Worksheet on homeostasis and thyroid function, covering thyroxine, TSH and nutrient deficiencies as well as revising homeostasis and negative feedback generally. This two-page worksheet has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to help students remember the topic. Targets the AQA 9-1 biology GCSE. There’s versions of the worksheet for colour and black and white printing and an in-depth mark scheme. Doing Edexcel GCSE? I have a separate version targeting that course specifically. 2024 update: fixed a glitch with question numbering and following feedback from students, added more space for writing down some answers.

Worksheet covering the types of radioactivity over two pages. Questions on alpha, beta and gamma radiation, nuclear decay, neutron emission and half-life. Based on review of past paper questions, I’ve found knowing exactly what blocks different types of radiation is a key topic for practice and there’s a lot of questions on this. There’s a wide range of pictures and diagrams to jog students’ memory, and I mention alternative ways of writing the decay equations. This worksheet is especially targeted for the AQA 9-1 physics GCSE, although it could also be used for any other physics GCSE or secondary-level course. A version converted to black and white is included. Model answers are based on collation of many past paper questions, giving extensive exam tips. Want to know exactly what definition of gamma radiation AQA want? It’s on page 2 of the mark scheme. 2024 updates: links to videos of emitters from the IOP and using beta particles are included on the mark scheme and a wrong number for charge has been corrected.

Combined lesson plan for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry: a presentation on metallic bonding, simple fill-in-the-blank questions questions and a harder sheet of written questions linked to the presentation, and a take-home set of notes on one page. Also suitable as a recap for A-level students. Covers metallic bonding, conduction of electricity and heat, the fact that metals are malleable/ductile and alloys. Starts with a mixer exercise covering uses of metals and also includes some properties and uses of the most common metals and types of steel. Need to use this lesson plan in a hurry and want to deliver a polished lesson? I’ve got you covered: each slide ends with a full stop marking that it’s the last point on the slide so you know when the slide’s going to change. Also, each exam question slide has a spare line before the answer is revealed so you don’t accidentally show the answer too early. Included is a fairly easy fill-in-the-blanks worksheet and an exam-style written questions worksheet matching questions on the presentation, and the mark schemes for both. Both worksheets have pictures and diagrams to stimulate students. The notes have diagrams and also links to two recommended videos for revision. Besides covering metallic bonding and content like specific types of steel, the presentation introduces themes for future lessons, like that metal recycling saves energy and rust prevention.

Worksheet on two pages on extracting metals using carbon (and tungsten), targeting the AQA 9-1 science and chemistry GCSEs in the C5 “Chemical changes” section of the course. Covers the reactivity series, unreactive metals, word and symbol equations, environmental impact, redox and tungsten extraction. There’s an in-depth mark scheme, diagram of a blast furnace and links to recommended videos. Update, September 2024: added version with the images tuned to print well in black and white (note that the emoji graphics appear in colour onscreen).

Two-page revision checklist of all the transition metal colours on the OCR A A-level chemistry specification. Also includes list of notable catalysts, half-equations with dichromate(VI) and manganate(VII) ions, lists of the types of stereoisomerism, and links to videos of most of the reactions. There’s versions both in colour and black and white. These notes are inspired by vocab lists you use when you learn a foreign language-you cover the answers and read through. Getting the points to learn into an order you repeat over and over is really helpful for learning everything. Changelog, 12/3/23: a broken link has been fixed.

Worksheet covering the types of radioactivity over two pages. Questions on alpha, beta and gamma radiation, nuclear decay, neutron emission and half-life. There’s a wide range of pictures and diagrams to jog students’ memory and the mark scheme includes links to videos of emitters from the IOP. This worksheet is especially targeted for the OCR 9-1 21st century science physics GCSE, although it could also be used for any other physics GCSE or secondary-level course. A version converted to black and white is included. (Update, 21/2/24: a misprint for the mass of alpha particles in the mark scheme has been corrected; my apologies about this.)

