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.
This is a fully-resourced lesson that looks at the different parts of the National Grid, specifically focusing on the roles of the step-up and step-down transformers. The lesson includes an informative lesson presentation (25 slides) and a calculations worksheet which challenges the students to apply their mathematical skills to work out why the potential difference is increased and decreased by the transformers. Time has been taken to make links to related topics such as electrical circuits as well as the conservation of energy. Students will recognise that a high current would have led to a lot energy being dissipated to a thermal energy store if step-up transformers weren’t involved and also that decreasing the potential difference before it enters the homes as mains electricity is important to reduce the risk of electrocution. A number of quick competitions are used to introduce key terms or to check on understanding such as ORDER, ORDER which is shown on the cover image where students have to recognise when the parts of the National Grid are finally shown in the correct order.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE aged students.
This bundle of 7 lessons covers most of the content in sub-topic P4.3 (Radioactivity) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics or specification points covered within these lessons include:
Atomic nuclei
Isotopes
Unstable nuclei and emitting particles or gamma rays
Writing balanced equations to represent decay
The concept of the half-life
The different penetrating powers of alpha, beta and gamma
Recall 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 9 lessons covers all of the content in the sub-topic P3.2 (Simple circuits) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
The differences between series and parallel circuits
Represent direct current circuits with the common electrical symbols
Current and the dependence on resistance and potential difference
Recall and apply the relationship between I, V and R
The graphs for thermistors and LDRs
Diodes
Net resistance
Current, potential difference and resistance calculations in series and parallel circuits
Power transfer in a circuit
Applying the equations to do with electrical 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 6 lessons cover all of the content in the sub-topic P2.1 (Motion) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics or specification points covered within these lessons include:
Measuring distance and time to calculate speed
Conversion from non S.I. units to S.I. units
Be able to distinguish between scalar and vector quantities
Relate changes in motion to distance-time and velocity-time graphs
Calculate distance travelled from a velocity-time graph
Calculate average speed for non-uniform motion
Apply the equations of motion
Calculating acceleration
Calculating kinetic energy
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 all of the content in the sub-topic P6.1 (Radioactive emissions) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Physics specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Atoms and isotopes
The properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation
Nuclear decay equations
Half-life
Background radiation
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 looks at the role of transformers in the National Grid, explains why they increase or decrease potential difference and then uses the given equation to calculate potential difference or the number of turns on the primary or secondary coil. This lesson includes an informative lesson presentation (25 slides) and two question worksheets.
The lesson begins by introducing the devices that are transformers and showing the students that there are two types, step-up and step-down. Students will learn that step-up transformers increase the potential difference and step-down transformers decrease the potential difference. Moving forwards, a series of calculations are used to get the students to understand why these changes in potential difference occur. Students are guided through this section so that they are able to complete a summary passage about the roles of these devices. They will then be shown the equation connecting potential difference and number of turns which they do not need to recall but have to apply. Again, a worked example is used to visualise how workings should be set out before students are challenged to answer two sets of questions, the second of which involves the use of a second equation. Progress checks like these are found at regular intervals throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding.
This lesson has been written for GCSE students
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Module P1 (Matter) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
Describe how the atomic model has changed over time
Define density
Measure length, volume and mass to calculate density
Explain the differences in density between the different states of matter in terms of the arrangements of atoms and molecules
Describe how physical changes differ from chemical changes
Define the term specific heat capacity and distinguis between this term and specific latent heat
Carry out calculations to apply the equations involving specific heat capacity and specific latent heat
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the sub-topics found within Topic P10 (Electricity and their circuits) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
Draw and use electric circuit diagrams
Describe the difference between series and parallel circuits
Recall that an ammeter is set up in series and a voltmeter is set up in parallel
Explain that the electric current is the rate of flow of charge
Recall and use the equation connecting potential difference, current and resistance
Calculate the current, potential difference and resistance in series and parallel circuits
Describe power as the energy transferred per second and is measured in Watts
Describe the differences between alternating and direct current
Recall that mains electricity uses alternating current and has a frequency of 50Hz
Explain the difference between the function of the neutral and live wires
Explain the function of the earth wire and fuses in ensuring safety
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
This bundle of 10 engaging and motivating lesson presentations and associated worksheets have been designed to encourage students to assess their knowledge of the content within the majority of the Physics topics in the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification in order to recognise those areas which need further attention.
