Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers.
From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.
Spark Science provides high quality science educational resources for secondary school teachers.
From dual-coding, literacy and reading tasks, dyslexic friendly backgrounds, and continual Assessment for Learning (AfL) tasks embedded into all our lessons, Spark lessons will increase engagement, participation and understanding for your students.
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with AEN students and non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes and answers in “notes” section
Student led lesson worksheet
Teacher answer sheet
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
AFL activities to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Define the law of conservation of mass
Explain why the mass of a chemical reaction does not change in a closed system
Predict/calculate the mass of reactants and products in a chemical reaction when given the masses of the other reactants/products
This lesson contains a student led lesson sheet, with the focus being on students learning through doing and practicing skills and identifying patterns and reasons themselves. Resources and slides ask students the key questions and develops ideas and concepts from the ground up and address common issues, mistakes and misconceptions.
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with AEN students and non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes and answers in “notes” section
Student led lesson worksheet
Teacher answer sheet
Risk assessment for class practicals
Printable practical instruction cards
Risk assessments for teacher demonstrations
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
Various activites to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Describe what an exothermic and endothermic reactions is in terms of heat energy transfer
Give and identify examples of endothermic and exothermic reactions in everyday life
Identify reactions as exothermic or endothermic from measuring temperature changes in practical investigations
This lesson contains a student led lesson sheet, with the focus being on students learning through doing and practicing skills and identifying patterns and reasons themselves. Resources and slides ask students the key questions and develops ideas and concepts from the ground up and address common issues, mistakes and misconceptions.
A 1-2 Lesson Resources on Hydrogen fuel cells, their uses, how they work and their advantages and disadvantages compared to petrol cars and electric cars.
Lesson Objectives
Describe, in basic terms, how a hydrogen fuel works
(Higher only) write balanced half equations for the reactions taking place inside a hydrogen fuel cell
Describe advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells
Evaluate the use of hydrogen fuel vehicles compared to electric and petrol vehicles
Lesson resources include:
Lesson powerpoint with printable diagrams for students
Explanations of half equations from fuel cell (both acid cell (not AQA) and alkaline cell (AQA) version) and balancing them
Relevant video links
6 marker question and mark scheme
Exam question pack on fuel cells and energy
Plenary AFL multiple choice quiz and debate activity
A quick and simple student led activity designed for AQA GCSE Chemistry (Triple and Double award) explaining how crude oil is formed from plankton.
Students should put the cartoon panels in the right order, then match the correct description to each panel.
This can be a cut and stick activity or a numbering/line drawing activity.
Good for SEN and students in need of visual cues and support.
Resource download includes PDF and Editable Powerpoint versions.
A comprehensive, engaging, challenging and interactive lesson package designed with AEN students and non-science/non-chemistry specialist teachers in mind!
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including teacher notes and answers in “notes” section
Student led lesson worksheet
Teacher answer sheet
Practical and Demonstration Risk Assessments
Lesson resources contain:
In-built challenge tasks throughout
In-built scaffolded learning for lower abilities
AFL activities to assess progress and understanding that you can tailor to fit any class or available resources
Objectives:
Students will be able to…
Predict whether a chemical reaction under given conditions will get lighter, heavier or stay the same mass
Explain why some chemical reactions might appear to get lighter
Explain why some chemical reactions might appear to get heavier
This lesson contains a student led lesson sheet, with the focus being on students learning through doing, practicing skills and identifying patterns and reasons themselves. Resources and slides ask students the key questions and develops ideas and concepts from the ground up and address common issues, mistakes and misconceptions.
An interactive powerpoint resource designed to be used for distance learning from home.
Also contains interactive questions, a cheat sheet of common ions and practice questions.
Students should be able to:
Predicting the formula of salts from their names and ions
Preview video of resources: https://youtu.be/WWaqwYbo6IY
A pair of GCSE Chemistry Lessons for Triple Science covering electrochemical cells and associated half equations.
Lesson 1: What are Electrochemical Cells?
Lesson Objectives:
Describe what an electrochemical cell is and what we use it for
Describe how to make an electrochemical cell
Identify factors which affect the size of the voltage produced by an electrochemical cell
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint
Student practical investigation
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
Lesson 2: How do Electrochemical Cells Work?
Lesson Objectives:
Recall the definitions for oxidation and reduction
Identify which elements are oxidised and reduced in an electrochemical cell
(H) – write half equations for oxidation and reduction taking place in electrochemical cells
Explain why alkaline/non-rechargeable batteries eventually stop working
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint, containing animation about how electrochemical cells produce electrical current and the reactions that take place within it
Student exam questions (23 marks worth) from AQA syllabus with mark scheme
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
This lesson is designed for AQA GCSE Chemistry/Combined Science Trilogy and covers how to calculate relative atomic mass.
This lesson contains:
A lesson powerpoint complete with all answers, worked examples
Student worksheet (PDF and editable versions)
Worksheet answers (PDF and editable versions)
Lesson Objectives:
Define what an “isotope” is and identify examples
Calculate the relative atomic mass of elements from their relative isotopic masses and abundances
A fully resourced lesson for GCSE AQA chemistry on calculating percentage by mass.
