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Outstanding GCSE and A level chemistry resources

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.
Fermentation GCSE chemistry - covers symbol equations and the two methods of making ethanol
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Fermentation GCSE chemistry - covers symbol equations and the two methods of making ethanol

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This is a thoroughly planned lesson on the production of ethanol by fermentation of glucose and hydration of ethene. It has differentiated resources and a variety of activities and exam question plenaries to check student understanding. There is an optional production of ethanol practical that could be included in this lesson or as a separate lesson. Students start by recalling the formulae for different substances then learn the symbol equations for the two methods of ethanol production. They then carry out a literacy activity where they sort the advantages and disadvantages of each method of ethanol production. The lesson concludes with an exam question plenary. The practical could be included before comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hydration versus fermentation. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Combustion GCSE lesson - covers balancing symbol equations and writing word equations
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Combustion GCSE lesson - covers balancing symbol equations and writing word equations

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This is a lesson on combustion that covers combustion products, writing word equations and writing symbol equations. There is a fun methane bubbles demo that illustrates what combustion is. Details for how to carry this out are available online. I suggest using an oven glove for extra safety. There are two worked examples using particle diagrams that help students balance equations. There is an alternative method to balancing equations (the column method) that is included at the end of the lesson. There are exam questions included in the lesson. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Enthalpy changes - A level chemistry - covers bond enthalpy, energy-level diagrams, calculations
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Enthalpy changes - A level chemistry - covers bond enthalpy, energy-level diagrams, calculations

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This is a comprehensive lesson that provides an introduction to enthalpy changes and serves as the first lesson in a scheme of work on energetics at A level. The lesson starts with a recap of GCSE chemistry then moves on to defining enthalpy changes. Students learn the definitions of each type of enthalpy change for homework due in the following lesson. Students then consider energy level diagrams for the grade C task. For the grade B task students predict enthalpy changes using bond dissociation data. There is a worked example of this using the Haber process. The grade A task involves converting enthalpy change values into Joules per gram values that might be used in calorimetry. Scaffolded resources and a markscheme are provided. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Entropy lesson - A level chemistry - outstanding
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Entropy lesson - A level chemistry - outstanding

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This is a lesson on entropy for A level chemistry that has been thoroughly planned and resourced. The lesson starts by getting students to classify reactions as endothermic or exothermic. This is required knowledge so please read through these before the lesson and make sure that students have covered this content. This starter activity could be printed and laminated to be used as a card sort. The concept of entropy is introduced along with the first and second laws of thermodynamics. A stack of Jenga bricks or a stack of cards could be used to illustrate that disorder is a more likely arrangement (gases) than order (solid). The custard powder combustion demo is used to illustrate that entropy changes in the system help predict whether a reaction is spontaneous (whether it happens). Details of how to carry this out can be found online at the RSC wiki and other websites. Students then are introduced to the three formulae needed and complete a worksheet that I have created where they calculate entropy of a system, entropy of the surroundings and total entropy. This is used to predict whether the reactions happen (i.e. whether there is a positive value). Note that balanced equations have not been provided and students at this level should be capable of writing these and sharing them with the class. Markschemes are provided for the entropy calculations. The lesson ends with a comparison of the importance of entropy and enthalpy. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Diffusion particle theory lesson - fun lesson using sound effects, spices practical
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Diffusion particle theory lesson - fun lesson using sound effects, spices practical

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This is a lesson on diffusion for younger students. The lesson begins with a literacy word unscramble activity that introduces keywords for the lesson. Students then carry out a practical where small amounts of 10 spices are placed around the classroom and they rate the smell from 1 to 10 weakest to strongest. Be careful as some spices contain traces of nuts - check for allergies at the start of the lesson. Discuss what makes a spice smell stronger using the word 'particle'. Answers may include that some particles are smaller or travel faster through the air. Higher ability groups may be introduced to the word 'vaporise' to explain why some substances have stronger smells. They then look at a large water trough (demo) that is filled with water and yellow food colouring. A drop of red food dye can be dropped into the tank to illustrate diffusion means. They then draw what is happening using coloured particle diagrams. You may play soundtracks from the film Finding Nemo or the song Who Let The Dogs Out. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Solutions practical and solubility - covers calculating a mean, drawing a bar graph
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Solutions practical and solubility - covers calculating a mean, drawing a bar graph

