I teach a number of low ability classes. I want my pupils to do as well as they can. So here are a number of resources that I have developed to help them do that. From writing frames to entire lessons. I am currently making themed topics to rope in pupils, e.g. Disney themes.
I teach a number of low ability classes. I want my pupils to do as well as they can. So here are a number of resources that I have developed to help them do that. From writing frames to entire lessons. I am currently making themed topics to rope in pupils, e.g. Disney themes.
The lesson is for a low ability class with a Pokemon theme throughout.
The starter involves designing a cell with a function. The pupils can be as imaginative as they like. You can get them to judge each other's cells.
Pupils then get given a poster (to be printed in A3) to complete by circulating the room and collecting information. There is a lower ability poster which tells them where to write all the information and links it to animal and plant Pokemon. There is also a higher ability poster which they decide which Pokemon would have those cells, there is a male and female version of the same Pokemon (this may need explaining if your pupils aren't familiar with Pokemon - the top right is female and the one directly below is male - they look slightly different).
Then show pictures of different cells and pupils can use mini white boards to name them - I use this as an opportunity to get verbal confirmation that pupils can give a structure and function of each.
Finally there is a choice of two exit tickets, a true and false or a match exercise.
This is a Pokemon themed lesson for a low ability groups.
It begins with pupils grouping Pokemon and explaining their groups to the class.
Pupils then look at variation within species and between different species of Pokemon.
The exit ticket is comparing environmental and inherited features.
The lesson isn't very detailed as it is for low ability and is meant as an introduction to classification.
This is a Pokemon themed resource about classifying plants.
Pupils enter and are asked to complete a classification task of animals as a refresher from the previous lesson.
Pupils then collect information about the different plant groups, a science dictionary will be needed at one of the stations for one of the tasks on the filler sheet.
There is then a quiz to see if pupils can identify plants from images
Pupils then are given a Pokemon and its leaf (notes on which Pokemon goes with what kind of leaf you need to provided is on the notes section of the relevant slide) and they complete the poster template.
Pupils then play a quick game of taboo using the taboo cards.
Finally pupils classify some plant images as an exit card.
This lesson is about the 7 life processes for a low ability class.
It is based around the theme of Pokemon.
It begins with a simple "Is it Alive?" quiz, using Pokemon characters and accessories. It then goes onto a think pair share and then a word-search with a bookmark they can make.
There is then a match exercise and the lesson ends with a quiz. There is also an exit ticket for pupils to complete before they leave the room.
This lesson is based around Pokemon. Using Pokemon such as Bulbsaur and Oddish as these would have both animal and plant cells.
Pupils first are given a number of Pokemon and decide which doesn't belong. They then do a literal word search for the names of the organelles in cells.
Back-to-back: pupils then play back-to-back. This involves one pupils facing the board, while the other faces the other way with a mini whiteboard. The pupil facing the board describes the image that they see and the one not facing the board draws it. Give a time limit for each.
Pupils then do a simple table exercise based on what they've learned from drawing the cells.
Pupils then read through a song, or sing it to the Pokemon theme tune, and do the instructions on the sheet. They also label images of cells.
Pupils then read through statements to decide if Euglena is an animal or plant cell.
Finally, pupils complete a poster task comparing both types of cells (this can be done as a homework)
This is a Pokemon themed lesson for a low ability class.
The lesson begins with a colouring exercise, where pupils put animals into groups, they should know this from primary.
Pupils then watch a video in vertebrates and complete a worksheet as they watch the video.
This is followed by an online quiz and then a quick quiz.
Pupils then use information around the room to learn about invertebrate groups.
Pupils finally play "Slap the Pokeball" or slap the board. Here the teacher can call out examples or features and two pupils at the front race to slap the correct Pokeball.
The exit ticket involves pupils classifying Pokemon and explaining their decision.
This is part of a Pokemon Cells unit for KS3. The pretense is that Team Rocket are trying to find out about the hierarchy of organisation in Pokemon.
It starts with pupils matching words to definitions. Pupils then watch a video (which is hyperlinked to Jessie's speech bubble) about cells, tissues and organs. Pupils then complete a pyramid of hierarchy using the keywords (Team Rocket's Pokemon, Meowth, is Egyptian so the kids may enjoy this). Pupils then use some questions to write a letter to Team Rocket's boss and then peer assess.
There is then a short quiz, followed by an exit ticket that requires pupils to extract information from text and complete a flowchart.
This is aimed at a KS3 class, with a Zombie theme.
Pupils begin by entering to a Morse Code they have to crack. Pupils then watch a short video on antibiotics and resistance and do a quick AfL multiple choice quiz, this would be a good time to discuss why antibiotics don't work on viral infections.
Pupils then complete a Maths task, looking at the reproduction of bacteria, the affect of antibiotics and what happens when bacteria mutate.
Pupils are then given a character and are to debate antibiotic resistance.
Finally pupils answer an AQA exam question on antibiotic resistance.
There is also a homework available about the effectiveness of plants as antibacterials, I've dubbed this "Plants vs. Zombies" for "fun-factor",
This is a Pokemon themed lesson for a low ability class.
Pupils start with refreshing the knowledge of plant and animal cells. This is followed by a video, which pupils then do a task on.
Pupils then collect information about 4 different unicellular organisms, from posters and QR codes on PokemonGo backgrounds (links are included if your school doesn't allow portable devices), and create Pokemon cards for each one.
The comprehension booklet can then be used as a plenary, exit ticket or homework.
This lesson is done with a Pokemon theme to gets pupils interested.