Suitable and applicable for GCSE Chemistry Trilogy, and Combined Science Higher and Foundation.
Lesson Objectives
Recall how to calculate relative formula mass using a periodic table
Calculate the percentage by mass of an element in a substance using masses
Calculate the percentage by mass of an element in a substance using relative formula mass and atomic mass
Lesson includes:
Lesson powerpoint (including instructions on lesson activities, equipment to order, slide answers)
Student practical
Student worksheet (PDF and editable word versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and editable word versions)
A full lesson covering how students can calculate relative formula mass.
This lesson is suitable for students studying AQA Trilogy Combined Science (higher and foundation) and AQA Triple chemistry (higher and foundation)
Lesson Objectives
Recall how to count the number of atoms in a formula
Recall what relative atomic mass is
Define what relative formula mass is
Calculate the relative formula mass of a chemical using a periodic table
Lesson includes
Lesson powerpoint - including recap of how to count atoms in a formula an how to find relative atomic mass on a periodic table, worked examples with answers, and BINGO plenary practice game
Optional worksheet with answers (PDF and editable word version)
A 1-2 lesson pack covering flame tests and positive metal ion tests.
This resource is designed for the AQA Triple Chemistry required practical from “Chemical Analysis”, and is relevant to higher and foundation students.
Lesson Objectives
Carry out simple flame tests to identify positive metal ions
Carry out simple precipitate tests to identify positive metal ions
Describe how to carry out a flame test and a precipitate test, including the names of any important reactants
Describe the problems and limitations of using flame tests and precipitate tests to identify positive metal ions
This resource contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including starter activity, practical instructions, tables, challenge task, multiple choice quiz plenary, and full answers
Student worksheet - including practical instructions, tables, and practical quesitons (PDF and editable word versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and editable word versions)
Risk assessment/order form - containing up to date CLEAPPS guidance as of Oct 2023.
A lesson covering instrumental analysis and flame emission spectroscopy for the AQA Triple Chemistry GCSE specficiation. Applicable to both higher and foundation candidates.
Lesson Objectives
Know what instrumental techniques are
Describe advantages and disadvantages of instrumental techniques over other analysis techniques (e.g. flame tests)
Interpret flame emission spectra to identify unknown elements in a mixture
Lesson Resources include:
Lesson powerpoint - including starter, example spectra, spectra analysis example and advantages/disadvantages task
Exam questions covering instrumental analysis, flame spectra analysis, and ion identification questions with full mark schemes.
A lesson pack covering negative non-metal ion tests (halide, sulfate and carbonate).
This resource is designed for the AQA Triple Chemistry required practical from “Chemical Analysis”, and is relevant to higher and foundation students.
Lesson Objectives
Carry out simple precipitate tests to identify halide, sulfate and carbonate ions
Describe how to carry out precipitate tests to test for halide, sulfate and carbonate ions, including the names of any important reactants
Write balanced symbol and ionic equations for the reactions taking place in precipitation reactions
This resource contains:
Lesson powerpoint - including starter activity, practical instructions, tables, challenge task, multiple choice quiz plenary, and full answers
Student worksheet - including practical instructions, tables, and practical quesitons (PDF and editable word versions)
Student worksheet answers (PDF and editable word versions)
Risk assessment/order form - containing up to date CLEAPPS guidance as of Oct 2023.
This lesson is designed for AQA combined and triple chemistry.
This lesson builds on the previous lesson (Introduction to Electrolysis) where students looked at the basic set up for electrolysis and predicted which ion would be attracted to which electrode and why.
This lesson introduces the keywords anode, cathode, anion, cation, as well describing if ions gain or lose electrons at an electrode and are oxidised/reduced.
**Lesson Objectives: **
Identify anions and cations
Explain the movement of metal and non-metal ions to the anode and cathode
Describe and explain what happens to ions at the anode and cathode
Identify if an element is being oxidised or reduced at the electrode
This Lesson Contains:
Complete lesson powerpoint with teaching guidance in notes section, complete answers for all tasks, mini-whiteboard AFL assessment quizzes, animations to describe the movement of ions and the gain or loss of electrons in electrolysis
A printable cheat sheet for students explaining definitions and which ion is attracted to which electrode (editable and PDF)
This lesson is designed for AQA GCSE Chemistry and introduces electrolysis as a way of extracting metals from ores/metal compounds.
Lesson Objectives:
Name the parts of the electrolysis practical
Carry out a basic practical for the electrolysis of copper chloride
Predict the products of the electrolysis of a molten salt
Explain why we use electrolysis to extract metals
This Lesson Contains:
Lesson Powerpoint, including all answers and powerpoint notes to aid delivery and challenge tasks and mini-whiteboard AFL quiz
Blank electrolysis diagram handout for printing (editable and PDF)
Student worksheet/table (editable and PDF)
Complete answers
Practical risk assessment and instructions
A full lesson outlining the basic GCSE structure of the atom, the position and charges of the subatomic particles inside it. A part of the course which is sometimes difficult to teach in a fun and interactive/discovery based way, this lesson will help students to discover information and make connections themselves. Students will hopefully not only learn the charges and masses and positions of subatomic particles, but gain an appreciation of scale and relative mass, as well as understand some of the reasons behind the structure of the atom and the reason we draw it the way we do.
