I am a Science and Chemistry teacher focused on Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A. I am also heavily involved in the National Chemistry Olympiad program.
By way of background I have a PhD in inorganic chemistry and entered teaching after 13 years in the food industry.
I guess I am a bit old fashioned - I don't use twitter and I have no idea what instagram or Pinterest are......but I love my subject and I love working with students.
I am a Science and Chemistry teacher focused on Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A. I am also heavily involved in the National Chemistry Olympiad program.
By way of background I have a PhD in inorganic chemistry and entered teaching after 13 years in the food industry.
I guess I am a bit old fashioned - I don't use twitter and I have no idea what instagram or Pinterest are......but I love my subject and I love working with students.
This is the perfect topic to end the year on. It is fun and the students don't even realise there is a serious aspect to it: healthy eating, analysing food etc. You can adjust the depth and type of learning outcomes depending on the age group (eg. if it is an older group I always include a section on microbiology and we swab surfaces and check for cleanliness, learn about how factories manage food safety etc).
This topic encourages student-led learning and there is considerable enthusiasm in the classroom. You do not need to have an ice cream machine, although I did and there is often someone in the class who does have one). I have written up a rough guide on how the 1-2 weeks would go but I found that the students really enjoyed their own research and in some years this took longer than I originally had planned for.
This resource includes: notes for teacher, a base ice cream recipe, ice cream in a bag activity, taste testing template, energy calculation activity and some other ideas (eg poster design).
It is a lot of fun and will save you that painful end of year "now what do we do"?
This resource consists of a 4 page problem booklet (and answers); a very brief set of notes is at the start of the booklet. The problems include some short answer questions (eg relating to Boyle's or Dalton's laws) and some calculations.
The booklet would suit students doing AS or IB chemistry courses.
This resource consists of 3 worksheets: a 4-page and two 2-page worksheets (and answers). Students are asked to complete reaction schemes, draw and/or name molecules and short answer questions. The focus is on amides, esters and some of their organic reactions.
This resource would suit students doing AS, IB or organic chemistry to a high level.
This resources contains 5 pages of problems (2 double-sided wrk sheets) that include
* Alkanes: name and / or draw isomers
* Alkenes: naming and/or draw isomers, organic transformations and geometric isomer problems. In the latter case students are asked to work out how many isomers are possible for a compound with multiple double bonds).
This worksheets will suit students studying for AS or IB organic chemistry. they can be sued as 2 sided w/s or as separate w/s as starters. Answers are provided.
This resource consists of 9 pages of notes and calculation examples and a three 2-page worksheets to help the teacher or student grapple with buffer calculations. The target is A2 and IB students.
The wk/s 4 and 5 (and answers) are essentially a titration on paper where a specific weak acid (or base) is gradually titrated (each problem a new calculation) to show the student the effect the addition of OH ions has on the final pH. Itis a chance to repeat the same calculation multiple times. The format ensures students get to practice on the same system and therefore minimise cognitive overload. Students are encouraged to think about what species are in solution and what part of the titration curve each calculation relates to.
I also encourage a novel way of setting out the calculations, which I (and my students) believe minimises potential mistakes.
This resource consists of 2 worksheets and answers.
It covers definitions, short answer questions and calculations (solubility products, solubility, common ion effect). These w/s would suit students doing Cambridge A2, IB and other higher order chemistry courses.
(some typos were removed 12 May 2019). Please leave feedback about whether this material meets your needs or if you find any mistakes.
This resource contains a number of worksheets and activities that will help Korean students learn Chemistry in an English school environment. It includes:
* 3 page dictionary of key English chemistry science words (both Korean and English). Parts of this list have been broken down into smaller themed lists to act as worksheets for the students (eg periodic table; acids and bases).
* A Korean period table
* Metals/non metals worksheets (with pictures to describe properties and a practical activity)
* Equipment worksheet
* A funworder requiring the student to find the English element
* Some cloze style activities
* A crossword and other starters.