The first slide is to draw them in, the "Bellsprout" slide is just a leaf cell, and the "Rhyhorn" slide is a rhino's horn under the microscope.
Pupils start with labeling a microscope, it is assumed they have don this before and are revisiting. The same with the table in which they put into order how to use the microscope.
Pupils then do a card sort on how to prepare an onion skin slide.
They then prepare the slide and draw the cells using the checklist as a success criteria. Higher pupils can then calculate magnification.
As a plenary this can be peer assessed.
This is a KS3 lesson, with a Zombie theme.
Pupils start by completing a basic comprehension task. There are two available for different abilities.
Pupils then are given a scenario and are asked to "Think, Pair, Share". After the discussion, a video (link in the notes section of the slide) is shown and pupils can then build on their ideas from the initial discussion.
Pupils then do a Silent Sort to find out how vaccines work. The instructions are on the PowerPoint slide.
Using what they have just leaned pupils use the guidance given to write a letter.
Finally pupils complete a comic stripe to show how vaccines work.
This is aimed at a low ability KS3 class, with a Zombie theme
Get a lot of glitter on your hands. As pupils walk in greet them with a hand shake or pat on the shoulder.
Pupils begin with a word search of some key terms.
Pupils then do a "Think, Pair, Share" on how they could catch Zombie-ism. Then get pupils to check their hands a shoulders, discuss what this represents.
Go through the possible routes of transmission. Use mini white board to do some Q&A to check understanding.
Put the different hospitals around the room. Pupils decide on how each patient became infected with Zombie-ism.
There is then a Maths focus, where pupils draw tally charts, calculate percentages and draw graphs.
Finally, pupils do an exit ticket which involves them describe ways disease can spread over different distances.
This is designed for a KS3 class, with a zombie theme.
Pupils begin with trying to solve an anagram. They can also see how many words they can make out of the letters used to spell 'Phagocytosis'.
Pupils are then put into groups to research about one of the three lines of defence. A website with links is available in the notes section of the PowerPoint, this is to direct their research.
Pupils then put their posters around the room. They do an activity called "Viewing Gallery". This is used to promote discussion and talking properly. Encourage pupils to be silly with it, they will put on posh accents and because they are pretending to be posh they will speak better.
Finally get pupils to create a news bulletin to bring together all the information they have learned.
Pupils begin by using the magazine article (page 5) and highlighting all the words they think are parts of the digestive system.
Pupils then RAG the lesson objective on the worksheet
Pupils are then shown the Gums to Bums demonstration. Each step being spoke about to a suitable level.
Pupils then use the Why Do We Digest worksheet to show what they have learnt. This is then peer marked and for each task (which links to an objective) pupils RAG again depending on how many they got correct.
The homework is based on the final RAG. The pupils choses what section to do based on how well they have done in the lesson
This is very similar layout to the QWC writings frames (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aqa-core-science-b1-c1-p1-qwc-writing-frame-bundle-11163851)
This can be used as a stand alone lessons. Pupils are given different animals to research (Camel - easiest; Star-nosed mole - hardest, Desert vs Artic Fox extension comparison). There is a Symbaloo link (https://goo.gl/Cju34F) which has all the websites needed for each animal, organised in groups by colour, so you can give the pupils the QR code and let them research their relevant animal.
After the pupils have researched their given animal, they can then be asked to write an essay on how that particular animal is adapted, maybe comparing it to a friend's.
This lesson introduces coral reefs and how humans are affecting them by using a comprehension starter. It then has a collective memory tasks where pupils learn about the environment in which coral reefs are found.
It contains a link for a podcast with a few questions to ensure that pupils have listened and taken away the key points.
The lesson then progresses into food chains, webs and energy transfer on coral reefs using Finding Nemo as an example.
It contains a feed web game, which requires some printing, but little preparation. They then look at a Finding Nemo food web and discuss what would happen if characters were removed as well as energy transfer.
For the homework pupils must use the simulation on explorelearning.com (the simulation is called the same as the worksheet title)
This lesson is about the effects on carbon dioxide on our environment.
The lesson starts with a literacy starter, pupils use a word cloud to determine the title of the lesson, and can list any words that they are unsure of.
Pupils then listen to a podcast about ocean acidification, there are questions so that pupils are focussed during the task.
There are then some slides about how ocean acidification happens, looking at combustion (equations) and the formation of carbonic acid (equations).
The lesson then focusses on the formation of salts - how carbon dioxide reacts with carbonates in the ocean (equations).
Finally, pupils use all the information they have learned to write a response to Nemo's letter about why his home is being destroyed.
With a busy schedule sometimes it's hard to enjoy running a STEM Club if you have to think of tasks every week, especially towards the end of the year.
Over the summer I created a scheme of work for your STEM Club. It was divided into themes, e.g. Superheroes and Fairy Tales.
One and a half terms in, it seems to be working very well, for our KS3 and KS2 Science Clubs. Not all the resources are mine, but I've attached help sheets for some session. Most of the information is in the spread sheet outlining each session
I hope you enjoy using this and it makes your life that little bit easier.
For the Plastics Challenge information please go to http://practicalaction.org/plastics-challenge
I have previously put up a scheme of learning for Science Clubs with themes, for the academic year of 2015-2016, https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks3-science-stem-club-11208097
As our Science Club runs over Year 7 and Year 8 a second scheme has now been written, so it can work on a two year rotation basis.
The layout is slightly different, but has the same essential parts, with activities grouped into themes, which include: Dr Seuss and Oceanography
This unit is for a low ability KS3 class. The pretense of the unit is based on Zombies to gain interest. Lessons types of microbes, viruses and types of drugs.