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 concise lesson presentation that focuses on the key details that students need to know about diodes for the GCSE examinations. The lesson begins by introducing the idea that diodes only allow current to flow in one direction. Moving forwards, time is taken to go through the potential difference vs current graph in 3 parts so that students can explain how the diode functions. Moving forwards, students will meet a LED and then in the style commonly associated with the 6 mark exam question, they are challenged to use data in a table to compare the effectiveness of a LED against other light bulbs.
This is a detailed REVISION lesson that contains an engaging powerpoint (99 slides) and is fully-resourced with associated worksheets. The lesson uses a range of activities which include exam questions (with displayed answers), differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to engage students whilst they assess their knowledge of the content that is found within topic 8 (Global challenges) of the OCR GCSE Physics A specification.
The following specification points are covered in this lesson:
Explain the factors which affect the distance required for road transport vehicles to come to rest in emergencies and the implications for safety
Estimate how the distances required for road vehicles to stop in an emergency, varies over a range of typical speeds
Estimate the forces involved in typical situations on a public road
Describe the main energy sources available for use on Earth, compare the ways in which they are used and distinguish between renewable and non-renewable sources
Explain patterns and trends in the use of energy resources
Recall that step-up and step-down transformers are used to change the potential difference as power is transferred from power stations
Link the potential differences and numbers of turns of a transformer to the power transfer involved; relate this to the advantages of power transmission at high voltages
Recall that the domestic supply in the UK is a.c. at 50Hz and about 230 volts
Recall the differences in function between the live, neutral and earth mains wires, and the potential differences between these wires
Explain the red-shift of light as seen from galaxies which are receding (qualitative only). The change with distance of each galaxy’s speed is evidence of an expanding universe
Explain how red shift and other evidence can be linked to the Big-Bang model
Recall that our Sun was formed from dust and gas drawn together by gravity and explain how this caused fusion reactions, leading to equilibrium between gravitational collapse and expansion due to the energy released during fusion
Recall the main features of our solar system, including the similarities and distinctions between the planets and their moons
Due to the size of this revision lesson, it is likely to be used over the course of a number of lessons and can also be used throughout the duration of the GCSE course, as an end of topic revision lesson or as lessons in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson which contains a wide range of activities to allow students to assess their understanding of the content in topic 2.3 (Work and energy) of the WJEC GCSE Physics specification. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying differentiated resources use exam-style questions, tasks, discussion points and quick quiz competitions to check on the following specification points:
The equation W= Fd
The understanding that work is a measure of energy transfer
The fact that an object can possess energy due to its motion, position and deformation
Application of the equations for kinetic energy and changes in gravitational potential energy
Application of the conservation of energy
Understand the relationship between force and extension for a spring
Application of the equation to calculate spring constant
Using the force-extension graph to calculate the work done in stretching
Improving the energy efficiency of vehicles
This detailed and engaging lesson has been written to challenge the students on their recall and application of the 21 equations which they have to know for the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Physics exams. The lesson is designed to not only check that they know these equations but also on their ability to rearrange formulae when required and to convert between units. The main task of the lesson consists of 12 exam-style questions which challenge 14 of these recall equations and then an engaging quiz competition and class discussions are used to identify the other 7. Students are guided throughout the lesson in the use of the mathematical skills and are shown examples to aid their progress.
This lesson has been designed to tie in with the other 8 uploaded revision lessons which cover the content of the 8 topics on the specification.
This lesson covers a large number of the key topics from the AQA GCSE Combined Physics course in the final weeks before the GCSE examinations. The extensive PowerPoint and accompanying resources use a range of activities and tasks including exam questions and quizzes to challenge the students on their knowledge of the following topics and skills:
Units and converting between units
Answering calculation questions (with 1 or 2 equations)
Newton’s 2nd and 3rd laws of motion
Resultant forces
Conservation of energy
Efficiency and reducing wasted energy
Conservation of momentum
Scalar and vector quantities
Motions on a velocity-time graph
The relationship between force and the extension of a spring
Setting up electrical circuits
Current, potential difference and resistance in series and parallel circuits
The properties of ionising radiation
Calculating half-lives
Constructing decay equations
The properties of waves
Refraction
This resource is likely to take 4 or more lessons to cover all of the content.
This engaging revision lesson uses a range of tasks to allow students to check their understanding of radioactive decay and nuclear radiation. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to challenge the detail of point 4.2 of the AQA GCSE physics and combined science specifications and the following sub-topics are covered:
Properties of alpha, beta and gamma
Bq as the unit of radioactivity
Detecting sources of radiation based on their penetrating power
Half-life
Decay equations
Changes to the mass and charge of the nucleus after decay
This engaging and detailed lesson presentation (43 slides) uses a step by step guide to take students through the important scientific skill of drawing graphs to represent data and address all the misconceptions and misunderstandings that often accompany this topic. The lesson begins by explaining to the students how to decide whether data should be represented on a line graph or a bar chart and a competition called "To BAR or not to BAR" is used to allow them to check their understanding while maintaining motivation. Moving forwards, students are shown a 6 step guide to drawing a line graph. Included along the way are graphs that are wrong and explanations as to why so that students can see what to avoid. There are continuous progress checks and a homework is also included as part of the lesson.
