I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13. I teach KS3 Activate (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry), AQA GCSE Biology, AQA GCSE Chemistry, and A Level Biology (OCR A).
I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13. I teach KS3 Activate (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry), AQA GCSE Biology, AQA GCSE Chemistry, and A Level Biology (OCR A).
This is a full 1 hour lesson resource designed for a mixed ability year 11 class studying the AQA Biology syllabus. It comes with a full PowerPoint presentation and printouts.
The PowerPoint contains the following:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Lesson hook
Embedded videos
Guided class discussions
Guided teacher model slides
Direct instruction slides (using dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
‘Check for understanding’ slides using hand signals, quizzes etc.
Independent tasks (exam questions), with answer slides
Challenge questions
A written plenary task based on an exam question
This is a full 1 hour lesson resource designed for a mixed ability year 11 class studying the AQA Biology syllabus. It comes with a full PowerPoint presentation and printouts.
The PowerPoint contains the following:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Lesson hook (embedded video from Operation Ouch)
Guided class discussions
Direct instruction slides (using dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
‘Check for understanding’ slides using hand signals, quizzes etc.
Independent tasks (exam questions), with answer slides
Challenge questions
A written plenary task based on an exam question
This is a full 1 hour lesson resource designed for a mixed ability year 11 class studying the AQA Biology syllabus. It comes with a full PowerPoint presentation and printouts.
The PowerPoint contains the following:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
Lesson hook
Direct instruction slides (using dual coding, reduced cognitive load)
‘Check for understanding’ slides using hand signals, quizzes etc.
Independent tasks, with answer slides
Challenge questions
A written plenary task
This revision place mat was designed for a lower ability year 11 group studying the topic ‘homeostasis’.
This resources covers the following topics from AQA GCSE Combined Science:
Structure of a neurone
Reflex arc
Ruler drop test method for reaction time
Endocrine system - matching hormones to glands
Blood glucose control (foundation tier only, no glucagon)
Diabetes (type 1 vs. type 2)
A full 1 hour lesson based on the Biology Required Practical 6 from AQA GCSE Combined Science (reaction times). Also suitable for students studying AQA GCSE Biology.
This resource was designed for a lower ability year 11 class, but could easily be adapted for other year groups or abilities.
This resource includes:
A fully guided PowerPoint, with chunked practical instructions
A student worksheet with practical instructions, results tables, and application questions
A conversion table for reaction times
The PowerPoint includes:
A ‘5-in-5’ retrieval-style starter
A lesson hook - an online reaction time game
Chunked practical instructions (slow practical) with use of colour coding and dual coding / imagery for ease of understanding
Models (e.g. a model results table showing how to find an anomaly)
Application questions
Model answers
A written plenary (an exam question, with a scaffold, a mark scheme, and a model answer)
A series of 8 full 1-hour lessons designed as an introduction unit for year 7s in science.
This resource includes the following lessons, which should be delivered in the order below:
Lab safety
Scientific apparatus
Measuring
Using Bunsen burners
Writing a scientific method
Drawing results tables
Drawing line graphs
Planning an investigation
A full 1 hour lesson resource based on the AQA GCSE Biology syllabus.
This lesson covers:
Labeling a light microscope
Setting up and using a light microscope
The definitions of magnification and resolution
This lesson includes a retrieval-style starter, a task labelling a microscope, direct instruction slides with minimal cognitive load, frequent checks for understanding such as hand signal quizzes, a guided practical activity with clear instructions, independent writing tasks with model answers, and a written plenary.
Final lesson designed for a year 7 class on an ‘introduction to science’ unit.
Students bring together everything they have learned to design their own investigation on how the volume of water affects how long it takes to boil.
The PowerPoint is fully guided with answers and requires students to:
Write an aim and prediction for their investigation
List the apparatus they will need, and draw their 2D diagrams
Write a method for their investigation
Design their own results table for their investigation
Draw a line graph from model results
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, measuring, Bunsen burners, writing methods, drawing tables
A lesson hook - funny graphs showing that correlation does not equal causation
A guided student discussion - name the different types of graph and chart
Direct instruction on categoric vs. discrete data
A checkpoint task on categoric vs. discrete data - which is which?