Worksheets for teaching polymers on the AQA chemistry specification, covering the current 9-1 GCSEs: a two-page question and answer worksheet covering addition and condensation polymers, and a fill-in-the-blanks sheet for the common addition polymers and their uses. Practices definitions and drawing organic molecule structures. Mark schemes are attached. I include a lot of alternative ways the molecules could be drawn in case the person giving the lesson isn’t a chemistry specialist.

Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals covering two pages for AQA 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form, and checked against a similar question on the 84621H specimen paper. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. Written targeting AQA but would be suitable for other exam boards. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Topic area: required practical 1 and 4.4 Chemical Changes > 4.4.2 Reactions of acids > 4.4.2.3 Soluble salts > Preparing a pure dry sample of a soluble salt from an insoluble oxide or carbonate. I also have a version for Edexcel iGCSE chemistry.

Worksheet for AQA A-level biology plant tropism on two pages, covering IAA, phototropism, gravitotropism, the acid growth hypothesis and an experiment design question. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a detailed mark scheme. Written for the new 2015 specification. Doing a different specification? I have versions for AQA GCSE current specification, Edexcel GCSE and Cambridge iGCSE in a similar style. 2024 update: edited to give students more space for writing answers.

It’s a real difficulty for students that the AQA A-level biology textbook doesn’t include a diagram of an ELISA. So here’s notes on one page covering the ELISA stages, with a diagram of the specific type of ELISA on the AQA course (an indirect ELISA), and explaining how it links to other things students may know about like pregnancy tests and COVID lateral flow tests. There’s an explanation of what monoclonal antibodies are, explanation of artificial passive immunity as an extension, and links to some good videos. 9/3/2024 update: new version! Clearer numbering of the stages to link diagram to text, shortened URLs, brighter colours and better paragraphing. Also added a version tuned to print better in black and white.

Notes on capture mark, release and recapture population estimates, suitable for courses including A-level biology and Edexcel GCSE statistics. Covering one page, the assumptions and the idea of a reciprocal are explained and there’s two model calculations.

One-page poster of the transition metal formulas and colours of aqua ions and reactions with hydroxide ions, ammonia, carbonate ions and HCl. Covers Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, Cu2+ and Co2+ ions. Versions in full colour and black and white. For AQA A-level chemistry. These notes are inspired by vocab check lists you use when you learn a foreign language-you cover the answers and read through. Getting the points to learn into an order you repeat over and over is really helpful for learning everything. UPDATE, October 2023: based on feedback from students, more details on the cobalt complexes and the problem of what you are and aren’t asked to know, the half-equation for oxidation by dissolved oxygen in alkaline solution has been added, the equation of ammonia acting as an alkali in water, and an explanation that on non-course materials you may see the hydroxide formulas without showing that they’re hydrated.

Worksheet covering wave speed, frequency, and wavelength, on two pages, targeted for Edexcel 9-1 GCSE physics. Intended to provide a graduated scheme of work from definitions of wavelength, frequency, wave speed, time period, longitudinal and transverse waves to calculations and taking in unit conversion. There’s diagrams and a power triangles for the core wave equation to practice using and a mark scheme.

Combined lesson plan: a presentation on metallic bonding, simple fill-in-the-blank questions questions and a harder sheet of written questions linked to the presentation, and a take-home set of notes on one page. Covers metallic bonding, conduction of electricity and heat, the fact that metals are malleable/ductile and alloys. Starts with a mixer exercise covering uses of metals and also includes some properties and uses of the most common metals. Need to use this lesson plan in a hurry and want to deliver a polished lesson? I’ve got you covered: each slide ends with a full stop marking that it’s the last point on the slide so you know when the slide’s going to change. Also, each exam question slide has a spare line before the answer is revealed so you don’t accidentally show the answer too early. Included is a fairly easy fill-in-the-blanks worksheet and an exam-style written questions worksheet matching questions on the presentation, and the mark schemes for both. Both worksheets have pictures and diagrams to stimulate students. The notes have diagrams and also links to two recommended YouTube videos for revision. The pack is suitable for all specifications for GCSE and is useful for recap for students coming into A-level. It’s particularly been written for the AQA trilogy and synergy chemistry GCSEs and hits specific phrasing from their mark schemes. Doing Edexcel iGCSE? I now have a specific version for that course covering things like the types of steel. Besides covering metallic bonding, the presentation introduces themes for future lessons, like that metal recycling saves energy and rust prevention.

