A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
A fully-resourced lesson that uses a range of tasks, understanding checks and quick competitions to guide students through calculating the relative formula mass for substances with a range of chemical formulae. The relative formula mass is required in a lot of calculations, such as those that involve moles, so it is an important skill to get right. Worked examples are used throughout the lesson to visualise the metho for the students. Initially, students will learn how to calculate the mass from simple formulae before helpful hints are provided for harder formulae such as those that contain a bracket. Students are given the chance to apply their knowledge by proving that mass is conserved in a reaction. This lesson has been written for GCSE students but could be used with higher ability KS3 students in lessons that are looking to push knowledge forward
A fully-resourced lesson which guides students through the method involved in calculating the empirical formula and includes a concise, clear lesson presentation (21 slides) and practice questions. Students are given a template to use as they are introduced to the questions and then encouraged to work without it as the lesson progresses. The students are shown how empirical formula questions can be made more difficult and hints are given so that students are able to tackle them and access all of the marks available.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK)
An engaging lesson presentation (33 slides) which walks students through the main steps in the extraction of iron from its ore. The lesson begins by challenging the students to recall the reactivity series of metals and specifically the position of iron in relation to carbon so they recognise that it can be extracted by reduction with carbon. Key skills from other Chemistry topics are tested during the lesson such as writing chemical formulae and redox reactions. The rest of the lesson involves a step-by-step guide where students are given a passage and a symbol equation with something missing which they have to complete. This task ensures that students recognise the products, formulae and state symbols at each stage. A number of quiz competitions are used during the lesson to maintain engagement and progress checks have been written into the lesson at regular intervals so that students can assess their understanding.
This lesson has been written for GCSE students and fits in nicely with other resources that are uploaded (extracting metals and extracting aluminium).
An engaging lesson presentation (67 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within TOPIC 7 (Organic chemistry) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification point C4.7)
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes
Fractional distillation and petrochemicals
Properties of hydrocarbons
Cracking and alkenes
Alkenes
Alcohols
Carboxcylic acids
Addition polymerisation
Condensation polymerisation
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “What FRACTION of this is correct” and “Are you on FORM” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
An engaging lesson presentation (77 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within TOPIC 2 (Bonding, structure and properties of matter) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification point C4.2)
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Chemical bonds
Ionic bonding
Ionic compounds
Properties of ionic compounds
Covalent bonding
Metallic bonding
Properties of metals and alloys
The three states of matter
State symbols
Structure and bonding of carbon
Size of particles and their properties
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “The name’s BOND…” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
This REVISION resource has been designed to motivate and engage students whilst they are challenged on their knowledge of the content in topics C1-C5 of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification which can be assessed on PAPER 1. This is fully-resourced and contains a detailed PowerPoint (208 slides) and accompanying worksheets, some of which have been differentiated.
The resource was written with the aim of covering as many of the sub-topics in C1-C5 as possible, but the following ones have been given a particular focus:
The chemical properties of the Group 1, 7 and 0 elements
The structure of atoms and ions
The properties of ionic compounds
Drawing dot and cross diagrams to represent ionic compounds
Extracting metals using carbon
REDOX reactions
Electrolysis of molten salts and solutions
Neutralisation reactions
Writing balanced chemical symbol equations
Simple and giant covalent structures
Diamond and graphite
Calculating the relative formula mass
Moles and Avogadro’s constant
Calculating the mass in reactions
Molar volume (Gas calculations)
Concentration of solutions
The organisation of the Periodic Table
Due to the extensiveness of this resource, it is likely to be used over the course of a number of lessons with a particular class and this allows the teacher to focus in on any sub-topics which are identified as needing more time.
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 8 (Fuels and Earth Science) of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Recall that hydrocarbons are compounds that contain carbon and hydrogen only
Describe and explain the separation of crude oil into simpler, more useful mixtures by the process of fractional distillation
Recall the names and uses of the fractions
Explain how hydrocarbons in different fractions differ from each other
Describe the complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels as a reaction
Explain why the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons can produce carbon and carbon monoxide
Explain how carbon monoxide behaves as a toxic gas
Explain how impurities in some hydrocarbon fuels result in the production of sulfur dioxide
Explain some problems associated with acid rain caused when sulfur dioxide dissolves in rain water
Explain why, when fuels are burned in engines, oxygen and nitrogen can react together at high temperatures to produce oxides of nitrogen, which are pollutants
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen, rather than petrol, as a fuel in cars
Explain how cracking involves the breaking down of larger, saturated hydrocarbon molecules (alkanes) into smaller, more useful ones, some of which are unsaturated (alkenes)
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which includes a quiz competition called “POLLUTE THE AIR…WITH THE ANSWER” where they have to compete to be the 1st to recognise a pollutant gas from a series of clues whilst crucially being able to recognise the areas of this topic which need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams
This revision resource contains an engaging and detailed PowerPoint (66 slides) and associated worksheets, all of which are differentiated to allow students of different abilities to access the work. The range of activities that include exam questions with explained answers and quiz competitions covers the content within topic 11 (Air and water) of the CIE IGCSE Chemistry specification for examination in June and November 2020 and 2021. The resource was written to cover as much of the content as possible but the following topics have received particular attention:
The fractional distillation of air to separate oxygen and nitrogen
The composition of clean air
The variety of reactions that form carbon dioxide
The changes in the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and the link to global warming
The common pollutants and their effects on health and buildings
The treatment of water to make it safe
The chemical tests for water
The conditions needed for the Haber Process
Efforts have been made during the design of this lesson to make connections between topic 11 and the other topics in order to show students how important it is to make Biological links. In addition, there is a big emphasis on mathematical skills and guidance is given throughout to break down any barriers that students may have with these types of questions.
