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Little Scientists

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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.

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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.
Combined Chemistry AQA Required Practical Booklet
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Combined Chemistry AQA Required Practical Booklet

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This booklet contains all the required practicals for Combined Chemistry (AQA). It begins with a contents page, which has the list of practicals and the skills the pupils will learn during the practical. The skills have a RAG box so pupils can self assess how well they think they can do the skill. The contents also has a space for the date when the practical was done and a column for exam question feedback. Each required practical has a sheet for pupils to fill in. Each sheet follows the same format. Pupils fill in the risk assessment, results, conclusion and evaluation for each practical. Graph paper is included where needed. Finally, each practical has questions relating to the practical and practice exam questions that are either about the practical or similar practical or ask the pupils to apply what they have learnt from the practical.
Frozen Science -Matter Whole Topic
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Frozen Science -Matter Whole Topic

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This unit is for a low ability KS3 class. The pretense of the unit is based on the film Frozen to gain interest. Lessons include states of matter, diffusion and separation techniques.
Frozen Science - Separation Techniques
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Frozen Science - Separation Techniques

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This is a low ability KS3 lesson, with the theme of Disney's Frozen. Pupils begin with a "Think, Pair and Share" of how they will obtain fresh water from salt water on a beach. They then go onto do the rock salt experiment, creating a solution and then separating the salt and water, for higher ability classes get them to capture the fresh water, rather than letting it evaporate. Pupils then go onto a chromatography practical. Use a number of different green pens (one being the sample) and get pupils to determine which green pen was used in a scenario. You could also demo distillation of ink. Pupils finally complete the "Purifying a Solid" clue task to revisit key terms. There is also an extended writing homework available.
Frozen Science - Dissolving
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Frozen Science - Dissolving

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This is a lesson aimed for a low ability KS3 class and has a theme of Disney's Frozen. Pupils begin with trying to see how many words they can make out of one of the lesson's keywords. Pupils then watch a video to get the keywords for the lesson and complete a question sheet as they do so. Pupils then do 3 experiments that show dissolution. Finally pupils do a code breaker that goes through the keywords of the lesson again. For homework pupils watch a video and write a letter to Anna describing the difference between melting and dissolving.
Frozen Science - Diffusion
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Frozen Science - Diffusion

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This is a lesson for a low ability KS3 class, with the theme of Disney's Frozen. Pupils begin with brainstorming how Elza and Anna can smell the hot chocolate. Diffusion is then explained to the pupils. Pupils then do an experiment to see how the temperature affects the rate of diffusion. Completing a sheet as they do so. Finally pupils put diagrams in order to show how diffusion happens in particles.
Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Acids and Metals
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Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Acids and Metals

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This is a low ability KS3 lesson, with a Gnomeo and Juliet theme. Pupils start by doing a downword to refresh keywords from the topic. The teacher will then demonstrate the test for hydrogen, explaining that hydrogen is made instead of water during this reaction. Pupils do an experiment to see which metal produces the most hydrogen in 20 seconds. There is then an AfL task to see if pupils can remember how to name salts, using mini white boards. Pupils then do some word equations. The exit ticket involves pupils self assessing their word equations and attempting symbol equations.
Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Uses of Neutralisation
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Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Uses of Neutralisation

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This is a low ability KS3 lesson, with a theme of Gnomeo and Juliet. Pupils begin by reading a textbook spread and completing a mind map. Pupils then watch a video and add more to their mind map. During their mind map they should have come up with wasp and bee stings. Pupils plan and undertake an investigation on what substances can neutralise these stings. Pupils then complete an exit ticket on examples of neutralisation.
Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Neutralisation
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Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Neutralisation

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This is a lesson for a low ability KS3 class. The lesson is themed Gnomeo and Juliet. Pupils begin by trying to make words from the letters of NEUTRALISATION. They then predict what will happen if they add an acid and alkali together, followed by doing a small experiment to determine if their prediction was correct. Pupils then complete word equations (the bookmark is to help them name salts) Finally they complete an exit ticket to predict what substances will neutralise each other out.
Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Acidic Strength (the pH scale)
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Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Acidic Strength (the pH scale)

