I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13. I teach KS3 Activate (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry), AQA GCSE Biology, AQA GCSE Chemistry, and A Level Biology (OCR A).
I am a secondary science teacher from Plymouth, United Kingdom. I have a passion for designing interactive, engaging and well scaffolded resources that are inclusive for all pupils. I teach all years, from years 7-13. I teach KS3 Activate (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (Biology and Chemistry), AQA GCSE Biology, AQA GCSE Chemistry, and A Level Biology (OCR A).
A revision mat for a KS3 class studying electricity and magnetism.
This revision placemat is designed for a top set year 8 class.
This revision placemat covers:
Circuit symbols
The role of each component in a circuit
The rules for current in series and parallel circuits
Potential difference
Drawing voltmeters in parallel
Resistance
Static electricity in terms of electrons / distribution of charge
Magnetism - attraction and repulsion
Magnetic fields
Electromagnetism (what is it, how can the strength be changed, what are the uses)
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an âintroduction to scienceâ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A â5 in 5â style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, measuring, Bunsen burners, writing methods, drawing tables
A lesson hook - funny graphs showing that correlation does not equal causation
A guided student discussion - name the different types of graph and chart
Direct instruction on categoric vs. discrete data
A checkpoint task on categoric vs. discrete data - which is which?
A fill in the blanks task, with answers
direct instruction - rules for drawing a graph
Spot the mistakes task in various graphs
Guided teacher model (visualiser required) - students draw graph along with teacher
Independent task - students draw their own line graph from a results table
A written plenary task
A revision placemat designed for a lower ability year 10 class for the âelectrolysisâ topic.
It is well scaffolded.
The placemat covers:
Labelling cathode, anode, cations, anions, electrolytes
Reactivity series
The general process of electrolysis
Predicting the products of electrolysis of molten ionic compounds
The general rules for the electrolysis of aqueous solutions
Predicting the products of electrolysis of aqueous solutions
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a low ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This is a theory lesson, so suitable for teaching random sampling with quadrats in the winter months!
This lesson focuses on the method of systematic sampling using transect lines.
This resource includes:
A â5 in 5â retrieval-style starter
A retrieval practice (recalling method for random sampling)
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher model slides (examples)
An animated teacher model, helping students to visualise the method
Guided class discussions
Multiple choice hand signals quiz
âFill in the blanksâ closed task with answer slide
Exam questions, with optional scaffolds, and answer slides
Written plenary
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a low ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
This is a theory lesson, so suitable for teaching random sampling with quadrats in the winter months!
This lesson focuses on the method of random sampling, as well as the calculations.
This resource includes:
A â5 in 5â retrieval-style starter
A careers link (ecological consultant)
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
An embedded video
An animated teacher model, helping students to visualise the method
Model results
A teacher model on calculating a mean / estimations, with answer slides
Exam question on random sampling method, with optional scaffold, and answer slide
Exam questions on calculations, with answer slides
Written plenary
A full 1-hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 9 class studying the AQA GCSE Biology topic âEcosystemsâ.
This lesson covers interdependence in communities, stable communities and competition.
This full 1-hour lesson resource contains:
A 5-in-5 retrieval style starter
An embedded YouTube video as a lesson hook
Introduction slides on interdependence (reduced cognitive load, dual coding)
Teacher model slides on interdependence in food webs
A âthumbs up, thumbs downâ hand signals quiz, with answers
An exam question for students to practice, with answer slides
Introduction slides on competition, with pictures
An embedded YouTube video on competition in plants
A written recall task with answer slides on competition
A guided âturn and talkâ
A written exam question on competition, with answer slides
Introduction slides on stable communities
Exam question with answer slides on stable communities
Plenary - written exam question
This is a full 1 hour lesson resource designed for a mid-ability year 9 class studying the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification.
This class were at the end of the âQuantitative Chemistryâ topic, on the spec point âchemical measurementsâ.
However, this should be suitable for any GCSE class studying errors and uncertainty.
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
Recall the terms systematic error, random error, zero error and parallax error and explain what they mean
Identify which type of error is shown from an example
Know what âuncertaintyâ means
Calculate uncertainty from a range of results about a mean
This lesson is designed to be teachable by a non subject specialist, with all answers and content on the slides. The intention of each slide is made very clear.
This lesson contains a range of concrete examples, including a model where students will need to use stopwatches.
The mathematical section of this lesson is presented in an âI do, we do, you doâ manner with scaffolded examples.
Exam questions are included with mark schemes, and plenty of AFL is planned and included.
This lesson includes a printable worksheet, with answers.
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular âcheck for understandingâ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
A color-coded worksheet to help students work through word equations for neutralisation reactions.
Really useful to help lower ability or KS3 classes visualise where the products of neutralisation reactions come from.
Includes a worked example and answer key.
A full 1-hour lesson resource designed for a mixed ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Chemistry topic of electrolysis.
This lesson focuses on writing half equations
This lesson includes detailed teacher models and worked examples with animations and specific questions to support studentsâ metacognition.
Many practice questions are included which are ramped in difficulty to build confidence, and contain answer slides.
Students work up to completing exam questions at the end of the lesson.
My lesson resources always contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular âcheck for understandingâ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
This resource was designed for a higher ability year 7 class to revise our recent topic on reproduction.
It could be used for a lower ability KS4 group.
There are two different versions of this resource with slight variations - one is more open and challenging, the other is more scaffolded. These have been clearly identified for you.
