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Simon Porter's Shop

Average Rating3.74
(based on 1286 reviews)

Simon has been teaching Physics for over 27 years in British state schools and international school around the world. He specializes in International Baccalaureate, A level and IGCSE. He is now head of the secondary school at the British School of Tashkent, a Nord Anglia school and in August he will become International Principal of NAS Guangzhou Panyu. He is a regular contributor to the Times Educational Supplement and is one of their "Subject geniuses" for Science.

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Simon has been teaching Physics for over 27 years in British state schools and international school around the world. He specializes in International Baccalaureate, A level and IGCSE. He is now head of the secondary school at the British School of Tashkent, a Nord Anglia school and in August he will become International Principal of NAS Guangzhou Panyu. He is a regular contributor to the Times Educational Supplement and is one of their "Subject geniuses" for Science.
Ideal gas law
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Ideal gas law

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Comprehensive Powerpoint covering the gas laws and equation of state. Practical activities and worksheets. Even a slow motion video of the author using a "Fire piston". Written for IB, this could also be used for A level and GCSE. Written with humour by an experienced (26 years!) Physics teacher.
Waves and wave measurements
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Waves and wave measurements

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Introduction to waves at GCSE/A level. This starts with an activity where they write a poem (!) to pre-assess words they already know. The PowerPoint then introduces the different measurements of a wave (frequency, amplitude etc) before introducing the wave equation (speed = frequency x wavelength) and a worksheet that uses the equation. It is handy to demonstrate the different types of waves (sound, light, slinky and even a Mexican wave in the class!)
Year 9 Fit and healthy millionaire revision
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Year 9 Fit and healthy millionaire revision

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"Who wants to be a Millionaire" style revision PowerPoint complete with music! Don't forget to give them their 3 lifelines! (50/50, ask the audience and phone a friend). I always do this in the style of the actual show, getting one student at a time to come to the front. We do a little interview too! A good 30/40 minutes of discussion and revision! Suitable for GCSE lower groups too.
Climate change, global warming and acid rain
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Climate change, global warming and acid rain

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Originally written for a top year 9 group, this is suitable for GCSE too. Causes of acid rain, composition of air, nitrogen oxides, climate change, ozone layer. It's all here presented in a clear and humorous style. Excellent activity at the end too.
Circuit symbols
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Circuit symbols

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Suitable for all levels, KS2, KS3 or KS4 (let's presume by KS5 they've got it!). Ask the class to name each symbol before revealing the answer. Some funny "symbols" too! Finish by constructing some simple circuits around the class and getting the class to draw them as diagrams in a "circus" style activity.
Evaporation and boiling
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Evaporation and boiling

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Lesson PowerPoint and worksheet on the difference between evaporation and boiling and the factors which affect the rate of evaporation.
Rocks
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Rocks

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I introduce mind-mapping in my first lesson with a class. I build up a mind-map about myself on the smartboard as a way of introduction – all my students now know I hate dogs and banks, support Nottingham Forest, love Physics and listen to Bruckner and RUSH. I then get students to do their own mind-map in the front of their books about themselves – making sure they use colour and illustrations to make them think and make the mind-map more memorable. For this Rocks lesson you can use their mind-mapping skills by putting notes on a PowerPoint set to “loop” and students have to organize the notes into a mind-map. Go to “Set-up slide show” and check the “loop continuously until ‘esc’” box. Then go to “Animations” and click on “Advance slide automatically” and put 10 seconds between each slide. It normally takes about 4 or 5 repetitions of the loop for students to complete their maps. This is especially useful for topics which are content heavy and where students need to remember facts such as Rocks or Radioactivity.
Diffraction
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Diffraction

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Diffraction presentation and problem sheet for A level or IB. Using the diffraction formula (theta = lambda/b).
Heat transfer - The vacuum flask
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Heat transfer - The vacuum flask

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Presentation recaps heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation in humorous style. This is then applied to how a vacuum flask works and students then complete the cut-out and stick worksheet. Good for KS3 and KS4.
Central Nervous System IGCSE/GCSE
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Central Nervous System IGCSE/GCSE

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Starts with an activity seeing whether meditation affects reaction time. Then everything they need to know about the CNS, reflex arc etc. Even includes instructions on how to get the class to meditate! Written by a Physicist so easy to follow and understand. Warning - use of humour.
'Amazing Mug trick' homework example
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'Amazing Mug trick' homework example

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A good homework is ask them to do a simple practical at home for their parents. Obviously you have to be careful here – I use the Amazing Mug trick to demonstrate refraction for year 8s. Put a coin in the bottom far side of a mug and move your head so the coin is just out of view. Pouring water in causes the coin to appear as if by magic. Students have to demonstrate this to parents/siblings who sign a slip in their books to prove that it was done! This type of homework can also use internet simulations as the second worksheet shows.