Big believer in the power of beautiful lesson plans to make learning easier. My resources cover the sciences and geography. My biochemistry degree and tuition work I do mean I create resources for a lot of courses as and when I need a resource-always feel free to comment and request something if you want something else or an adaptation. Oxford biochemistry graduate.
Big believer in the power of beautiful lesson plans to make learning easier. My resources cover the sciences and geography. My biochemistry degree and tuition work I do mean I create resources for a lot of courses as and when I need a resource-always feel free to comment and request something if you want something else or an adaptation. Oxford biochemistry graduate.
Two-page illustrated worksheet on Salmonella bacterial disease, covering infection, effects, epidemiology, treatment and vaccination against bacteria, for the AQA 9-1 GCSE biology specification (B5.7). Versions with images in colour and converted to black and white are included, as well as an in-depth mark scheme.
Worksheet for the Edexcel 9-1 GCSE biology specification on genetic definitions and genetic crosses on two pages. Dominant and recessive, alleles and genes and Punnet squares are all covered.
Sensitivity note: the worksheet includes cystic fibrosis as a case study. This pack is almost identical to my AQA pack covering the same content, you could use either if you teach both courses. Specification reference: B3.12, B3.13, B3.14.
Worksheet for the AQA specification on two pages covering genetic definitions and genetic crosses. Dominant and recessive, alleles and genes and Punnet squares are all covered as questions.
Sensitivity note: the worksheet includes cystic fibrosis as a case study. Topic reference: B13.7, 13.8, 13.9. This pack is almost identical to my pack for Edexcel covering this topic, you could use either if you teach both courses.
Worksheet on two pages covering plant disease for the AQA 9-1 biology GCSE specification. Topics include tobacco mosaic virus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and rose black spot, as well as one calculation practice. Level is fairly basic, without many complicated questions.
Versions of the worksheet are included for colour and black and white printing. Pictures, diagrams and mark scheme are included.
Two-page worksheet and mark scheme on the use of positron emission tomography scans in medical imaging of the brain and cancer, a topic on the current Edexcel biology GCSE, with a range of diagrams, pictures and links to recommended videos. The worksheet is also suitable for teaching in physics as a case study.
Worksheet assumes a bit of basic knowledge of radioactivity and gamma rays (safety precautions, hazards) so may be worth coordinating with physics that those topics have been covered, although it’s only at a common sense level of knowledge. A version of the worksheet converted to black and white is included too.
Specification reference: brain and spinal cord problems, B2.11B and B2.12B, higher tier.
Worksheet on homeostasis and thyroid function, covering thyroxine, TSH and homeostasis and negative feedback generally. This two-page worksheet has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to help students remember the topic and case-study questions. There’s an in-depth mark scheme and versions for colour and black and white printing. Targets the OCR twenty-first Century Science 9-1 GCSE Biology course. I also have versions for AQA GCSE biology and Edexcel GCSE biology.
Worksheet on one page on when you use less and when you use fewer. Versions both in colour and black and white and a mark scheme. Colourful design with emoji graphics for each question to make it more enjoyable.
Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals from copper oxide (the insoluble base method) covering two pages for Edexcel 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson.
The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method.
Specification reference: SC8c core practical, preparing copper sulfate, C3.17
Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals from copper oxide (insoluble base method) covering two pages for Edexcel 9-1 iGCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson.
The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Questions consulted include 2C June 2016 Q7 for technique (I recommend this for exam-style practice) and 1CR June 2019, question 5d for rate of reaction and temperature.
I have a similar worksheet for AQA GCSE chemistry.
Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals covering two pages for AQA 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form, and checked against a similar question on the 84621H specimen paper. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson.
The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. Written targeting AQA but would be suitable for other exam boards. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method.
Topic area: required practical 1 and 4.4 Chemical Changes > 4.4.2 Reactions of acids > 4.4.2.3 Soluble salts > Preparing a pure dry sample of a soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or carbonate.
I also have a version for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry.
Combined lesson plan for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry: a presentation on metallic bonding, simple fill-in-the-blank questions questions and a harder sheet of written questions linked to the presentation, and a take-home set of notes on one page. Also suitable as a recap for A-level students.
Covers metallic bonding, conduction of electricity and heat, the fact that metals are malleable/ductile and alloys. Starts with a mixer exercise covering uses of metals and also includes some properties and uses of the most common metals and types of steel.
