I aim to create detailed lessons for KS3 and KS4 science lessons, simplifying content for both teachers and pupils. My lessons include a lot of pupil-centred tasks and modelling activities where appropriate to engage pupils in their learning. As an AQA examiner for the new GCSE trilogy and triple science course I include a lot of 'past paper' style questions in my lessons that match the type of questions students will be asked in examinations.
I aim to create detailed lessons for KS3 and KS4 science lessons, simplifying content for both teachers and pupils. My lessons include a lot of pupil-centred tasks and modelling activities where appropriate to engage pupils in their learning. As an AQA examiner for the new GCSE trilogy and triple science course I include a lot of 'past paper' style questions in my lessons that match the type of questions students will be asked in examinations.
A series of 6 simplistic revision mats designed for the Foundation Triple Chemistry specification.
The revision mats contain:
Key definitions with space for students to write in the key term
Basic recall questions/ comprehension tasks followed by short answer questions to test understanding
Summaries of the required practical activities and sample questions based on these RPA’s
There is a revision mat for each topic (Topic 1 - atomic structure and the periodic table, Topic 2 - structures and bonding, Topic 3 - quantitative chemistry, Topic 4 - chemical changes and Topic 5 - energy changes) with an additional revision mat for electrolysis (Topic 4 - Chemical changes)
A revision mat for the new AQA GCSE covering the following tests:
Flame tests
Testing for cations using sodium hydroxide
Testing for carbonates
Testing for sulfates
Testing for halides
A useful, visual tool for students to revise from or complete during the practical
A fully resourced lesson bundle for the AQA Topic 5 unit - Energy changes. Suitable for foundation and higher tier Triple candidates (content can easily be deleted for Trilogy)
The bundle features double lessons on:
Exothermic and endothermic reactions and bond energy calculations
Energy transfer in neutralisation required practical
Cells, batteries and fuel cells
The lessons feature informative, user-friendly slides, links to videos and suggestions of modelling tasks/ teaching activities, regular assessment questions throughout the powerpoints to check understanding with animated answers, word documents with exam-style questions and answers and a revision sheet for the entire topic.
An A3 revision worksheet and powerpoint designed for Foundation level triple Chemistry students.
The revision worksheet contains recall questions with supporting diagrams and a list of key definitions with space for pupils to fill in the key terms.
A fully resourced lesson bundle for the AQA Topic 10 unit - Using Resources. Suitable for foundation and higher tier Triple candidates (content can easily be deleted for Trilogy)
The bundle features double lessons on:
Potable water, waste water and purification of water RPA
Corrosion, alloys and copper extraction (phytomining and bioleaching)
Ceramics, composites and polymers
Sustainability and life cycle assessments
The Haber process and NPK fertilisers
The lessons feature informative, user-friendly slides, links to videos and suggestions of modelling tasks/ teaching activities, regular assessment questions throughout the powerpoints to check understanding with animated answers and a word document with exam-style questions and answers for each lesson
A lesson to describe the Earth's early atmosphere and present day atmosphere together with explanations for changes in the composition of the atmosphere.
The lesson includes:
A card sort to accompany a video looking at developments in the Earth's atmosphere
A storyboard task with descriptions
A cartoon strip learning mat activity that students can annotate individually/ work in groups to explain changes in Earth's atmosphere
Past paper questions with answers animated into the powerpoint
A lesson and resources covering the chromatography required practical task for AQA.
Lesson includes instructions for the practical, an introduction to chromatography with a worksheet to label a chromatogram and assess understanding of the technique and practice on interpreting chromatograms. The powerpoint includes an image of a chromatogram that could be printed off for students to interpret. There is also an evaluation question of two chromatography experiments to identify common problems with the chromatography set-up.
Lesson explaining what a carbon footprint is and the problems caused by pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon particulates and nitrogen oxides.
Features a starter activity based on prior learning of the topic that settles pupils into their learning (formation of the atmosphere, greenhouse gases, deforestation and climate change), hidden drawing task, definition match for terms carbon capture, carbon neutral, carbon offset and carbon footprint, information stations for an independent learning activity, video link and exam-style review questions with model answers.