The areas covered in this revision placemat are:
Labeling the male reproductive system
Labeling the female reproductive system
The function of each of the key reproductive organs
Identifying the changes during puberty that occur in males and females
The stages of the menstrual cycle
Fertilisation
A brief overview of pregnancy and childbirth
A full 1-hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 10 class studying the AQA GCSE Chemistry topic on âElectrolysisâ.
This lesson focuses on the electrolysis of aqueous solutions, with a specific focus on identifying the products formed at each electrode.
This PowerPoint includes:
A â5-in-5â retrieval-style starter
A retrieval practice task recapping the reactivity series (with varying levels of difficulty / scaffold to choose from)
Guided class discussions
Introduction slides outlining the rules at each electrode
Teacher model slides to practice naming the product at each electrode
Hand signal quizzes with answers, to check pupilsâ understanding
Table for students to copy and complete, practising naming the products at each electrode (varying levels of scaffold to choose from)
Exam Questions for students to practise, with varying levels of scaffold to choose from
Answer slides
A game of âsplatâ for students to play as a plenary task
This resource is based on the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus, and was designed for a lower set year 9 group.
It is useful as a support sheet throughout the topic, or as a revision tool at the end of the unit.
The resource covers the structures and properties of:
Diamond
Graphite
Graphene
Buckminsterfullerene
Carbon nanotubes
This lesson resource was designed for a lower attaining year 10 class studying AQA GCSE Combined Science.
This is a full 1 hour lesson.
This PowerPoint contains:
A â5 in 5â retrieval style starter
A lesson hook
Direct instruction on Lamarckâs theory
Direct instruction on Darwinâs theory of natural selection
A teacher model showing natural selection in flowers
A guided activity where students assess written responses to an exam question on natural selection in Arctic hares using a mark scheme
An independent exam question on natural selection in giraffes, with guided self assessment
Direct instruction on antibiotic resistance
A deliberate practice task on antibiotic resistance and how it develops, with guided self assessment
A written plenary task (an exam question with a mark scheme)
This resource is based on the AQA GCSE Combined Science syllabus.
It was designed for a lower set year 9 class and used as a support sheet throughout the unit.
However, it was also used successfully with a higher ability year 11 class as a revision tool for upcoming exams.
This resource is an A3 knowledge organiser that contains information about:
How ionic bonds are formed
The properties of ionic compounds (description and explanation)
How covalent bonds are formed
A brief overview of dot-and-cross diagrams
The properties of small covalent molecules (description and explanation)
Suitable for a KS3 or KS4 science lesson on extinction.
A board game for 2-4 players.
Contains a playing board with rules and instructions.
You will need dice for each group, plus counters (I get mine to use pen lids or rubbers).
Students will pretend to be a species and try to make it to the finish square without going extinct!
Students will need to read the tiles on the board and respond accordingly.
Along the way, students should learn about some common causes of extinction, as well as about adaptation and natural selection.
A good extension or homework task is to ask students to design their own board game titled âextinctionâ.
A full hour lesson designed for year 7 as part of an âintroduction to scienceâ unit, teaching key science skills to new students in KS3.
This full hour lesson resource contains:
A â5 in 5â style retrieval starter recapping key concepts from primary school, lab safety, scientific apparatus, and measuring
A lesson hook about fireworks
Retrieval practice - recap Bunsen burner safety
Direct instruction on how to light a Bunsen burner
A health and safety slide
An apparatus slide
Clear practical instructions on how to light a Bunsen burner
Clear practical instructions on how to do flame tests
A written plenary task
A full 1 hour lesson designed for a mixed ability year 7 class.
This is the second lesson in âChapter 2 - Reactionsâ from Activate 1, Chemistry. This lesson is on âword equationsâ.
This lesson should be suitable to teach to any KS3 Chemistry class, even by those where chemistry is not their specialism.
This lesson (and all lessons in this unit) is designed to be interactive and engaging, with plenty of real world examples and independent tasks.
From this lesson, students should be able to:
Identify reactants and products from a word equation
Write word equations for chemical reactions when given the relevant information
Use word equations to describe chemical reactions in words
All of my lesson resources contain:
A 5-in-5 retrieval-style starter
An interesting lesson hook, careers link, or retrieval practice to start the lesson
Teacher input slides with dual coding and reduced cognitive load
Teacher models
Regular âcheck for understandingâ slides, such as hand signals quizzes
Regular student independent practice slides, with optional scaffolds, challenges and answer slides
A plenary task
A lesson on peat bogs based on the AQA GCSE Biology syllabus.
The lesson resource contains:
A â5 in 5â style starter
An interesting lesson hook
Direct instruction on peat bogs as carbon sinks
An embedded video from a news report on the destruction of peat
Reading comprehension task: A link to an online article with beautiful illustrations, and a printed copy of the text from this link that students can follow along with
A hand signal quiz to check for understanding
Exam style questions with mark schemes
A âwrite to your local MPâ task, with guided peer assessment
A plenary task âGive me 5â
A worksheet on writing chemical formulae, with answers.
Two versions are included, PowerPoint and Word.
In this worksheet, students will develop the skills of:
Using a particle diagram to identify which elements are in a compound, and the relative numbers of atoms of each element in the compound
Using particle diagrams and/or written information to write the chemical formulae for compounds
Naming familiar two-element compounds
Drawing particle diagrams for compounds
This worksheet is scaffolded with some gaps filled in to model how to correctly complete the table.
This is based on the KS3 Activate curriculum, from Chapter 2 âElements, atoms and compoundsâ from Activate 1. However, this should be suitable for any KS3 class or lower ability KS4 class studying chemical formulae.