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This is a lesson on solubility where students carry out an independent practical to find a method for dissolving a sugar cube the fastest. Equipment could include a pestle and mortar, water bath, sugar cube, distilled water, tap water, thermometer, stop watch, beaker and measuring cylinder. Higher ability groups could design their own investigation and choose their equipment. Discuss what factors affect solubility. Students then compare the solubility of different solutes by drawing a bar graph of mean solubility values. Higher ability students may exclude anomalies when calculating the mean. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Solutions particle theory - covers solubility, solute, solvent
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Solutions particle theory - covers solubility, solute, solvent

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This is a lesson designed for higher ability Key Stage 3 students on solubility. The lesson starts off with a key a question about how much sugar is in coffee. This linked to a news item about a famous coffee brand that has up to 25 teaspoons (100g) of sugar in one cup of coffee. Students then consider what a concentrated an dilute solution looks like in terms of the arrangement of their particles. Finally students need to use the printed spreadsheet to calculate the concentration of various drinks and suggest what could be done to dilute them. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
REDOX lesson 2 - Disproportionation reactions - AS Chemistry
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REDOX lesson 2 - Disproportionation reactions - AS Chemistry

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This is a lesson on using oxidation numbers to determine if a reaction is a redox reaction, disproportionation reaction or symproportionation reaction (opposite of disproportionation). Symproportionation is included to develop understanding and is not required by AS Chemistry specifications. The starter is the engaging visual elephant toothpaste demo. Answers on slide 17 are colour coded and animated. I have another lesson on TES where students calculate oxidation numbers. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Enthalpy change graphical method and calculating excess - AS Chemistry
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Enthalpy change graphical method and calculating excess - AS Chemistry

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This is an AS Chemistry lesson on calculating which chemical is in excess in a reaction. Also students calculate an enthalpy change using a graphical method for reactions that happen slowly and therefore heat is lost to the surroundings when recording the temperature rise. The graphical method involves estimating the actual temperature increase. There is opportunity to use hand warmers for the starter activity and reacting magnesium with oxygen (i.e. in air) as a main activity. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Advanced titrations lesson - AS Chemistry
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Advanced titrations lesson - AS Chemistry

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This is an AS Chemistry lesson on advanced titration calculations for a very able class. Though this has grades C to A the concepts in back titration and the grade A zeolite research task together make this a fast paced lesson designed to challenge very bright students. An easier more differentiated version of this lesson will be uploaded to TES later in the year that will be accessed by weaker students. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Group 2 nitrates and carbonates - AS Chemistry
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Group 2 nitrates and carbonates - AS Chemistry

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This is an engaging AS Chemistry lesson on the group 1 and 2 nitrate and carbonate decompositions and has grades C to A. The starter is fire writing using sodium nitrate solution. Please read CLEAPPS safety and Royal Society of Chemistry advice on this compound and the practical. For grade C students describe the reactions. For grade B students explain the decompositions and for grade A they evaluate their answers. An extra activity such a diamond 4 could be included for students to rank their answers. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
A level carbonyl oxidation lesson applied to scents
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A level carbonyl oxidation lesson applied to scents

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This is a lesson designed as part of the Edexcel A2 unit 4 scheme of work on carbonyl compounds. In this lesson students can carry out a practical (grade C) to compare the oxidation of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The oxidation and distillation of a primary alcohol is demonstrated. Students then develop their understanding (grade B) by considering which type of oxidant would be best to oxidise geraniol (rose scent) to germinal (lemon scent). Geraniol could be used in the demo. The grade A task is writing organic redox half equations. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Carbonyl reduction AS level outstanding lesson
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Carbonyl reduction AS level outstanding lesson

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These are thoroughly differentiated resources designed for an AS level chemistry lesson on reduction of carbonyl compounds. Objectives are framed as learning questions and graded C to A. There are clear AFL plenaries using mark schemes. There is a graded Who Wants to be a Millionaire quiz for an end plenary. The starter is an engaging scents demo using butanal (pleasant) and butanoic acid (rancid butter). Pace and student effort is the key to delivering an outstanding lesson using these resources. Mark schemes can be printed. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Digestive system video questions and answers differentiated fully
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Digestive system video questions and answers differentiated fully

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The video that accompanies this worksheet has a weblink that is provided at the top of the worksheet. The video lasts for 3 minutes and 38 seconds so it is suggested that either the video is regularly paused or shown twice. Keywords and numbers are provided in a wordbook printed on the sheet. Challenge questions prompt students to analyze the digestion system such as why it should have a large surface area. It is suggested that students peer mark their work and AFL can be through the score they achieved or the number of challenge questions answered correctly. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.