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Outstanding GCSE and A level chemistry resources

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.

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Having taught GCSE and A level chemistry for 6 years and being an examiner I have developed a solid understanding of what makes a lesson outstanding and seek to share this with other teachers.
Advanced titrations lesson - AS Chemistry
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Advanced titrations lesson - AS Chemistry

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This is an AS Chemistry lesson on advanced titration calculations for a very able class. Though this has grades C to A the concepts in back titration and the grade A zeolite research task together make this a fast paced lesson designed to challenge very bright students. An easier more differentiated version of this lesson will be uploaded to TES later in the year that will be accessed by weaker students. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Paper chromatography GCSE Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision
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Paper chromatography GCSE Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun yet challenging GCSE Chemistry tarsia for revision of the paper chromatography. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make a parallelogram. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: Rf value, adsorb, solvent, soluble and uses of chromatography. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Cells - flower parts and dissection
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Cells - flower parts and dissection

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This is a lesson that was taught to year 7 and has KS3 levels 4-6. The learning objectives slide promotes AFL and regular checking of progress in lesson - see my other resources for an explanation. I used a visualiser to demonstrate the flower dissection to the class using Lillies. Feedback to rowan.savage@hotmail.com.
Group 2 metal compound reactions - AS Chemistry
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Group 2 metal compound reactions - AS Chemistry

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This is an AS Chemistry lesson on the group 2 metal compounds and their reactivity and solubility at grades C to A. For grade C students write symbol equations. Note that the hydroxides and sulphates show opposite trends in solubility. For grade B they consider the aluminium sulphate Camelford water poisoning in Cornwall and write ionic equations. Note that all ions are aqueous and that Barium chloride and aluminium sulphate are soluble compounds. For grade A they analyse different data and use this to explain trends in solubility of group 2 compounds. For an engaging starter you could show the reaction of potassium with water and ask students to predict how the reactivity of group 2 metals would be different (less owing to increased charge density and 2 ionisation energies to make the ion). Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Progress check sheet for students - A level
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Progress check sheet for students - A level

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This document helps students and teachers track progress in A level chemistry (OCR A specification). It can easily be modified for any exam board or subject and would work well at KS4. Students record their progress on assessed homework and tests. There is space for teacher and student feedback.The 'medal&' and &';mission' comments are completed by the teacher. There is space to record intervention strategies for a particular module. For homework a percentage correct score is worked out and a grade given as follows: 60% = C, 70% = B, 80% = A. Feedback to my TES inbox.
Ethics presentation lessons - 21 ethic questions with sources for and against
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Ethics presentation lessons - 21 ethic questions with sources for and against

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This is a comprehensive set of lesson resources that I have created for form lesson time. The lessons begin with the PowerPoint that introduces a brief history of ethics (religion, Socrates, Kant) then gets students to consider what we mean by the term 'ethics'. A definition is provided. The teacher then goes through how the presentations will be structured and tips for giving a good quality presentation. Students then select which one of the 21 questions they would like to investigate using the sources that have been carefully provided. Many of these sources I have come across (e.g. the Sports Gene, James Mitchell). Others I have had to research. Websites links are provided. Students then plan their presentations and present for 3 to 5 minutes. There is a checklist that can be used to provide feedback. The pictures used are not under copyright protection.
An introduction to electrochemical cells - A level - includes writing half cells
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An introduction to electrochemical cells - A level - includes writing half cells

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This is a lesson for A level chemistry on electrochemical cells. It starts with students constructing a fruit cell and combing four of these cells to make a battery that powers a light bulb . These are made from a whole lemon, piece of clean copper, piece of clean zinc, electrical wires, crocodile clips and light bulb. This could be shown as a demo if there is not much time. Students offer explanations as to how this works. They are introduced to the theory behind how batteries work, what a half cell is and notation for writing half cells and E-cell. The hydrogen / H+ / platinum reference electrode is then introduced as a standard that is used to compare the voltage different half cells. Reinforce the idea that platinum is used because it a very unreactive electrical conductor. Students then use the electrode potentials table (go through this) to write the voltage and reactions for different combinations of half cells. This could be set as homework instead. The lesson finishes with an exam question plenary. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Balancing equations GCSE
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Balancing equations GCSE