The lessons use a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to cover the content in the following topics:
Topic P1 (Key concepts in Physics)
Topic P2 (Motion and forces),
Topic P3 (Conservation of energy),
Topic P4 (Waves)
Topic P5 (Light and the EM spectrum)
Topic P6 (Radioactivity)
Topic P8 (Energy - forces doing work)
Topic P10 (Electricity and their circuits)
Topic P12 (Magnetism and the motor effect)
Topic P13 (Electromagnetic induction)
Topic P14 (Particle model)
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Topic P14 (Particle model) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
Explain the different states of matter in terms of movement and arrangement of particles
Recall and use the equation to calculate density
Explain the differences in density between the different states of matter
Describe how mass is conserved during changes of state and understand how these physical changes differ from chemical changes
Define the terms specific heat capacity and specific latent hear and explain the differences between them
Use the equations to calculate change in thermal energy and thermal energy for a change in state
Knows way to reduce unwanted energy transfer
Describe the term absolute zero, in terms of the lack of movement of particles
Convert between the kelvin and Celsius scales
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson, that is likely to be most effective when used over the course of a series of lessons, and has been designed to help students to revise and assess their knowledge of the content that is found in topics P4 (Waves and radioactivity), P5(Energy) and P6 (Global challenges) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. This is the content that will be assessed in paper 6 in the terminal exams.
This revision lesson uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to cover the following sub-topics and specification points:
Wave behaviour
The electromagnetic spectrum
Radioactivity
Work done
Power and efficiency
Physics on the move
Powering Earth
This lesson contains a big emphasis on the mathematical calculations that will be involved in these exams, and as a result students are challenged to recall the equations and to apply them.
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams. A lot of the tasks have been differentiated so that students of all abilities can access the work and be challenged appropriately.
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Topic P6 (Radioactivity) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
Describe the structure of an atom, including the charge and mass of the subatomic particles
Describe the structure of nuclei of isotopes
Be able to explain why an atom is neutral
Recall the radiation that can be emitted from an unstable nucleus
Explain what is meant by background radiation and know the origins of this radiation
Recall that an alpha particle is equivalent to a helium nucleus
Compare alpha, beta and gamma radiations in terms of their abilities to penetrate and ionise
Describe the processes of beta plus and beta minus decay
Explain the effects on the atomic and mass number of radioactive decays
Balance nuclear decay equations
Recall that the unit of activity of a radioactive isotope is the Becquerel
Use the concept of half life to carry out simple calculations
Describe the differences between contamination and irradiation
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
This bundle of 5 engaging and motivating lesson presentations and associated worksheets have been designed to encourage students to assess their knowledge of the Physics topics which will be tested in Paper 5 of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course . This will allow them to recognise those areas which need further attention during revision periods.