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at the extraction, processing, use and disposal of Earth’s resources. The lesson contains three main objectives:
A recap of the difference between renewable and finite resources
Explaining why reducing the use of Earth’s resources is important
Describe the components of a life cycle assessment and compare the suitability of materials for products using life cycle assessments.
Lesson features include:
A series of basic recall questions from previous learning (water treatment, the purification of water required practical, rusting, methods to prevent corrosion, alloys, alternative methods of copper extraction, thermosetting and thermosoftening polymers)
A cartoon image to introduce current issues with the rate at which earth’s resources are being plundered
Slides introducing the difference between renewable and finite resources with a sorting task for pupils to complete (animated answers on the slide to review progress)
Discussion questions around the impact of extracting resources using quarrying/ mining with a review summary
An envoy/ circus task recapping the extraction and processing of different materials and their disadvantages that has been covered in previous topics - plastics (topic 7), petrol (topic 7), iron (topic 4/10), aluminium (topic 4) and copper (phytomining and bioleaching covered in topic 10)
Review questions on the first learning objective
Two video clips, slide containing relevant news headlines and discussion questions around the importance of ‘reducing, reusing, recycling’ materials (video clips from a recent documentary on landfill looking at the dangers of landfill and alternatives to plastic bags - the latter clip I have produced a slide of questions to go with it)
Slides summarising the importance of recycling metals and plastics, linking metal recycling to the importance of gold for smartphones
Several slides of exam-style review questions for the second objective with animated answers for easy assessment
An introduction to what a life cycle assessment is using the life cycle of a human. A table explaining considerations for each of the stages of a life cycle assessment is included (could be printed off for students to use)
A group/ individual task considering the LCA’s for paper and plastic straws to determine what sort of straws McDonald’s should use (relevant to current news)
Review questions comparing life cycle assessments for materials with animated answers
A series of exam-style questions on a Word document with animated answers on the powerpoint
Lots to choose from here!
A lesson looking at the structure of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates and DNA. The lesson also contains multiple revision questions and a double-sided revision sheet for the whole of the Organic Chemistry unit of work (AQA spec). The lesson features:
- A homologous series match up task and series of statements requiring students to name the homologous series to which the statement is referring to
- Review questions on the structure of proteins, carbohydrates and DNA
- A DNA modelling task using sweets, with questions to assist pupils in describing and evaluating their models
- A double sided revision sheet (last slides of the powerpoint) for the whole topic
A lesson/series of lessons covering the following learning outcomes:
- The difference between pure and potable water
- How freshwater, seawater and waste water are treated
- Distillation required practical (including how to test for the presence of salt in seawater before and after distillation)
The resource features a worksheet summarising different water treatment methods for pupils to complete, a true/ false review, exam questions with animated answers and an RPA task sheet with success criteria and application questions.
A lesson on the AQA required practical carrying out tests to identify cations and anions in substances and instrumental analysis methods
Included in the resource is:
A starter question on chromatography with mark scheme incorporated into the powerpoint for review
Instructions to carry out the required practical (flame tests, testing using sodium hydroxide, testing for carbonates, sulfates and halides)
Review tasks requiring pupils to identify ions in substances and describe tests for anions and cations
A question booklet on the lesson with mark scheme incorporated into the powerpoint for review and challenging extension question
A revision mindmap for pupils to complete on testing for ions
Whiteboard plenary
Flash card homework task.
Bags of content, will cover a double lesson!