Need to use this lesson plan in a hurry and want to deliver a polished lesson? I’ve got you covered: each slide ends with a full stop marking that it’s the last point on the slide so you know when the slide’s going to change. Also, each exam question slide has a spare line before the answer is revealed so you don’t accidentally show the answer too early.
Included is a fairly easy fill-in-the-blanks worksheet and an exam-style written questions worksheet matching questions on the presentation, and the mark schemes for both. Both worksheets have pictures and diagrams to stimulate students. The notes have diagrams and also links to two recommended videos for revision. Besides covering metallic bonding and content like specific types of steel, the presentation introduces themes for future lessons, like that metal recycling saves energy and rust prevention.
Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions. For the OCR 9-1 biology twenty-first century science GCSE.
The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence with ecology. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students.
These worksheets are very similar to my set for AQA, if you tutor multiple courses you don’t really need the other version.
Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions. For the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSEs.
The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students.
These worksheets are very similar to my set for AQA, if you tutor both courses you don’t really need the other version.
For the Edexcel iGCSE, I intend to do a version of this worksheet specific to that course in future, but for now this worksheet is fine to use; a few questions (10 and 11 on the written worksheet, 3 on the link-the-boxes worksheet) aren’t things students need to memorise but those questions would still be fine for students to do as “suggest” questions.
Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions.
For the AQA 9-1 biology GCSEs: based on collating past paper questions I’ve found the definitions of the terms are important for students to know, but suitable for other courses.
The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students.
Worksheet covering the equations and rules for solution electrolysis for AQA 9-1 GCSE higher chemistry on two pages. Covers electrolysis of sodium chloride solution (brine/saltwater), copper sulfate solution with inert graphite electrodes, and electrolysis of pure water. Diagrams, a mark scheme and links to recommended videos from Fuse School and ChemJungle are included. Versions in colour and converted to black and white.
Worksheet covering the types of radioactivity over two pages. Questions on alpha, beta and gamma radiation, nuclear decay and equations and half-life. There’s a wide range of pictures and diagrams to jog students’ memory and the mark scheme includes links to videos of emitters from the IOP.
This worksheet is especially targeted for the Edexcel 9-1 science physics GCSE, although it could also be used for most other physics GCSE or secondary-level courses (I have versions for other exam boards). A version converted to black and white is included.
Worksheet covering the types of radioactivity over two pages. Questions on alpha, beta and gamma radiation, nuclear decay, neutron emission and half-life. There’s a wide range of pictures and diagrams to jog students’ memory and the mark scheme includes links to videos of emitters from the IOP.
This worksheet is especially targeted for the OCR 9-1 21st century science physics GCSE, although it could also be used for any other physics GCSE or secondary-level course. A version converted to black and white is included.
(Update, 21/2/24: a misprint for the mass of alpha particles in the mark scheme has been corrected; my apologies about this.)
Worksheet covering the types of radioactivity over two pages. Questions on alpha, beta and gamma radiation, nuclear decay, neutron emission and half-life. There’s a wide range of pictures and diagrams to jog students’ memory and the mark scheme includes links to videos of emitters from the IOP.
This worksheet is especially targeted for the Edexcel 9-1 physics iGCSE, although it could also be used for any other physics GCSE or secondary-level course. A version converted to black and white is included.
Teaching AQA 9-1 GCSE photosynthesis is difficult: with its emphasis on the inverse square law and light intensity data, it’s different to other courses and standard worksheets that haven’t been targeted don’t cover these points. Two-page worksheet with answers targeted at AQA specifically, covering a range of common questions and problems.
Questions consulted for research include 8464B1H 2018 Q3 and 2021 Q1 and 84652H 2021 Q7, which would make great follow-ups.
Worksheet on two pages on extracting metals using carbon (and tungsten), targeting the AQA 9-1 science and chemistry GCSEs in the C5 “Chemical changes” section of the course. Covers the reactivity series, unreactive metals, word and symbol equations, environmental impact, redox and tungsten extraction. There’s an in-depth mark scheme, diagram of a blast furnace and links to recommended videos.
Update, September 2024: added version with the images tuned to print well in black and white (note that the emoji graphics appear in colour onscreen).