This lesson includes:
Powerpoint - including key notes, delivery tips, modelling ideas, interactive class activities and key hinge/get-them-thinking questions, tips on dealing with common misconceptions
Multiple choice interactive plenary activity
Full answers
Lesson Objectives
Describe what a subatomic particle is
Describe the structure of an atom in terms of subatomic particles
Give the positions, relative mass and charge of the three subatomic particles
A full lesson resource teaching students how to use the periodic table (mass number and atomic number) to count the numbers of subatomic particles in an atom. This lesson also covers the definition of “isotopes”. This lesson also dual codes this information with atomic diagrams and periodic table squares to cement student understanding of where these numbers come from, while also being a great support for EAL and SEN students. Great for “I do, we do, you do” activities and can be easily added to and extended if more examples and practice are needed by a given class.
Lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint, including whole class whiteboard AFL activities, core hinge/thinking questions, full answers and notes to aid in lesson delievery and structure
Student worksheet
Exam style questions with mark scheme
Lesson Objectives:
Know what the numbers on the periodic table mean
Use the periodic table to count the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in an atom
Predict atomic number and mass number from the numbers of subatomic particles
Define the term “isotope” and identify examples of them
A full lesson designed for GCSE chemistry AQA specification.
This lesson covers the case study of the extraction of aluminium oxide, the role of cryolite, what happens to the aluminium and oxide ions at the electrodes, and the need for the replacement of the positive electrode.
This lesson contains
A lesson powerpoint including all useful youtube video links, interactive plenary multiple choice quiz, electroplating challenge task and complete answers.
A guided reading activity with quesitons and complete answer sheet (PDF and editable versions)
An alternative information hunt sheet to be used with videos and/or the AQA GCSE Chemistry textbook, with complete answers (PDF and editable versions)
Video clip to aid in completion of both sheets
Lesson Objectives
State two reasons why extracting aluminium oxide from its ore is expensive
Describe why cryolite is added to aluminium oxide during electrolysis
Describe and explain what happens to ions at the positive and negative electrode (and give relevant half equations (Higher only))
Explain why the positive electrode must continually be replaced
This bundle contains the lessons, powerpoints and all relevant resources for teaching the Separate Science GCSE Chemistry AQA content on electrochemical cells and fuel cells.
This bundle contains 3-4 lessons of content including:
Lesson 1: What are Electrochemical Cells?
Lesson Objectives:
Describe what an electrochemical cell is and what we use it for
Describe how to make an electrochemical cell
Identify factors which affect the size of the voltage produced by an electrochemical cell
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint
Student practical investigation
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
Lesson 2: How do Electrochemical Cells Work?
Lesson Objectives:
Recall the definitions for oxidation and reduction
Identify which elements are oxidised and reduced in an electrochemical cell
(H) – write half equations for oxidation and reduction taking place in electrochemical cells
Explain why alkaline/non-rechargeable batteries eventually stop working
This lesson contains:
Lesson powerpoint, containing animation about how electrochemical cells produce electrical current and the reactions that take place within it
Student exam questions (23 marks worth) from AQA syllabus with mark scheme
Teacher notes on how to deliver lesson slides/content and answers
Lesson 3/4: What are Fuel Cells?
Lesson Objectives:
Describe, in basic terms, how a hydrogen fuel works
(Higher only) write balanced half equations for the reactions taking place inside a hydrogen fuel cell
Describe advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen fuel cells
Evaluate the use of hydrogen fuel vehicles compared to electric and petrol vehicles
Lesson resources include:
Lesson powerpoint with printable diagrams for students
Explanations of half equations from fuel cell (both acid cell (not AQA) and alkaline cell (AQA) version) and balancing them
Relevant video links
6 marker question and mark scheme
Exam question pack on fuel cells and energy
Plenary AFL multiple choice quiz and debate activity
This lesson is the first lesson in the Year 8 “Working as a Scientist” topic.
It covers what accurate and precise data means/looks like, as well as the difference between a prediction and a hypothesis.
This lesson is designed with formative assessment in mind and a large use of hand/finger voting and mini-whiteboards for AFL feedback.
It contains all answers to the tasks and is great for a non-specialist science teacher.
Lesson Objectives:
Write a hypothesis from variables
Describe the difference between accurate and precise
I will work scientifically to:
Identify variables in a practical
Identify data that is accurate and precise
This lesson contains:
Powerpoint - including quizzes to test understanding, student questions to answer, challenge tasks throughout, and full answers. The powerpoint also uses colour-coding to help support AEN and EAL students follow and understand concepts in the lesson.