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This covers balancing equations skills for GCSE. This is lesson 2 in the atomic structure scheme of work for the AQA 2016 specification. The lesson starts with a recap of elements, compounds and formulae (lesson 1 in the AQA atomic structure scheme of work). The lesson then has a demo of the sodium and chlorine reaction. Students are then introduced to the rules for balancing equations. They can balance equations using the particle diagrams method that is included in the main lesson. Alternatively students could use the column method or use boiled sweets that are included separately. The challenge is to balance equations that use brackets and to balance half equations. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
French ER verbs present tense tarsia - jouer, parler, regarder - use as starter, plenary, revision
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French ER verbs present tense tarsia - jouer, parler, regarder - use as starter, plenary, revision

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This is a fully differentiated tarsia puzzle for conjugating French ER verbs in the present tense. It is a fun kinesthetic way of revising verb conjugation. It gets students to more fully understand spoken and written language by helping them appreciate that 'I play' is the same as 'I am playing' . This sort of revision activity is particularly useful for boys. There are 18 pairs of questions and answers written in 16 triangles. When properly assembled a large equilateral triangle is formed. Answers are provided as well an 'easy start' that provides 4 of the 16 triangles as a starting point for weaker students. The 'group 1 metals A4 2 page' is an A4 tarsia that has 8 triangles per page. I suggest that these are printed on card and students cut them out. They are great for AFL. end of lesson plenary or plenary. If the writing of the A4 tarsia is too small then use the medium version.
Fractional distillation of crude oil GCSE - includes distillation, RSC practical, exam questions
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Fractional distillation of crude oil GCSE - includes distillation, RSC practical, exam questions

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This is a thoroughly differentiated GCSE chemistry lesson on differentiation that forms part of the AQA 2016 specification 4.7 organic chemistry scheme of work. The internet research homework should be set in advance so that students bring it to the lesson. A website is provided for them on the sheet. The match up starter checks their understanding from the fraction uses homework. This could be printed. For a very able class the fractional distillation mat could be used as the starter. The lesson then goes over what distillation is and then introduces fractional distillation. It is absolutely essential that students understand that distillation separates two substances based on their boiling points and that fractional distillation applies to two or miscible liquids (liquids that do not separate into layers and dissolve instead). They need to know that vaporisation and condensation are the two main steps of distillation. There are plenty of exam questions to demonstrate progress. A RSC practical is included. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Group 2 nitrates and carbonates - AS Chemistry
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Group 2 nitrates and carbonates - AS Chemistry

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This is an engaging AS Chemistry lesson on the group 1 and 2 nitrate and carbonate decompositions and has grades C to A. The starter is fire writing using sodium nitrate solution. Please read CLEAPPS safety and Royal Society of Chemistry advice on this compound and the practical. For grade C students describe the reactions. For grade B students explain the decompositions and for grade A they evaluate their answers. An extra activity such a diamond 4 could be included for students to rank their answers. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Combustion GCSE lesson - covers balancing symbol equations and writing word equations
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Combustion GCSE lesson - covers balancing symbol equations and writing word equations

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This is a lesson on combustion that covers combustion products, writing word equations and writing symbol equations. There is a fun methane bubbles demo that illustrates what combustion is. Details for how to carry this out are available online. I suggest using an oven glove for extra safety. There are two worked examples using particle diagrams that help students balance equations. There is an alternative method to balancing equations (the column method) that is included at the end of the lesson. There are exam questions included in the lesson. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Gas laws AS level chemistry
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Gas laws AS level chemistry