This is an informative and engaging lesson, which has been designed for GCSE but is perfectly suitable for younger students who are studying the states of matter. Students will have encountered this topic at KS3 and potentially before, and therefore the aim of this lesson is to consolidate that knowledge and to deepen in critical areas. A number of quick competitions have been written into the lesson to maintain engagement and to test prior knowledge in a different way. In addition, progress checks are found at regular intervals so that students can constantly assess their understanding. The start of the lesson looks at the different properties of the three states and ensures that particle diagrams are not only recognised but can be explained. A lot of students consider elements to be in one state only at all times and therefore time is taken to show them how the specific temperature is the determining factor on the state. Students are guided through using the melting and boiling points to determine which state a substance is in at a given temperature. The rest of the lesson focuses on changing state and the change in the particles at each of these stages.
An engaging and informative lesson presentation (43 slides) that shows students how to write accurate chemical formulae for ionic compounds.
In order to write accurate chemical formulae, students need to know the charges of the ions involved. For this reason, the lesson begins by reminding students how they can use the Periodic Table to work out the charge of the charged atoms. Students are shown how they can use these ion charges to write the formula and then are given the opportunity to apply this to a number of examples. Moving forwards, students are shown how some formulae need to contain brackets. The lesson finishes with a competition called “Ye Olde Chemical Formula Shop” where students get points if they are the first to work out the formula of a given substance.
This lesson has been written for GCSE students.
This is a detailed and engaging lesson presentation which focuses on the properties of the elements found in group 1 of the Periodic Table, the alkali metals. Students are challenged throughout the lesson to be able to link their observations of the reactions to the properties. Once they have learnt that the reactivity increases as they move down the group, time is taken to go over this in detail so that students can explain why sodium is more reactive than lithium (and so on) in terms of electron configuration. Progress checks are embedded throughout the lesson so that students have the opportunity to assess their understanding.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but is suitable for younger students who may be carrying out a project on the Periodic Table
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 1 (Key concepts in Chemistry) of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification. Topic 1 is assessed in both papers 1 and 2, and therefore this lesson has been written in the detail that means it is likely to be used over the course of a number of lessons.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Explain why atoms contain equal numbers of protons and electrons
Recall the meaning of the term mass number of an atom
Describe atoms of a given element as having the same number of protons in the nucleus and that this number is unique to that element
Describe isotopes as different atoms of the same element containing the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei
Calculate the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms given the atomic number and mass number
Calculate the relative atomic mass of an element from the relative masses and abundances of its isotopes
IONIC BONDING
Explain how ionic bonds are formed by the transfer of electrons between atoms
Recall that an ion is an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative charge
Calculate the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in simple ions given the atomic number and mass number
Explain the formation of ions in ionic compounds from their atoms, limited to compounds of elements in groups 1, 2, 6 and 7
Deduce the formulae of ionic compounds (including oxides, hydroxides, halides, nitrates, carbonates and sulfates) given the formulae of the constituent ions
COVALENT BONDING
Explain how a covalent bond is formed when a pair of electrons is shared between two atoms
Explain the formation of simple molecular, covalent substances, using dot and cross diagrams
TYPES OF SUBSTANCE
Explain the properties of typical covalent, simple molecular compounds
Recall that graphite and diamond are different forms of carbon and that they are examples of giant covalent substances
Describe the structures of graphite and diamond
Explain the properties of metals, including malleability and the ability to conduct electricity
CALCULATIONS INVOLVING MASSES
Calculate relative formula mass given relative atomic masses
Calculate masses of reactants and products from balanced equations, given the mass of one substance
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which includes a quiz competition called “POLLUTE THE AIR…WITH THE ANSWER” where they have to compete to be the 1st to recognise a pollutant gas from a series of clues whilst crucially being able to recognise the areas of this topic which need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams
An engaging lesson presentation (73 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within TOPIC 1 (Atomic structure and the Periodic Table) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification unit C4.1).