This lesson is written for students of all ages who are studying Science.
An informative lesson presentation (37 slides) and accompanying worksheets that guides students through the different methods that can be used to rearrange formulae as they will be required to do in the Science exams. The lessons shows them how to use traditional Maths methods involving inverse operations and also equation triangles to come to the same result. These are constantly linked to actual examples and questions to show them how this has to be applied. There are regular progress checks, with explained answers, so that students can assess their understanding.
A quick, concise lesson presentation (15 slides) which together with a question worksheet focuses on ensuring that students can define an isotope and pick these substances out from a selection of substances. The lesson begins by looking at the number of sub-atomic particles in an aluminium atom so that students can recall what is shown by the atomic and mass numbers. This will enable students to calculate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in three given isotopes and as a result, complete a definition of these substances. The remainder of this short lesson involves 4 application questions where students either have to recognise isotopes from a table or from a diagram and also are asked to write out the formula of an isotope. Ideally this lesson will be taught in conjunction with a lesson on atomic structure.
This bundle of 14 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic P5 (Forces) of the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Contact and non-contact forces
Weight, mass and gravity
Resultant forces
Work done
Investigating springs
Speed and velocity
Acceleration
Distance and velocity-time graphs
Terminal velocity
Stopping distances
Reaction times
Momentum
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 6 lessons covers a lot of of the content in Topic P1 (Energy) of the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Energy stores and systems
Kinetic and potential energy stores
Specific heat capacity
Conservation of energy
Reducing unwanted energy transfers
Efficiency
Energy resources
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 6 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic P4 (Atomic structure) of the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Developing the atomic model
Isotopes
Nuclear radiation
Decay equations
Half-life
Irradiation and contamination
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This is a concise, fast-paced lesson designed to cover the key terminology associated with the waves topic at GCSE and ensure that students are able to recognise and use these terms in context. A number of terms, such a transverse, are known by students but rarely correctly used in written descriptions. Therefore, through a range of tasks and quick competitions, students will meet these terms, learn how to define them and then be asked to apply their knowledge to understanding check questions. This lesson has been written in conjuction with the lesson titled “Wave velocity” and students are challenged to keep an A - Z of key terms during both lessons so they can challenge themselves during revision points.
Alongside the “properties of waves” lesson, this lesson is also designed to be fast-paced with a focus on the key terminology of the waves topic as well as looking at the different calculations that can be carried out. It is written for GCSE students and challenges their mathematical skills throughout, by asking them to rearrange formulae, convert units and write in standard form. The lesson begins by recalling the definitions for wavelength, frequency and wave velocity and then introducing them to the equation that links them. The velocity of sound waves in three mediums is the initial focus, so that students can recognise that the velocity is higher in liquids and solids than in air. Moving forwards, the concept of an echo is discussed and again a calculation used to show them how distance could be worked out with the added extra of the final division by 2. There are progress checks such as these written throughout the lesson so that students have the opportunity to assess their understanding. A number of quick competitions are also included, in order to maintain engagement whilst check understanding in a different form.
This bundle of 7 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic P6 (Radioactivity) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
The atom
Isotopes
Background radiation
Alpha, beta and gamma radiation
Nuclear decay equations
The unit of radioactivity
Half-life
The dangers of ionising radiation
The differences between irradiation and contamination
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 4 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic P4 (Waves) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Using the terms frequency and wavelength
Using the terms amplitude, period and velocity
Longitudinal and transverse waves
Calculating wave speed
Refraction of waves
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 5 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic P3 (Conservation of energy) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science & GCSE Physics specifications. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Calculating change in gravitational potential energy
Kinetic energy
Conservation of energy
Reducing unwanted energy transfer
Efficiency
Increasing efficiency
Energy sources
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding
This is a fully-resourced lesson that is written for GCSE students and focuses on the calculations associated with the numerous equations that electrical power is found in. The lesson includes a fast-paced lesson presentation and a series of questions on a worksheet which has been differentiated two ways.
Over the course of the lesson, the students will meet the different equations which include the factor of electrical power. Their whole range of mathematical skills will be tested, including rearranging the formula, conversion between units and simplifying two equations into one. The understanding of each of these skills and equations is checked through a range of tasks, each of which has a displayed mark scheme and explanation at the end so that students can self-assess their understanding. Students are encouraged to discuss and come up with insightful questions and answers.
This bundle of 9 lessons covers a lot of the key content in Topic P3 (Electricity and magnetism) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Current and charge
Potential difference
Electrical circuit symbols
Resistance and Resistors
Circuit devices
Series and parallel circuits
Circuit calculations
Energy and power in circuits
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 13 lessons covers all of the content in Topic C3 (Atoms, elements and compounds) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Identifying physical and chemical changes
Differences between elements, compounds and mixtures
Differences between metals and non-metals
The terms solvent, solute, solution and concentration
The structure of the atom
Electronic configurations
Isotopes
The formation of ions by gain or loss of electrons
Simple covalent structures
Dot and cross diagrams for covalent structures
Allotropes of carbon
Giant covalent structures
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding