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Active Science

Average Rating3.94
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A specialist science shop featuring hands-on and minds-on activities all designed to promote both thinking and learning. I'm a very experienced teacher with advanced skills teacher (AST) and specialist leader of education (SLE) accreditation under my belt.

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A specialist science shop featuring hands-on and minds-on activities all designed to promote both thinking and learning. I'm a very experienced teacher with advanced skills teacher (AST) and specialist leader of education (SLE) accreditation under my belt.
Electron arrangement, atomic structure,  and the Periodic Table
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Electron arrangement, atomic structure, and the Periodic Table

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A suite of three highly engaging activities to help students relate sub-atomic structure and electron configuration to the periodic table 1 Periodic Table Bingo uses real bingo cards and can get very competitive 2 An outline, blank periodic table (featuring the first 20 elements) which students complete by drawing in the electrons in each of the atoms 3 A worksheet designed to help students see the link between number of shells and period and number of outer electrons and group.
Alkali metals demonstrations
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Alkali metals demonstrations

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This resource gives full details for teachers on how to carry out three demonstrations with alkali metals. It should be helpful for new teachers or those teaching out of their specialism 1. observing and comparing with other metals 2 reaction with water- the straightforward demo plus two further enhancements readily carried out in the lab 3 reacting sodium with chlorine There is also a table for students to record their observations.
Balancing Equations
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Balancing Equations

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In my experience (over 20 years!) this method of explaining how to balance equations has never failed. That's a bold claim but students unfailingly enjoy this activity and find it really helpful . Note that a molymod molecular model kit (or similar) is required. Also included are a two worksheets which allow students to practise writing equations without the models.
Periodic Table
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Periodic Table

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A suite of resources to help students understand the development of the periodic table and how it highlights patterns and trends in the elements. It includes a presentation detailing the history of the periodic table, two active worksheets to help students appreciate how the periodic table is organised, a template for students to make their own spiral periodic table and a list giving links to five of the best periodic table resources available on the web.
Neutralisation card game and thinking activity
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Neutralisation card game and thinking activity

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This is a card game (based on rummy) where students collect sets of cards that, taken together, form a complete neutralisation reaction. There is a full set of playing cards along with instructions on how to play for the teacher. To accompany the game there is also a "colouring in" worksheet that links neutralisation reactions to changes in pH. There is also a thinking activity where students read through a series of cards in order to find out the uses of some common salts formed by neutralisation.
Salt and Food
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Salt and Food

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Here are details of a practical investigation into the role of salt in preserving food that is simple to carry out and doesn't require much equipment. The results are quick and easy to analyse. To follow up there is a worksheet probing further into salt and human health where students calculate how much of the recommended daily intake is contained in various foods.
Oxidation and Reduction
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Oxidation and Reduction

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There are instructions here for a teacher demonstration comparing the oxidation of iron in air and oxygen. There is then a Venn diagram activity where students classify a series of chemical reactions - an activity designed to promote thinking and learning. Finally, there is a follow up worksheet that recaps the key ideas. Finally there is a presentation that gives a useful comparison of oxidation and reduction along with helpful definitions
Molecule race- "games" about molecular formulae
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Molecule race- "games" about molecular formulae

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Here are two games that really help students get the hang of formulae. They have been used successfully with students in years 8-11 from many different schools. Use them when introducing students to formulae in keystage 3 or 4. They are suitable for all abilities and also requires students to communicate effectively. Game One - Molecule Race. Working in pairs, students race to build models of ten different molecules. One student uses the card to give instructions to the other who builds the molecule. The cards are provided in word and pdf format. MOLECULAR MODEL KIT (EG MOLYMOD) REQUIRED. Game Two - Triplet Match. This whole class or team activity gets students to match names, with formuale and diagrams.
Cause and Correlation
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Cause and Correlation