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This is a lesson on the pH Scale with a theme on Gnomeo and Juliet for a low ability class. Pupils begin with doing a Sudoku task as they enter the room. They then watch a short video on the pH scale and complete the worksheet, followed by colouring their own pH scale. There is then a small experiment where pupils determine the pH of different substances. I have left the sheet blank so you can decide on your own substances. I would put the substances in test tubes and let them go around the room and put a drop of Universal Indicator in, or dip Universal Indicator paper in (this way you use less equipment). They can also use Litmus paper and then write a conclusion on the two types of litmus paper. There is then a short AfL quiz where pupils decide if what is shown is acid or alkali. Pupils then do a small experiment on how the strength of acid affects limestone, with the pretense of Juliet's tower being made out of limestone and the worry of it dissolving. The exit ticket involves pupils going around the room and finding examples of different pH's. There are 2 homeworks available. Both are online experiment. The lower ability homework is changing the pH of soil to change the colour of flowers for Juliet. The second is exploring the amount of hydrogen and how it affects pH.
Gnomeo and Juliet Science - What are Acids?
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Gnomeo and Juliet Science - What are Acids?

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This lesson has a theme of Gnomeo and Juliet and is or a low ability KS3 class. It begins with pupils refreshing their knowledge on hazard symbols. Pupils then can discuss as to why gnomes may be afraid of acids - focus on safety here. Pupils then find hidden words and pictures around the room, which give them information about what acids can be used in. Pupils then are split into two groups and make two different indicators (beetroot and cabbage), they then test these on a lemon and soap solutions. There is a table that results can be collected as a class. Finally pupils decide whether the statements shows that acids are harmful or useful.
2 Year STEM/Science Club Plan Bundle
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2 Year STEM/Science Club Plan Bundle

3 Resources
Using both of these plans you can have a STEM Club on a two year rotation, assuming you run it for Year 7 and Year 8. Resources and links are all included. Also includes a trip plan for any clubs that do trips.
KS3 Science/STEM Club
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KS3 Science/STEM Club

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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
New AQA ELC and Combined: Trilogy
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New AQA ELC and Combined: Trilogy

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Have you got low ability pupils that you don't think will be able to cope with the intensity of next year of the AQA Combined Trilogy? Have you considered double entry? These planning resources show how you could teach the ELC content as well as meet the requirements for the Combined Trilogy so you can double enter your lower ability pupils. This way if they do not achieve in the Trilogy they can at least have an entry level certificate. These planning resources show how you would teach the Year 10 (Year 11 to follow) and how the TDAs of the ELC map with the Required Practicals of the Combined Trilogy. Hope this helps anyone who is concerned with their lower ability pupils next year.
Ocean Acidification
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Ocean Acidification

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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.
Differentiating QWC Writing Frames Guide
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Differentiating QWC Writing Frames Guide

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Firstly, I would like to say thank you for purchasing or considering purchasing a QWC writing frame or bundle. I have found these an amazing resource, which if why I have made so many. But, how could they be differentiated? I know how tempting it can be to use these as a standalone task, and even stretch it out into a lesson. This document gives some ideas on how to differentiated for different classes as well as other activities you could do with the frames.
Coral Reefs
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Coral Reefs

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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)
KS3 Science/STEM Club
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KS3 Science/STEM Club

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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
Earthquakes in the Natural History Museum
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Earthquakes in the Natural History Museum

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This booklet was made for a KS3 trip to the Natural History Museum, London. The front of the booklet has a table indicating what the pupils are to take away from the trip (green = lower ability to blue = higher ability). The higher ability tasks include the entire booklet and blue boxes. I hope this helps anyone who is planning a trip but needs some resources to go with it. The answers can also be assessed (WWW/EBI) when you're back in school.
QWC Writing Frame with picture prompt - Structure of the Earth P and S Waves
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QWC Writing Frame with picture prompt - Structure of the Earth P and S Waves

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This writing frame is used to help pupils practice with their extended writing questions in Science. It uses smaller steps and leading questions for pupils to be able to answer the large question that they would see in the exam. The frame include keywords that the pupils should use in their answer and a picture in the center, either from the question itself or as a visual prompt. This is really useful for all pupils and ticks that literacy box!