - Levels of Organisation

7 Resources
This bundle is a complete topic pack containing all powerpoints, student worksheets, risk assessments, stretch and challenge tasks, and answer sheets for the Biology topic “Levels of Organisation”. It also contains many student-led activities on the powerpoints (particularly designed to make the learning of parts and functions of organs/joints etc… easier, more fun and student-led), plenary activities. There are also interactive slides to demonstrate concepts (e.g. gas exchange) as well as self-completing slides where answers can be clicked and move into the correct place (great for distance learning students and cover lessons). Bundle includes: Lesson 1: Tissues and Organs Lesson 2: Organ Systems Lesson 3: Gas Exchange Lesson 4: Breathing Lesson 5: The Skeleton Lesson 6: Joints Lesson 7: Muscles Lesson Objectives: Lesson 1: Tissues and Organs Define the terms “tissue” and “organ” Identify some of the key organs in the human body Identify some of the key organs in plants Describe what some key organs do Lesson 2: Organ Systems Define the term “organ system” Identify some of the key organ systems in the human body and what they do Describe the hierarchy of organisation in a multicellular organism Lesson 3: Gas Exchange Name the key parts of the lungs Define the process of gas exchange Describe how parts of the gas exchange system are adapted to their function Compare inhaled and exhaled air WS: Read data from pie charts and draw conclusions Lesson 4: Breathing Describe the physical changes that occur when a person inhales and exhales Describe a method used to estimate lung volume WS: Measure lung volume WS: Correlate and analyse data from a practical experiment to draw conclusions Lesson 5: The Skeleton Label some of the main bones in the skeleton Describe the structure of a bone Describe the functions of the skeletal system Lesson 6: Joints Name and give examples of the types of joint found in the human body Describe the role of joints in movement Label the structure of a joint Carry out the dissection of a joint Lesson 7: Muscles Describe what a muscle is and give some examples Describe how muscles cause movement in the body Describe how antagonistic muscles control movement at a joint WS: Investigate the strength of muscles
KS3 - Eclipses
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 - Eclipses

(0)
This lesson is the sixth and final lesson in the “Space” topic and covers what solar and lunar total/partial eclipses are and why they happen. The lesson contains an optional class practical/demonstration of eclipses, AFL mini-whiteboard tasks to assess understanding, video task, and stretch and challenge tasks for higher ability students throughout. This lesson is designed to be easy to teach, student led, and is ideal for non-specialist teachers. This Lesson Contains: Lesson powerpoint, including activity delivery instructions and tips for teachers, full answers, mini-class practical instructions, plenary task, AFL whiteboard tasks, and relevant video link Student eclipses worksheet (PDF) and answer sheet (PDF) Lesson Objectives: State what a solar and lunar eclipse are Explain how solar and lunar eclipses happen
KS3 Physics - Space
emily_k_brown1994emily_k_brown1994

KS3 Physics - Space

6 Resources
This bundle contains all the lessons you need to cover the KS3 English National Curriculum on Space. These lessons are designed to be easy to teach (especially for non-specialists), interactive, student-led, and AfL filled/driven. These lessons contain video links, various online simulations for students to use to aid their understanding and sense of wonder, PDF worksheets, complete PDF answer sheets, answers to all powerpoint questions (either incorperated into the powerpoint slides or in the notes sections), teacher delivery notes/tips in the “notes” sections of the powerpoints, stretch and challenge tasks for higher ability students throughout each lesson, various AfL tasks (e.g. finger voting/mini-whiteboards/true-false quizzes), and plenary tasks for each lesson. This bundle contains the following lessons: The Night Sky The Solar System Formation of the Solar System Why we get Seasons Phases of the Moon Eclipses