Notes and diagrams on epigenetics for the AQA course, starting from some simple analogies to the real world. I also give the core definition AQA have asked for of epigenetics, which isn’t clearly stated in the textbook but came up on a specimen paper. There’s links to tons of YouTube videos explaining how epigenetics works, and a mnemonic for remembering euchromatin and heterochromatin. Length is two very well-filled pages: you could print it double-sided as a resource for students to keep. Could also be useful for students taking OCR as extension material.

One page revision notes for AQA explaining the idea of error bars. I include model answers for a range of types of question and explanation of what p < 0.05 means. I list a couple of past paper questions which have good questions to practice from, all from the current specification. AQA want you to say that differences are significant if error bars don’t overlap, even though in reality it’s more complicated than that. I clearly explain this and say that this idea shouldn’t be used if students go on to degree-level statistics. Questions and mark schemes consulted in writing these notes included: significant difference: 74022 2020 2.4 differences that are not significant: 74012 2019 1.2 range error bars: 74023 2017 2.5 no error bars: 74022 2020 7.2 probability and chance: 74021 2019 4.4 Update, 2024: Following feedback from a student, added scale to clarify that the error bar shows mean ± SD. Clarified that the comments on probability/significance are when comparing means (so e.g. wouldn’t apply to the chi-squared test).

One-page set of notes on differential ultracentrifugation to extract organelles, covering homogenization, the ice-cold, buffered, isotonic solution, extracting different organelles and links to recommended videos. This set of notes is particularly targeted towards revising the practical come exam time-it doesn’t go into a detailed practical methodology for fractionation but gives exam-oriented explanation of how a centrifuge works, what a cold, buffered, isotonic solution is and why it’s needed. These notes should be suitable for all major A-level courses, but they’re particularly designed to help AQA students taking into account points on the mark schemes for the 74011 specimen paper Q1, 74023 2018 Q5 and 74011 2018 Q7, which would be great for practice alongside these notes.

Worksheet on two pages on extracting metals using carbon (and tungsten), targeting the AQA 9-1 science and chemistry GCSEs in the C5 “Chemical changes” section of the course. Covers the reactivity series, unreactive metals, word and symbol equations, environmental impact, redox and tungsten extraction. There’s an in-depth mark scheme, diagram of a blast furnace and links to recommended videos.

Simple worksheet on two pages covering electrolysis of aluminium for students to fill in. Covers the equations at the cathode, anode, redox, why the process is environmentally damaging and why recycling aluminium is a good thing to do. There’s also links to recommended YouTube videos from Fuse School and the RSC. This plan targets the AQA 9-1 chemistry GCSE course. Versions both in colour and black and white. This lesson plan is given away for free in order to encourage recycling! But if you like it please check out my lesson plan on metallic bonding, my worksheet on AQA solution electrolysis equations and on extracting metals using carbon and other lesson plans. I also have versions for Edexcel GCSE and Edexcel iGCSE. Update: 13/3/24: added clarification that the cathodes are graphite and added a link to a video showing bauxite mining to show the amount of land needed.

Worksheet covering wave speed, frequency, and wavelength, on two pages, targeted for AQA 9-1 GCSE physics. Intended to provide a graduated scheme of work from definitions to calculations of wavelength, frequency, wave speed, period, longitudinal and transverse waves. There’s diagrams and power triangles for the two core equations for the student to practice using and a mark scheme. Particularly suitable for 1:1 tuition. Questions consulted include 8463/2H 2021 Q5, 84652H 2020 Q5 and 8464/P/2H Q3. Update, June 2024: following feedback from students, I decided that including unit conversions in the worksheet made calculations too long, so removed this, also put power triangles on both sides of the worksheet to make them easier to find.

Combined lesson plan: a presentation on metallic bonding, simple fill-in-the-blank questions questions and a harder sheet of written questions linked to the presentation, and a take-home set of notes on one page. Covers metallic bonding, conduction of electricity and heat, the fact that metals are malleable/ductile and alloys. Starts with a mixer exercise covering uses of metals and also includes some properties and uses of the most common metals. Need to use this lesson plan in a hurry and want to deliver a polished lesson? I’ve got you covered: each slide ends with a full stop marking that it’s the last point on the slide so you know when the slide’s going to change. Also, each exam question slide has a spare line before the answer is revealed so you don’t accidentally show the answer too early. Included is a fairly easy fill-in-the-blanks worksheet and an exam-style written questions worksheet matching questions on the presentation, and the mark schemes for both. Both worksheets have pictures and diagrams to stimulate students. The notes have diagrams and also links to two recommended YouTube videos for revision. The pack is suitable for all specifications for GCSE and is useful for recap for students coming into A-level. It’s particularly been written for the AQA trilogy and synergy chemistry GCSEs and hits specific phrasing from their mark schemes. Doing Edexcel iGCSE? I now have a specific version for that course covering things like the types of steel. Besides covering metallic bonding, the presentation introduces themes for future lessons, like that metal recycling saves energy and rust prevention.

Notes on one page covering all the tests for cations for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry, including the precipitation equations, and links to videos of them being done. I’ve also included model equations, both complete and ionic, for the precipitation reactions, with examples for a +2 and +3 ion. Versions included both in colour and in black and white for photocopying.

Revision notes of the negative ions for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry on one page, including both complete and ionic equations for the reactions. Versions both in colour and for black and white printing. There’s both a full and ionic equation for carbonate, sulfate and halide ion reactions to give students good models. To show the differences in formulas between compounds of metals that form +2 and +1 ions, there’s equations for both sodium and calcium carbonate too.

Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals covering two pages for AQA 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form, and checked against a similar question on the 84621H specimen paper. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. Written targeting AQA but would be suitable for other exam boards. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Topic area: required practical 1 and 4.4 Chemical Changes > 4.4.2 Reactions of acids > 4.4.2.3 Soluble salts > Preparing a pure dry sample of a soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or carbonate. I also have a version for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry.

Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals from copper oxide (insoluble base method) covering two pages for Edexcel 9-1 iGCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Questions consulted include 2C June 2016 Q7 for technique (I recommend this for exam-style practice) and 1CR June 2019, question 5d for rate of reaction and temperature. I have a similar worksheet for AQA GCSE chemistry.

Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals from copper oxide (the insoluble base method) covering two pages for Edexcel 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Specification reference: SC8c core practical, preparing copper sulfate, C3.17

Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions. For the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSEs. The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students. These worksheets are very similar to my set for AQA, if you tutor both courses you don’t really need the other version. For the Edexcel iGCSE, I intend to do a version of this worksheet specific to that course in future, but for now this worksheet is fine to use; a few questions (10 and 11 on the written worksheet, 3 on the link-the-boxes worksheet) aren’t things students need to memorise but those questions would still be fine for students to do as “suggest” questions.

Worksheet on one page on when you use less and when you use fewer. Versions both in colour and black and white and a mark scheme. Colourful design with emoji graphics for each question to make it more enjoyable.