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Outstanding GCSE and A level chemistry resources

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.
Fermentation High School Chemistry - covers symbol equations and the two methods of making ethanol
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Fermentation High School Chemistry - covers symbol equations and the two methods of making ethanol

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This is a thoroughly planned lesson on the production of ethanol by fermentation of glucose and hydration of ethene. It has differentiated resources and a variety of activities and exam question plenaries to check student understanding. There is an optional production of ethanol practical that could be included in this lesson or as a separate lesson. Students start by recalling the formulae for different substances then learn the symbol equations for the two methods of ethanol production. They then carry out a literacy activity where they sort the advantages and disadvantages of each method of ethanol production. The lesson concludes with an exam question plenary. The practical could be included before comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hydration versus fermentation.
Alloys High School Chemistry - independent learning through role play, creative task and using data
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Alloys High School Chemistry - independent learning through role play, creative task and using data

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This is an independent learning lesson on alloys for High School Chemistry. It is designed to promote independent learning and higher level thinking through role play, designing an aeroplane and justifying the choice of metals used by using data from a data table. The lesson starts by getting students to think about what three properties metals used to make the worlds fastest jet engined plane (SR-71 Blackbird) would need. Students could be shown a short video from YouTube to prompt their thinking and write their answers on post-it notes. They they then discuss what alloys are and could be asked identify the alloys in the metal trump cards pack (this would need to be printed in advance). They are then introduced to the 4 person role play task where they design an aeroplane. Limit their on this task to around 20 minutes. At the end they could either present their work or answer the 6 mark exam question at the end of the lesson. There is a student-friendly marking grid provided. The lesson menu is available for weaker students. Please look carefully at each of the resources provided before the lesson and decide which ones would best suit your group and length of lesson. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Mass spectrometry for Senior High School Chemistry
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Mass spectrometry for Senior High School Chemistry

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This is a thorough set of structured resources on using mass spectrometry to identify molecules. The starter is a fun Just a Minute literacy activity that recaps prior understanding of mass spectrometry. There is then a highly structured series of slides that discuss how bond enthalpy (bond strength) data can be used to determine which bonds in a molecule will break. Slide 14 (bond enthalpy data) can be printed as a handout for the students to use for the grade C task. The grade B/A task is where students identify molecules from their mass spectrometry spectra. The mass spectra to be identified can be laminated and students can annotate the laminates using whiteboard pens. The answers and a markscheme is provided on the PowerPoint. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Photosynthesis High School tarsia - challenging - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision
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Photosynthesis High School tarsia - challenging - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision

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This is a fun yet challenging High School Biology tarsia for revision of photosynthesis. This can also be used as an assessment for learning tool at the end of the lesson. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: organs of a plant, minerals, formulae of chemicals in the photosynthesis symbol equation, limiting factors and chlorophyll. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Rate of reaction tarsia for High School / ACT - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Rate of reaction tarsia for High School / ACT - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of rates of reaction. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: symbol equations, factors affecting rate and rate graphs. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Relative formula mass and relative atomic mass High School tarsia - starter, plenary or revision
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Relative formula mass and relative atomic mass High School tarsia - starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of calculating relative formula mass. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: relative atomic mass of atoms and isotopes (isotopes are limited to isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen) and relative formula mass of different compounds. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Metals and non-metals Middle School tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision
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Metals and non-metals Middle School tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision

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This is a fun Middle School Chemistry tarsia for revision of metals and non-metals. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: element symbols and properties of metals and non-metals. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Balancing equations High School tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision
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Balancing equations High School tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of balancing equations. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: reaction with oxygen, why we need to balance equations, a variety of balanced and unbalanced equations and number of atoms. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Paper chromatography High School Chemistry  tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision
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Paper chromatography High School Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun yet challenging High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of the paper chromatography. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: Rf value, adsorb, solvent, soluble and uses of chromatography. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
French ER verbs present tense tarsia - jouer, parler, regarder - use as starter, plenary or revision
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French ER verbs present tense tarsia - jouer, parler, regarder - use as starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fully differentiated tarsia puzzle for conjugating French ER verbs in the present tense. It is a fun kinesthetic way of revising verb conjugation. It gets students to more fully understand spoken and written language by helping them appreciate that 'I play' is the same as 'I am playing' . This sort of revision activity is particularly useful for boys. There are 18 pairs of questions and answers written in 16 triangles. When properly assembled a large equilateral triangle is formed. Answers are provided as well an 'easy start' that provides 4 of the 16 triangles as a starting point for weaker students. The 'group 1 metals A4 2 page' is an A4 tarsia that has 8 triangles per page. I suggest that these are printed on card and students cut them out. They are great for AFL. end of lesson plenary or plenary. If the writing of the A4 tarsia is too small then use the medium version.
Fractional distillation of crude oil High School Chemistry tarsia - starter, plenary or revision
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Fractional distillation of crude oil High School Chemistry tarsia - starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia for comparing different theories of atomic structure. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle shape. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: names and uses of different fractions, size of alkanes and flammability, alkanes vs alkenes and fractional distillation apparatus. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Atomic theory High School Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision
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Atomic theory High School Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun yet challenging High School Chemistry tarsia for comparing different theories of atomic structure. There are 18 triangles with 21 pairs of questions and answers that make a kite shape. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: names of scientists such E.R. Rutherford and J.J. Thomnson who played important roles in developing atomic theory, isotopes, electron shells and the periodic table, charge on subatomic particles and comparisons of the main models. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Haber process High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision
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Haber process High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or for revision

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This is a fun yet challenging High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of the Haber process. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: formula of ammonia, catalyst used, conditions used, feedstocks, reversible reactions, equilibrium, endothermic, exothermic, yield and rate of reaction. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
State symbols High School Chemistry tarsia - use for starter, plenary or revision
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State symbols High School Chemistry tarsia - use for starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia on state symbols. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle shape. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following chemicals: calcium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, water and carbon dioxide. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Formulae High School Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision
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Formulae High School Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia on chemical formulae. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle shape. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following chemicals: calcium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, water and carbon dioxide. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Expanding brackets fun High School Mathematics tarsia - use for lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Expanding brackets fun High School Mathematics tarsia - use for lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun expanding brackets fun High School Mathematics tarsia. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle shape. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. The question and answer pairs are designed to be very similar so that students need to carefully think about what they are expanding and simplifying. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Atomic structure Chemistry tarsia - for lower ability students - use as starter, plenary or revision
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Atomic structure Chemistry tarsia - for lower ability students - use as starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of atomic structure. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: subatomic particles, using the periodic table to work out the number of subatomic particles. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Combustion High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Combustion High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High school Chemistry tarsia for revision of combustion. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: formulae, complete combustion, incomplete combustion, carbon neutral, products of combustion. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Cracking hydrocarbons High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Cracking hydrocarbons High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun GCSE chemistry tarsia for revision of cracking hydrocarbons. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: state of ethene, octane and polyethene at room temperature, supply vs demand, formulae of ethene, decane and pentane, bromine water test. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Acids and alkalis Middle School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Acids and alkalis Middle School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun Middle School Chemistry tarsia for revision of acids and alkalis. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: indicator, pH meter, pH of different substances, formula of HCl and water. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.