Instruction sentences are also included.
These resources have been used for 12 months and adjusted based on feedback from the students. Please leave feedback on how they can be improved or if you find any mistakes.
Thank you to all those who have bought this resource. Please leave feedback as it helps me better align the material to student needs.
This resource bundle (85) combines material from multiple resources focused on Science for Chinese students learning English as a second language. The purpose of the bundle is to provide material for teachers who have native Chinese speakers in their class. The students are regularly put into other subjects (eg Science) as part of the experience yet often with limited material that targets both language and content knowledge.
This material has been trialed on 20 students over 12 months and refined over the year. This bundle includes material in biology, physics, chemistry and astronomy. Specifically,
* A list of translated general science question phrases typically asked in worksheets and exams
* A list of useful describing words when filling out worksheets and exams
* Chemistry: translated list of words (fill in Chinese or English versions), works sheets covering periodic tale, electron configuration, acid/base, PT trends, fun worders, cross word puzzles, cloze-style activities, short answer questions, True/False activities, 15-20 minute tests, PT, who am I activities and a metal-non metal practical activity.
* Biology: translated list of words (fill in Chinese or English versions), anatomy diagrams for labeling, plants/flower diagrams for labeling, short answer questions, ecology x-wrds, poster activity, classification activity.
* Physics: translated list of words (fill in Chinese or English versions), light and sound x-word, graph w/s, calculation w/s, forces w/s, pressure w/s and power w/s, mechanics w/s
* Astronomy: translated list of words (fill in Chinese or English versions), short answer questions, word finder.
Admittedly, there is slightly more chemistry resources than physics. The students told me that chemistry and biology (and the associated terms) were their biggest issue. Please leave me feedback to let me know what and how I can improve the bundle or tell me of material you are searching for.
This resource contains a number of worksheets and activities that will help Chinese students learn Chemistry in an English school environment. It includes:
* 3 page dictionary of key English chemistry science words (both Chinese and English). Parts of this list have been broken down into smaller themed lists to act as worksheets for the students (eg periodic table; acids and bases).
* A Chinese period table,
* Metals/non metals worksheets (with pictures to describe properties and a practical activity)
* Equipment worksheet
* A funworder requiring the student to find the English element
* Some cloze style activities
* A crossword and other starters.
2-Sept-16: an updated list of Chinese words has been added with some small corrections.
This resource consists of 6 pages of problems (questions, mechanism and 'complete the reaction scheme' questions) targeting the A2 Cambridge program. Answers are provided.
The problems and answers have been checked but if there are any errors or questions, please get in touch with me and I will address them. If you would like a certain type of worksheet please contact me as I am working on other ones for my classes and I will reorder my efforts if I think it can be useful to others.
This resource consists of 5 pages worth of problems containing spectra for 14 compounds. Typically, a molecular formula is given along with 3-4 spectra and the student is then expected to reason using the number of peaks and the signal position which spectra belongs with which structural isomer.
This resource would suit students doing A2 or other advanced Chemistry courses.
All attempts have been made to ensure the answers are correct. Please get in touch with me if you find an error and I will address it and send you an updated version.
This resource consists of a series of w/s with themed problems (and answers). There are 20 pages worth of material (2-4 page w/s) as well as the CIE learning objectives (2016) and the accompanying ppt slides (69 slides).
Problems include naming and drawing compounds, writing mechanisms (SN1 and SN2), elucidating reaction schemes, geometric isomers, unknowns and definitions etc.
updated 9 Nov (pptn was missing)
This resource pack consists of material that will be covered in the AS and A2 program. It includes
+ Power point (53 slides) covering: oxidation number and balancing REDOX equations revision, REDOX calculations, batteries, Nernst equation and electrolysis.
+ Summarised CIE learning objectives
+ Student notes - REDOX (8 pages) that summarise the slides
+ Student notes – balancing REDOX equations
+ 7 -11 work sheets depending on whether double sided or a booklet (19 pages of problems) and answers.