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This is a lesson for the new 2015 A level chemistry specification that covers the ideal gas law. There are clear AFL tasks for the middle of the lesson (grade C) and end of the lesson (grade B and grade A). It is suggested that the lesson before this lesson a homework is set to research conversions and the Kelvin temperature scale. Slides 23 and 24 may be printed per student for students to peer assess each others work. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Photosynthesis GCSE tarsia - challenging
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Photosynthesis GCSE tarsia - challenging

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This is a fun yet challenging GCSE Biology tarsia for revision of photosynthesis. This can also be used as an assessment for learning tool at the end of the lesson. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle. I suggest that the A4 tarsia is printed on card and then the outline is cut out. Students can then quickly cut out the individual triangles. Included are the following topics: organs of a plant, minerals, formulae of chemicals in the photosynthesis symbol equation, limiting factors and chlorophyll. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Entropy lesson - A level chemistry - outstanding
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Entropy lesson - A level chemistry - outstanding

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This is a lesson on entropy for A level chemistry that has been thoroughly planned and resourced. The lesson starts by getting students to classify reactions as endothermic or exothermic. This is required knowledge so please read through these before the lesson and make sure that students have covered this content. This starter activity could be printed and laminated to be used as a card sort. The concept of entropy is introduced along with the first and second laws of thermodynamics. A stack of Jenga bricks or a stack of cards could be used to illustrate that disorder is a more likely arrangement (gases) than order (solid). The custard powder combustion demo is used to illustrate that entropy changes in the system help predict whether a reaction is spontaneous (whether it happens). Details of how to carry this out can be found online at the RSC wiki and other websites. Students then are introduced to the three formulae needed and complete a worksheet that I have created where they calculate entropy of a system, entropy of the surroundings and total entropy. This is used to predict whether the reactions happen (i.e. whether there is a positive value). Note that balanced equations have not been provided and students at this level should be capable of writing these and sharing them with the class. Markschemes are provided for the entropy calculations. The lesson ends with a comparison of the importance of entropy and enthalpy. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Fermentation GCSE chemistry - covers symbol equations and the two methods of making ethanol
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Fermentation GCSE chemistry - covers symbol equations and the two methods of making ethanol

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This is a thoroughly planned lesson on the production of ethanol by fermentation of glucose and hydration of ethene. It has differentiated resources and a variety of activities and exam question plenaries to check student understanding. There is an optional production of ethanol practical that could be included in this lesson or as a separate lesson. Students start by recalling the formulae for different substances then learn the symbol equations for the two methods of ethanol production. They then carry out a literacy activity where they sort the advantages and disadvantages of each method of ethanol production. The lesson concludes with an exam question plenary. The practical could be included before comparing the advantages and disadvantages of hydration versus fermentation. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Polar covalent bonding lesson - A level chemistry - covers polarity, covalent vs ionic bonding
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Polar covalent bonding lesson - A level chemistry - covers polarity, covalent vs ionic bonding

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This is a comprehensive set of differentiated lesson resources that cover polar covalent bonding. Within the lesson are Pauling electronegativity values that can be used to determine the extent of covalent bonding between two atoms. The lesson begins with a recap of ionic and covalent bonding definitions from GCSE. There is then a discussion on electronegativity differences between atoms. Students then carry out the kinesthetic task where put different comments about bonding on a scale from pure covalent to pure ionic. This scale can be printed on A3 paper. The comments can be printed on A4 paper. There is then a peer editing question task and plenary exam questions with markschemes. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Atomic theory GCSE - outstanding lesson
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Atomic theory GCSE - outstanding lesson

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This is a comprehensive lesson on atomic theory designed for the AQA GCSE specification. The starter is a recap crossword on atomic structure (assumed knowledge). The lesson then takes a chronological journey from the ancient Greeks to alchemy to the Enlightenment and then the 1800s/ early 1900s where Rutherford et al developed the modern model of the atom. The theory activity works really well with all ability and shows that there is little or no evidence to support the early cubic model but there lots of evidence to support the GCSE Bohr model. The lesson finishes with a 6 mark question that is peer marked using a marking grid. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.