A fill in the blanks task, with answers
direct instruction - rules for drawing a graph
Spot the mistakes task in various graphs
Guided teacher model (visualiser required) - students draw graph along with teacher
Independent task - students draw their own line graph from a results table
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, measuring, Bunsen burners, writing methods
A lesson hook - activity where students try to remember information from a chunk of text compared to information from a table
Direct instruction on how to draw a table
A worked example for drawing a results table
A ‘spot the mistake’ task - students find the errors in various results tables
Independent tasks with answers - students draw their own results tables
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, measuring, Bunsen burners
A lesson hook - writing instructions for an alien to draw a stick man (guidance for teachers included)
A task on reproducibility - students follow instructions for drawing a house
Direct instruction on what makes a good scientific method
Independent task - writing instructions for making a cup of tea
Practical demo - teacher follows students’ instructions and makes cups of tea
Peer assessment slide
An independent task - students write a method for a scientific investigation
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, and measuring
A lesson hook about fireworks
Retrieval practice - recap Bunsen burner safety
Direct instruction on how to light a Bunsen burner
A health and safety slide
An apparatus slide
Clear practical instructions on how to light a Bunsen burner
Clear practical instructions on how to do flame tests
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, and scientific apparatus
A retrieval practice slide checking students’ prior knowledge on reading scales (measuring cylinders, thermometers) - includes an answer slide
A health and safety slide
Practical activity making measurements of volume, temperature, length and mass - with printout of method and results tables
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, plus questions on lab safety
An embedded animated video showing and naming key scientific apparatus in the lab
A scavenger hunt activity, for students to find key practical equipment in the science lab
Introduction slides on 2D drawings of apparatus
Whiteboard quiz on naming / drawing apparatus, with answers
An independent task on drawing apparatus, with answers
A written plenary task
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an ‘introduction to science’ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A ‘5 in 5’ style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school
A slide on expectations in science lessons
An activity spotting lab safety issues from an image, with answers (can be printed if preferred)
An embedded music video
An introduction into hazard symbols
A hand signal quiz on hazard symbols
An independent task on hazard symbols, with answer slide
A written plenary task
A full 1 hour lesson on food chains designed for a higher ability year 7 class.
This could be taught to any KS3 class, of any ability, with minor tweaks.
This lesson contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
An embedded video clip from Zootopia
A retrieval practice from primary school - matching key terms e.g. predator/prey to their definitions
A directed student discussion on food chains
Direct instruction slides on food chains
Checkpoints
Student independent tasks writing simple food chains
Direct instruction on trophic levels
A true or false quiz on food chains and trophic levels
An independent task with a printable worksheet - drawing a food chain and naming the trophic levels
A whiteboard quiz
A written plenary task
A bundle of lessons on the ‘classification and evolution’ topic, from the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification.
These lessons were specifically designed for a lower ability year 10 class, but would be suitable for any KS4 group with some minor tweaking.
All lessons include:
A 5-in-5 retrieval starter
A lesson hook and/or additional retrieval practice
Very clear direct instruction slides (low cognitive load, dual coding)
Checks for understanding (quizzes, hand signals, cold call questions)
Teacher modeling
Guided discussions
Independent tasks with modeled answers
Exam questions with mark schemes and/or modeled answers
A written plenary
A game of ‘grudge ball’.
21 multiple choice questions (3 rounds) with answers. Contains rules slide.
This was designed for a KS3 class (top set year 8), but could be suitable for lower ability KS4.
Contains questions on:
Aerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration
Fermentation
Tendons, ligaments and cartilage
Antagonistic muscles
The skeleton
Rules
There are 7 teams.
Every team starts with 6 points.
Each team takes in turns answering a multiple choice question.
A correct answer is worth 2 points.
A correct answer means a team member can try to land the ball in the basket.
A goal is worth 1 extra point.
This lesson was designed for a lower ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification.
This lesson covers:
What is variation?
What is the difference between continuous and discontinuous variation?
What are examples of continuous and discontinuous variation?
Which examples of variation are controlled by genetic or environmental factors?
This is a full 1 hour lesson resource which contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction slides (low cognitive load, dual coding)
Guided student discussions
Teacher models
Frequent checkpoints (quizzes, multiple choice hand signals)
A Venn diagram with answers
Written student responses
Modeled answers
A student group activity
A written plenary task
This lesson was designed for a lower ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification.
This lesson covers the Linnaean classification system, the binomial naming system, and the three-domain system of classification.
This is a full 1 hour lesson which contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction slides on classification
An embedded video (catchy song!)
Guided student discussions
Plenty of checkpoints (e.g. multiple choice hand signal questions)
Visual teacher-led models
Student written tasks
Exam questions with scaffolds, and modeled answers
A written plenary