+ Practicals (4)
Buying this bundle will mean buying material used over two years so hopefully it is save you time and be viewed as value for money.
Please note, some of these resources are already available on TES but as smaller bundles.
17 Aug 16: A recent typo was found on the electrolysis w/s and it has been updated (Q4, IV).
This resource consists of some general REDOX notes, which outline how to balance REDOX equations and 2 double sided worksheets (and answers).
The exercises include oxidation number elucidation, balancing half equations and balancing full equations.
This resource would suit A2 students. It contains 4 pages of problems, which can either be printed on both sides and made into an 4-page booklet or used as two separate 2-page problem sheets.
The problems focus on the assignment of signals to the different hydrogen environments in 2-5 carbon organic aliphatic molecules. Some problems ask the student to distinguish between isomers based on the number and type of signals. The start of the worksheet asks students to decide how many signals they can expect based on symmetry arguments. In all cases students are asked to justify their assignments.
Other worksheets are currently being developed that will include aromatic systems and problems based on the combination of IR, Mass spec, 1H and 13C NMR spectra. If you find any mistakes please give me feedback and I will address and send you an updated version.
This resource focuses on laboratory equipment found in a typical school. There are four worksheets.
The first bundle relates to laboratory equipment that is typically used in schools. The student either provides the English word or the Chinese word. Pictures are given on each worksheet. The answers are also provided.
The second bundle relates to words we typically use to describe what we observe in an experiment. It includes terms that are important for drawing and describing graphs.
The feedback from the classroom has been very positive and some colleagues from other schools have asked to use these resources for their Chinese International students.
If there are specific topics you would like please tell me as it is likely they are currently being developed / or used.
This resource consists of 3 worksheets (some double sided) and answers. The first is a starter activity (T or F) and takes about 10-20 minutes to complete. The elements-compounds-molecules and mixtures worksheet has a variety of exercises. The states of matter worksheet largely focuses on a number of short answer questions based on every day scenarios. There are also some diagrams to complete.
The resources target students who are in year 8-10 (13-15 years old) depending on curriculum.
These activities were developed to help native Chinese students learn the English words for the elements of the periodic table. Our lessons are slower than in the typical timetabled class. I found that these worksheets helped the students gain confidence in the spoken and written word as well as learn about the periodic table. Over a 2 week period and many practical activities there was a significant increase in their communication and general engagement in the classroom.
This resource bundle includes a funworder where the student must find the element (and atomic number) based on the Chinese word; two worksheets which require the student to fill in the English word or the Chinese word and a cross word puzzle. Answers are included.
I am not a native Chinese speaker and have had the resources checked by a native speaking Chinese student. If there are any errors please get in touch and I will make the appropriate changes. I would also like feedback as I have a series of resources I will be publishing in the coming weeks. Your feedback will help direct my focus.
This resource consists of 4 worksheets (13 pages of problems in total). The problems require students to write balanced equations (some are redox) and use calculations to solve the problem.
The problems would suit AS and A2 students or those wanting to compete in National Chemistry Olympiad competitions.
(18 Jan2018 post script: an additional 2 w/s have been added that focus only on waters of crystallisation).
This resource consists of all of the material a teacher would need to teach a 3-4 week topic on the Periodic table. Most of the focus is on the PT trends, how it can be used to predict a property of an element or charge on an ion.
The topic also covers subatomic particles, electron configuration, formation of ions, compounds/molecuels, reactions of group 1 and 2 metals with group 6 and 7 non-metals and the tests for H2, O2 and CO2.
Resources include worksheets, starters, projects and short tests. The “notes for teachers” outlines how I teach this subject for both low and higher ability students along with ideas of the projects I set the students. Some documents contain more than 1 worksheet or activity.
Additional slides have been included on balancing equations if the class is stronger. Either use them in this course or save for the following year.
Some of this material appears in other resources at Drogchem's shop (eg balancing equations and funworders). Please get back to me if there are specific things that should be included and I will update this pack.