Worksheet on making copper sulfate crystals from copper oxide (the insoluble base method) covering two pages for Edexcel 9-1 GCSE chemistry, versions in colour and in black and white for printing with a mark scheme. Covers removing the excess copper oxide and letting crystals form. There’s a link to a recommended video from Pearson. The content is divided over the two pages: the first page is more “directly on the topic” questions and could be used on its own for students at the time they cover copper sulphate or do the practical, the second page is more extension and for “final exam revision”: based on student questions and points that came up from discussing the video, I made the second page cover more synoptic questions making connections with other topics, like temperature and rate of reaction. The worksheet is targeted towards building exam technique and written question skills, so doesn’t include a full practical method. Specification reference: SC8c core practical, preparing copper sulfate, C3.17

I’ve found respiration is one of the most important things for students to get right studying biology. The equations are so important, but many GCSE and even some weaker A-level biology students can’t instantly give them. I explain to students that they’re an instant grade boost. Here’s a worksheet and set of notes on one page on the most common respiration questions. There’s the word equations, a guide through the standard question about how your heart and breathing rate change with exercise, and there’s links to some recommended videos. Versions included for colour and black and white printing. Full mark scheme included with the worksheet. Remembering the equations for respiration is one of the last things I always go over with students just before their exams, because it’s such a morale booster to instantly get full marks on one of these questions. I will never forget what one student told me in 2021: “It came up! Exactly what you said, it came up!” This set of notes targets Edexcel 9-1 iGCSE biology and uses lactate as the standard term rather than lactic acid. I have a version targeted towards other GCSEs such as the AQA course as well. Questions consulted as models for answers included the 1B 2019 and 1BR 2020 papers and 2B 2017. Edit: following feedback from students, made worksheet 2 pages to give students more space.

Notes on one page covering all the tests for cations for AQA 9-1 GCSE chemistry, including the precipitation equations. I’ve also included model equations, both complete and ionic, for the precipitation reactions, with examples for a +2 and +3 ion. Versions both in colour and in black and white for photocopying and links to videos of the tests.

You get a much better response explaining cyclic AMP when you draw it as a hat that makes enzymes happy and working harder when they wear it! One-page revision notes on cAMP for the OCR specification, combining the different places it’s used on the course (adrenaline receptors, ADH in the kidney collecting duct, lac operon of bacteria). Also has links to YouTube videos of some of the processes discussed. I’m thinking of expanding this into a larger resource covering this topic-contact me if that’s something you’d particularly want. It’s offered for free in the meantime.

This free resource shows how people tend to get their eye diverted by an eye-catching big diagram or graph or picture, and not read the text above it. I regularly show this to my students to help them understand that examiners write exams downwards, and that often the very start of the text before a picture or diagram hides vital information that they can easily skip over. It really helps them visualise what’s going on and the importance of looking everywhere for the information to solve questions. They often burst out laughing when they get the joke. This image was based on a popular meme distributed without copyright statement whose original author I have not been able to trace, so I’m making it available for free. A couple of different versions are included in colour and black and white.

Poster explaining what global warming causes and why climate change is so important, using clear, simple images. Could be useful for geography, biology, chemistry, other sciences and general citizenship lessons. Included is a version for students to fill in. I also have a poster on how to stop global warming which is also available for free. If your teaching prefers the wording “climate change” rather than “global warming”, I also have a poster saying this, content is otherwise identical.