The lessons use a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to cover the content in P1 (Key concepts in Physics), P2 (Motion and forces), P3 (Conservation of energy), P4 (Waves), P5 (Light and the EM spectrum) and P6 (Radioactivity)
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Physics Topic 1 (Key concepts in Physics) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. Topic 1 is common to both Paper 5 and 6 and therefore will be tested in both of these exams.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
Recall and use the SI units for the physical quantities
Recall and use multiples and sub-multiples of units, including giga, mega, kilo, centi, milli, micro and nano
Be able to convert between different units, including hours to seconds
Use significant figures and standard form where appropriate
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
This is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quiz tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 3 (Properties of waves, including light and sound) of the Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) specification. The lesson covers the content in both the core and supplement sections of the specification and therefore can be used with students who will be taking the extended papers as well as the core papers.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Give the meaning of the terms speed, frequency, wavelength and amplitude
Distinguish between longitudinal and transverse waves and be able to give suitable examples of each
Recall and use the equation velocity = frequency x wavelength
Describe how waves can undergo reflection, refraction and diffraction
Describe how wavelength affects diffraction
Describe an experimental demonstration of the refraction of light
Be able to define refractive index and recall the equation to calculate
Give the meaning of the critical angle and recall the equation to calculate
Describe total internal reflection and be able to explain the use of optical fibres in medicine
The electromagnetic spectrum
Describe the longitudinal nature of sound waves
State the approximate range of audible frequencies for a healthy human
Show an understanding of the term ultrasound
Describe an experiment to determine the speed of sound in air
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “Should you WAVE goodbye” where they have to decide if a passage is 100% factually correct or not 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 is a detailed and 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 3 (Waves) of the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Physics 9-1 specification (4PH1) for first assessment in June 2019.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Use the following units: degree (°), hertz (Hz), metre (m), metre/second (m/s) and second (s)
Explain the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves
Know the definitions of amplitude, frequency, wavelength and period of a wave
Know and use the relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave
Use the relationship between frequency and time period
Explain that all waves can be reflected and refracted
Know that light is part of a continuous electromagnetic spectrum that includes radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma ray radiations and that all these waves travel at the same speed in free space
Know the order of the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of decreasing wavelength and increasing frequency, including the colours of the visible spectrum
Explain some of the uses of electromagnetic radiations
Draw ray diagrams to illustrate refraction
Know and use the relationship between refractive index, angle of incidence and angle of refraction
Describe the role of total internal reflection in transmitting information along optical fibres and in prisms
Explain the meaning of critical angle c
Know and use the relationship between critical angle and refractive index
Know that sound waves are longitudinal waves which can be reflected and refracted
Know that the frequency range for human hearing is 20–20 000 Hz
Understand how the loudness of a sound relates to the amplitude of vibration of the source
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “Should you WAVE goodbye” where they have to decide whether a passage about a sub-topic of waves is completely correct whilst all the time evaluating and assessing which areas of this topic will 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 International GCSE exams
An engaging lesson presentation (45 slides) 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 unit P6 (Waves) of the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification (specification point P6.6).
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Longitudinal and transverse waves
Properties of waves
Types of EM waves
Properties and applications of EM waves
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “Tell EM the word” and “Take the HOTSEAT” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
This bundle of 7 engaging and motivating lesson presentations and associated worksheets uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to test the students on their knowledge of the Physics units of the AQA Trilogy 9-1 GCSE Combined Science specification.
The knowledge of Topics P1 (Energy), P2 (Electricity), P3 (Particle model of matter), P4 (Atomic structure), P5 (Forces) P6 (Waves) and P7 (Magnetism and electromagnetism) can be assessed using these lessons.
An engaging lesson presentation (41 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 unit P1 (Energy) of the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification (specification unit P6.1).
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Energy stores and systems
Changes in energy
Efficiency
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “ERRORS with the equation calculations” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
A fully-resourced lesson which looks at speed and velocity as scalar and vector quantities and then guides students through a range of questions which challenge them to calculate both of these forms of motion. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (44 slides) and differentiated worksheets containing questions.
The lesson begins by introducing the terms magnitude and direction so that students can learn how scalar and vector quantities differ. Students will learn that speed is a scalar quantity and velocity is a vector quantity and then be questioned through a crossroads scenario to understand how speed can stay the same but as soon as an object changes direction, the velocity changes. Moving forwards, the students are given the equation to calculate speed and a few simple questions are worked through before they have to do a series of their own questions to find the average speeds for walking, running and cycling. A pair of more difficult speed questions are then attempted which challenge the students to convert from metres per seconds to miles per hour and to calculate the speed of a bicycle by calculating the distance travelled by the sensor on the wheel. This task is differentiated so that students who need some assistance will still be able to access the work. A quiz competition is then used to introduce students to the range of equations which contain velocity and then having been given them, they have to rearrange the formula to make velocity the subject and apply to some further questions. The final task of the lesson brings all the work together in one final competition where students have to use their new-found knowledge of speed and velocity to get TEAM POINTS. Progress checks have been written into the lesson at regular intervals to allow the students to check their understanding and any misconceptions to be addressed immediately.
This lesson has been written for GCSE students and links between the other topics on the curriculum but could be used with KS3 students who are finding the topic of speed too simple and are needing a challenge