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A lesson on the important difference between cause and correlation. The teacher notes give details of examples where there is a strong correlation but no causal link, examples which can be hard to think of on the spot! The presentation is based around air pollution and helps students to understand the key ideas. It can be followed up with the worksheet which includes many examples. For each example students sort the three options given into correlation, cause or no link
Diabetes role play
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Diabetes role play

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This role play is designed to help students more fully understand the body's normal response to sugar and the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Sugar and Sweetners practical work
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Sugar and Sweetners practical work

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A teacher demo is used to introduce some student practical work comparing, by measuring mass, the amount of sugar in different soft drinks. Students will need to draw up a calibration curve and the practical work will help to develop their ability to use a burette accurately.
Heart and Circulation Role Play
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Heart and Circulation Role Play

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"......I do and I understand". This role play is designed to help students really understand the circulatory system and how it works. As they move the oxygen and carbon dioxide around the different parts of the heart and body, students take the route taken by blood cells and learn by doing. To accompany the activity there is a suite of worksheets: - cut and stick boxes to put in the correct order - a simple worksheet to colour - a worksheet to label and add arrows to - a more difficult sheet where information about artificial valves is sorted and matched
BMI
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BMI

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These resources are all based around BMI with an emphasis on data and handling. This is a sensitive subject and there are some teacher note to suggest how best to manage students as they measure their own BMI . There is a worksheet for students to record their findings along with some follow up work where they measure the BMI of some famous people - all fictitious data!
Modelling a synapse
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Modelling a synapse

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Here are instructions and resources for four different hands-on activities that model how a synapse works. All are designed to help students think through the process and develop their understanding of how a synapse works. Choose the activity most appropriate for your students or give them a free choice. Also included in this package is a cut and stick worksheet to reinforce the effects of drugs on synapses.
Nervous and Endocrine System Comparison
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Nervous and Endocrine System Comparison

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This interactive activity encourages students to discuss similarities and differences between the nervous system and endocrine system. A number of statements are provided for students who then stand in the correct place of the Venn diagram. Also provided are two different worksheets comparing the two systems, choose which is most appropriate for your students.
Senses and sensitivity
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Senses and sensitivity

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This introduction to the senses is a good introduction to the topic for keystage 3 students and also suitable for foundation students at keystage 4. There are instructions for a series of demonstrations and mini-practicals to investigate the human senses that are not easy to carry out but they are fun and thought provoking. Also in this package are student instructions for practical work to test the sensitivity of the skin along with a results table for them to record their findings.
One gene, one protein: switched on genes
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One gene, one protein: switched on genes

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This is a hands on activity to help students consolidate and fully understand these important ideas. Students pass around pictures of 9 different types of cell and then complete the grid on the student sheet to show which of the genes listed will be switched on in that cell type. There is also a plenary activity designed to reveal any student misconceptions along with some teacher notes, with a link to a great animation which will explain the concept clearly to non-specialists
Displacement reactions card game
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Displacement reactions card game

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Displacement reactions can be difficult for students to master so here's a card game based around whist that will help them. As they play the game, students have to decide whether or not the chemicals on the cards will react, if they can provide a card that prompts a displacement reaction they win! The game is designed to prompt higher level thought and discussion. Also included are outline details for a teacher demonstration of the displacement reactions with an accompanying worksheet for students to complete
Mitosis and Meiosis
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Mitosis and Meiosis

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These three resources are intended to help students be clear about the differences between the two types of cell division. The Venn diagram activity should promote thinking and discussion and will allow teachers to spot misconceptions. There is also a colouring in worksheet where students identify the types of cells in each division and a simple fill in the gaps sheet. These would also be good revision tools
photosynthesis and respiration: summaries and comparison
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photosynthesis and respiration: summaries and comparison

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Here you'll find a colour- in worksheet which summaries photosynthesis along with a cut and stick poster that summaries respiration. Both activities are designed to promote thinking and understanding whilst still being enjoyable to complete. The suite is completed by a teacher led activity comparing the two processes that students have to add labels to.