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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.
Combustion High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Combustion High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High school Chemistry tarsia for revision of combustion. 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: formulae, complete combustion, incomplete combustion, carbon neutral, products of combustion. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Cracking hydrocarbons High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Cracking hydrocarbons High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun GCSE chemistry tarsia for revision of cracking hydrocarbons. 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: state of ethene, octane and polyethene at room temperature, supply vs demand, formulae of ethene, decane and pentane, bromine water test. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Acids and alkalis Middle School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Acids and alkalis Middle School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun Middle School Chemistry tarsia for revision of acids and alkalis. 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: indicator, pH meter, pH of different substances, formula of HCl and water. The software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Polymerisation High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Polymerisation High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High Chemistry tarsia for revision of polymerisation. 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: catalyst, thermal decomposition, formula of ethene and methane, elements in ethene, natural polymer, synthetic polymer, cross links, addition polymerisation. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Transition metals High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Transition metals High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of transition metals and is suitable for more able students. 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: transition metal uses, transition metal properties, magnetic metals, catalysts, aqueous copper ion colour, pH of iron hydroxide vs iron nitrate. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Group 1 metals High School tarsia - differentiated - covers ions, protons, flame colours, reactivity
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Group 1 metals High School tarsia - differentiated - covers ions, protons, flame colours, reactivity

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This is a fully differentiated High School Chemistry tarsia puzzle for revision of the alkali metals. It is a fun kinesthetic way of revising the alkali metals. This sort of revision activity is particularly useful for boys. 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. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Acids and alkalis High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Acids and alkalis High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of acids and alkalis. 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: H+, OH-, ionic and symbol equations for neutralisation, state symbols of acids alkalis and water, ammonia. 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.
History of the periodic table High School tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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History of the periodic table High School tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of history of the periodic table. 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: nationality of Dobereiner, Newlands and Mendeleev, law of triads, law of octaves, atomic number, gallium, number of natural elements and number of elements known to Mendeleev, grouping of the elements. The 'fjsw' file can be opened and modified with tarsia software that is free to download. Please note that the software does not work on Mac computers.
Halogens High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision
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Halogens High School Chemistry tarsia - use as lesson starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia for revision of the halogens. 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: state of the halogens at room temperature (astatine is unstable), uses of the halogens, trend for melting point and reactivity with group 1 metals, charge of group 1 metal and halogen ions. The tarsia software is free to download but there is not currently a version for Mac computers.
Carbonyl reduction AS level outstanding lesson
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Carbonyl reduction AS level outstanding lesson

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These are thoroughly differentiated resources designed for an AS level chemistry lesson on reduction of carbonyl compounds. Objectives are framed as learning questions and graded C to A. There are clear AFL plenaries using mark schemes. There is a graded Who Wants to be a Millionaire quiz for an end plenary. The starter is an engaging scents demo using butanal (pleasant) and butanoic acid (rancid butter). Pace and student effort is the key to delivering an outstanding lesson using these resources. Mark schemes can be printed. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Hess Law cycles - An introduction - covers construction, vectors and different types
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Hess Law cycles - An introduction - covers construction, vectors and different types

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This is a lesson for A level chemistry where students are introduced to Hess Law through the topic of vectors that they would have learned at GCSE. The lesson starts with a GCSE recap on vectors then moves into discussing that some enthalpy changes reactions cannot be calculated or are difficult to calculate and so alternative reactions are used. Students then learn that the exams require them to use a few types of enthalpy change to calculate an unknown enthalpy change. These are bond enthalpies, enthalpy of combustion and enthalpy of formation. Students are told how to draw the arrows. Please note that this a very difficult topic for all students and do not assume that the lesson can be rushed for the brightest students. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.
Atomic structure introduction - High School Chemistry - covers elements, compounds and formulae
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Atomic structure introduction - High School Chemistry - covers elements, compounds and formulae

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This is is an introductory lesson on atomic structure for High School Chemistry that begins with a fun film characters elements starter. There is then a discussion on how elements are made in supernovae. Students then consider rules for naming compounds and how to write formulae. They then then write the formulae for 12 substances. The challenge is to write empirical formulae. The lesson concludes with a consideration of how some of the chemicals are harmful to fish such as Nemo. Titanium dioxide in suntan cream causes water and oxygen in seawater to react to form hydrogen peroxide that is toixc to fish. Answers are included.
Carbonyl reduction - Senior High School Chemistry
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Carbonyl reduction - Senior High School Chemistry

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These are thoroughly differentiated resources designed for a Senior High School Chemistry lesson on reduction of carbonyl compounds. Objectives are framed as learning questions and graded C to A. There are clear AFL plenaries using mark schemes. There is a graded Who Wants to be a Millionaire quiz for an end plenary. The starter is an engaging scents demo using butanal (pleasant) and butanoic acid (rancid butter). Pace and student effort is the key to delivering an outstanding lesson using these resources. Mark schemes can be printed.
Formulae High School Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision
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Formulae High School Chemistry tarsia - use as starter, plenary or revision

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This is a fun High School Chemistry tarsia on chemical formulae. There are 16 triangles with 18 pairs of questions and answers that make an equilateral triangle shape. 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 chemicals: calcium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, water and carbon dioxide. 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.
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.
Condensation polymers GCSE - 2016 specification - includes bioplastics class practical
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Condensation polymers GCSE - 2016 specification - includes bioplastics class practical

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This is chemistry lesson designed for the 2016 specification for the exam board AQA and topic 4.7 organic chemistry. This lesson covers content that is new to GCSE and was previously covered only in A level chemistry. The challenge with planning this is that students are greatly limited by what they learn at GCSE. For example they do not learn about terms such as 'arene', 'carbonyl', 'amine' and do not recognise that (CH2)6 = CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2. The lesson recaps addition polymers then introduces condensation polymers as polymers that are found in nature as well being man-made. There is an exam of an easier A level past paper question on identifying the monomers. Most A level questions on this topic are far too challenging to be put into the 2016 GCSE specification. Students then compare the environmental impact of natural vs manmade polymers (RSC paper cups activity - link has been provided) and answer a 6 mark exam question. They then peer mark the exam question using a student friendly marking grid. There is the option of carrying out a bioplastics practical that I have created - note that the bioplastics take at least 2 days to dry out. Please rate these resources 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.
History of the periodic table GCSE - includes Mendeleev, Newlands and noble gases
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History of the periodic table GCSE - includes Mendeleev, Newlands and noble gases

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This lesson forms part of the chemistry GCSE atomic structure scheme of work for the new 2016 AQA specification. The starter is a fun kinsthetic activity where students put element cards into groups. These cards are available to buy from Royal Society for Chemistry. A link is included on the slide. Alternatively students could make a pack of element fact cards for homework and bring them to lesson for the starter activity. Students are then introduced to Dobereiner and Newlands. They watch a 3 minute YouTube video about Mendeleev and answer the questions provided. Students then consider that Mendeleev missed group 8/0 elements and swapped iodine / tellurium so that the group 7 elements are all non-metals (i.e. why de not always put elements in order of increasing atomic weight). There is an activity where students consider the good and bad things about each scientists methodology and write an explanation for why we now use Mendeleevs table. Finally there is an exam question plenary. Please rate this resource and leave feedback.