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Mixtures
Development of the model of the atom
The subatomic particles
Electronic structure
The periodic table
Group 0
Group 1
Group 7
The transition metals
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “UNLOCK the safe" whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
This is a fully-resourced lesson, designed for GCSE students, that lteaches students how to prove that mass is conserved in a chemical reaction and guides them in the explanation of why some reactions do not give equal masses when measured.
The lesson begins by introducing the law of the conservation of mass. Students will learn that they can expect questions which challenge them to prove that mass is conserved through the use of the relative formula mass. Therefore, the next section of the lesson focuses on the skills associated with this calculation and looks at more different formulae such as those with brackets. Students are given an opportunity to check their skills before trying to prove mass is conserved in three chemical reactions. All questions have displayed mark schemes so that students can assess their understanding. The rest of the lesson looks at instances of when the mass of the reactants does not equal the mass of the products. A practical method for the decomposition of copper carbonate is provided if the teacher wants to use it, so that students can collect results which show this difference in mass. Discussions are encouraged in order to get students to offer explanations as to why the mass of the products is lower. Once the gas has been identified, students are further challenged to consider apparatus that could be used to collect and record the results to again prove conservation.
A fully resourced lesson that includes a lesson presentation (31 slides) and a related newspaper story to allow the students to compare the structure and properties of two allotropes of carbon, diamond and graphite. Students are guided through the structures and then challenged to work out how this relates to their respective properties. Time is taken to focus on the comparison between the two in terms of their ability to conduct electricity. A step by step answer is used to explain why diamond cannot conduct electricity so that students can use this when forming their answer for graphite.
This lesson has been designed primarily for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds) where questions comparing these two substances are common but it is suitable for use with younger students too.
A detailed lesson which uses a step by step guide to take students through titration calculations. The lesson begins by looking at jey terminology such as the “rough” and “titre”, which are discussed and explained so that there isnt any confusion. Time is taken to go over key steps in the method, such as using the molar ratio from the equation, so that students are prepared for these if they encounter in an assessment.
This lesson has been designed primarily for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but is suitable for older students covering this at A-level
A fully-resourced lesson which looks at the saturated hydrocarbons known as the alkanes and focuses on their structure and reactions. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (38 slides) and an associated worksheet which is differentiated.
The lesson begins with the introduction of the name of this group and then a step-by-step guide is used to show students how to draw the displayed formula. Once the first four have been drawn, students are shown how to calculate the general formula for the alkenes and then challenged to do the same for the alkanes. Moving forwards, students will meet the key term, saturated, and time is taken to ensure that the meaning of this word is understood in the context of this lesson. Once they have been introduced to bromine water, students are challenged to work out what will happen when this substance is added to an alkane and they have to explain their answer. The remainder of the lesson looks at the complete and incomplete combustion of the alkanes, focusing on the different products of these reactions and specifically the problems associated with carbon monoxide.
There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson to allow the students to check on their understanding.
An engaging lesson presentation (64 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within TOPIC 8 (Chemical analysis) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification point C4.8)
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Pure substances
Chromatography
Identification of common gases
Identification of ions
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “Take the CHROMATOGRAPHY hotseat” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
This is an engaging and practical-based lesson which uses the background idea of a man needing to make crystals for a date to engage students into understanding how the separation methods of filtration and crystallisation work. Like all of the lessons in the separation topic, a lot of the key terms sound similar and are often wrongly used by students. For this reason, time is given in the lesson to ensure that students can use them correctly, especially when describing filtration. In line with the background of the lesson, students are challenged to come up with the apparatus and substances needed to make the crystals. A method is provided so should the teacher choose, students will be able to carry out the practical and produce the copper sulphate crystals. Progress checks are written into the lesson at regular intervals, which question the students on this lesson topic and that of related ones and the final task of the lesson involves an exam question where students have to describe the method and equipment needed to make crystals.
This lesson has primarily been written for GCSE students (14 - 16 years in the UK) but is appropriate for younger students who are studying the separation topic
A fully-resourced lesson which explores how the composition of different alloys is related to their properties and their uses. The lesson includes an engaging and informative lesson presentation (38 slides) and an associated differentiated worksheet.
The lesson begins by challenging the students to use their Chemistry knowledge of numbers to come up with the letters of the word alloy. Students are introduced to the definition of this key term and then use a wordsearch to find both the names of the alloys but also the metals that are found in these mixtures. The main aim of this lesson is to get students to understand why alloys are chosen for jobs rather than pure metals and there is a focus on atoms and their arrangement. Students are challenged to use the example of copper and brass to complete a summary passage which is differentiated so that those who need more assistance are still able to access the work. The remainder of the lesson focuses on steel and solder, again exploring how their different features are related to how they are used in modern day life. Progress checks have been written into the lesson at regular intervals to allow the students to check their understanding and a range of quick quiz competitions will aid engagement.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students but could be used with KS3 students who are looking at mixtures within the atoms and elements topic.