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at the properties of groups 1, 7, 0 and transition metals. The lesson looks at the reactions of group 1/7 and how to explain their reactivity. The lesson features a wide range of questions to check on student understanding
Lesson features include:
A starter consisting of 10 basic recall questions from previous learning with animated answers (isotopes, structure of the atom, electron configurations, history of the atom)
A slide containing a table and animated answers that could be shared whilst demonstrating group 1 reactions with water/ watching a video
A series of slides prompting students to write word and symbol equations, together with a series of summary questions and exam-style questions
Slides guiding students through explaining reactivity of group 1 and 7 using a split board, allowing students to see model answers whilst answering a slightly different question
A slide introducing the concept of a displacement reaction using celebrity relationships
A host of questions on displacement reactions of group 7
A link to a video on transition metal properties and summary following the video
A comparison question of group 1 and transition metals
Question related to predicting boiling points of group 0
A worksheet with exam-style questions covering the properties of groups 1, 7 and transition metals
A KS3 lesson looking at the difference between atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures, how to represent elements as symbols and interpreting the numbers of atoms and elements in a chemical compound. The lesson features:
-An engaging starter task using a video to ascertain students prior ideas around what elements are (Daniel Radcliffe singing 'the elements song')
-Key term and definition match
- Quick multiple choice questions to assess student understanding
- A task using sweets to model atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures including an opportunity for students to explain their arrangements
- A worksheet requiring students to recognise atoms, elements, compounds and mixtures
-An activity to help students recognise element symbols on the periodic table
An activity to practice recognising numbers of atoms and elements in chemical formulae
A lesson designed around the AQA GCSE specification looking at how to calculate relative formula mass and how to balance symbol equations. The lesson would also be suitable for an able KS3 class.
The powerpoint features a lot of step-by-step worked examples and plenty of opportunity for student practice with questions that progress from simple to more complex examples alongside animated answers. Lesson features include:
A 10 question starter quiz based on previous AQA GCSE learning with animated answers (questions based on Topic 1 atomic structure content to assist with long term memory retrieval)
Slides explaining to students how to work out the number of different elements and atoms a chemical formula contains, followed by an independent task requiring students put this teaching into practice for a range of different chemical formulae. Answers have been included in the powerpoint to allow for student assessment.
Slides guiding pupils on how to work out the relative formula mass of a substance, incorporating 3 worked examples that contain step-by-step instructions with each stage of the calculation animated via a mouse click.
An independent task requiring students to calculate the relative formula mass for a range of different chemical formulae. Answers have been included in the powerpoint to allow for student assessment.
A slide explaining to students how to deduce an unknown element in a chemical formula when given the relative formula mass, alongside a step-by-step modelled example question and 3 additional practice questions for students to complete
Slides providing a clear method for pupils to follow when balancing symbol equations. To help pupils master the skill of balancing equations the powerpoint contains 5 worked examples progressing in difficulty, with each stage of the calculation process animated via a mouse click.
An independent differentiated task (based on ‘bronze, silver, gold’ medals) incorporating 24 balancing equations questions. Pupils can select which level of the task to work at dependent on their confidence with balancing equations
A complete lesson to compare the processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration. The lesson features engaging video clips looking at the effects of aerobic and anaerobic respiration on the body, a foldable resource with instructions to compare the processes, review questions with answers for assessment and an application of knowledge task to explain the lactic acid concentration in the blood of a runner. A 6 mark question is also included to explain changes in the body during exercise
A great revision resource for students, can be used as a starter, plenary, independent learning resource or group activity.
Students roll a dice twice and answer the question in the box corresponding to their numbers. Resource contains questions based on the new AQA GCSE from:
Topic 1: Atomic structure and the periodic table
Topic 2: Bonding, structure and properties
Topic 3: Quantitative chemistry
Please note the resource does not contain answers
A series of lessons for the new AQA GCSE Topic 6 - rates of reaction. The bundle features lessons on:
- Measuring the rate of reaction
- Factors affecting the rate of reaction
- RPA 1 - magnesium and hydrochloric acid
- RPA 2 - sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid
- Reversible reactions and equilibrium (not including Le Chatelier's principle)
A set of lessons covering Topic 8 Chemical analysis. Topics covered include:
Testing for ions
Instrumental analysis techniques (including flame emission spectroscopy)
Testing for gases
Chromatography
A double lesson/ series of lessons looking at the difference between complete combustion and incomplete combustion and the process of catalytic cracking. The lesson features:
- A starter question grid based on previous learning (fractional distillation and creation of crude oil) with animated answers for student self-assessment
- Slides describing the difference between incomplete and complete combustion followed by questions to be used with a demonstration (testing for the products of complete combustion)
- Practice on balancing complete combustion equations (with correct balanced symbol equation answers given)
- Explanation of the process of cracking with numerous past paper questions built into the powerpoint containing animated answers for assessment of progress
- Past paper questions based on lesson content with animated answers