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Little Scientists

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I teach a number of low ability classes. I want my pupils to do as well as they can. So here are a number of resources that I have developed to help them do that. From writing frames to entire lessons. I am currently making themed topics to rope in pupils, e.g. Disney themes.

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I teach a number of low ability classes. I want my pupils to do as well as they can. So here are a number of resources that I have developed to help them do that. From writing frames to entire lessons. I am currently making themed topics to rope in pupils, e.g. Disney themes.
Zombie Science - Avoiding Microbes
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Zombie Science - Avoiding Microbes

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This is aimed at a low ability KS3 class, with a Zombie theme Get a lot of glitter on your hands. As pupils walk in greet them with a hand shake or pat on the shoulder. Pupils begin with a word search of some key terms. Pupils then do a "Think, Pair, Share" on how they could catch Zombie-ism. Then get pupils to check their hands a shoulders, discuss what this represents. Go through the possible routes of transmission. Use mini white board to do some Q&A to check understanding. Put the different hospitals around the room. Pupils decide on how each patient became infected with Zombie-ism. There is then a Maths focus, where pupils draw tally charts, calculate percentages and draw graphs. Finally, pupils do an exit ticket which involves them describe ways disease can spread over different distances.
Zombie Science - Natural Defences
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Zombie Science - Natural Defences

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This is designed for a KS3 class, with a zombie theme. Pupils begin with trying to solve an anagram. They can also see how many words they can make out of the letters used to spell 'Phagocytosis'. Pupils are then put into groups to research about one of the three lines of defence. A website with links is available in the notes section of the PowerPoint, this is to direct their research. Pupils then put their posters around the room. They do an activity called "Viewing Gallery". This is used to promote discussion and talking properly. Encourage pupils to be silly with it, they will put on posh accents and because they are pretending to be posh they will speak better. Finally get pupils to create a news bulletin to bring together all the information they have learned.
Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Neutralisation
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Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Neutralisation

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This is a lesson for a low ability KS3 class. The lesson is themed Gnomeo and Juliet. Pupils begin by trying to make words from the letters of NEUTRALISATION. They then predict what will happen if they add an acid and alkali together, followed by doing a small experiment to determine if their prediction was correct. Pupils then complete word equations (the bookmark is to help them name salts) Finally they complete an exit ticket to predict what substances will neutralise each other out.
Jurassic Park - Insulation
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Jurassic Park - Insulation

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This is a KS3 lesson with a Jurassic Park theme. Pupils begin by brainstorming ways that heat is lost in a house. They then do a QR hunt to research different types of insulation in buildings, I put mine up around the school or room in the places you would find that particular type of insulation. Pupils then write a letter to John Hammond describing how he could reduce heat loss in his park. Finally pupils attempt a QWC question using a writing frame.
Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Acids and Metals
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Gnomeo and Juliet Science - Acids and Metals

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This is a low ability KS3 lesson, with a Gnomeo and Juliet theme. Pupils start by doing a downword to refresh keywords from the topic. The teacher will then demonstrate the test for hydrogen, explaining that hydrogen is made instead of water during this reaction. Pupils do an experiment to see which metal produces the most hydrogen in 20 seconds. There is then an AfL task to see if pupils can remember how to name salts, using mini white boards. Pupils then do some word equations. The exit ticket involves pupils self assessing their word equations and attempting symbol equations.
Scooby Doo Science - Digestive System
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Scooby Doo Science - Digestive System

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Pupils begin by using the magazine article (page 5) and highlighting all the words they think are parts of the digestive system. Pupils then RAG the lesson objective on the worksheet Pupils are then shown the Gums to Bums demonstration. Each step being spoke about to a suitable level. Pupils then use the Why Do We Digest worksheet to show what they have learnt. This is then peer marked and for each task (which links to an objective) pupils RAG again depending on how many they got correct. The homework is based on the final RAG. The pupils choses what section to do based on how well they have done in the lesson
Jurassic Park - Heat Transfer
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Jurassic Park - Heat Transfer

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This is KS3 lesson with a Jurassic Park theme. Pupils start with three pictures and pupils use letters to figure out the title of the lesson (it is set up to look like 4pics1word). Pupils then play Yes/No to find out about the three different ways energy is transferred. Pupils then do 3 mini experiments using instructions cards. Who Wants to be a Millionaire is then available as a plenary. Finally pupils do an exit ticket where they decide on the type of energy transfer in different scenarios, they are to explain their choice. There are two homeworks, a QWC writing frame which is available to purchase on its own and a QR scavenger hunt.
Earthquakes in the Natural History Museum
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Earthquakes in the Natural History Museum

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This booklet was made for a KS3 trip to the Natural History Museum, London. The front of the booklet has a table indicating what the pupils are to take away from the trip (green = lower ability to blue = higher ability). The higher ability tasks include the entire booklet and blue boxes. I hope this helps anyone who is planning a trip but needs some resources to go with it. The answers can also be assessed (WWW/EBI) when you're back in school.
Differentiated Adaptation Research Writing Frames
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Differentiated Adaptation Research Writing Frames

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This is very similar layout to the QWC writings frames (https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aqa-core-science-b1-c1-p1-qwc-writing-frame-bundle-11163851) This can be used as a stand alone lessons. Pupils are given different animals to research (Camel - easiest; Star-nosed mole - hardest, Desert vs Artic Fox extension comparison). There is a Symbaloo link (https://goo.gl/Cju34F) which has all the websites needed for each animal, organised in groups by colour, so you can give the pupils the QR code and let them research their relevant animal. After the pupils have researched their given animal, they can then be asked to write an essay on how that particular animal is adapted, maybe comparing it to a friend's.
Coral Reefs
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Coral Reefs

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This lesson introduces coral reefs and how humans are affecting them by using a comprehension starter. It then has a collective memory tasks where pupils learn about the environment in which coral reefs are found. It contains a link for a podcast with a few questions to ensure that pupils have listened and taken away the key points. The lesson then progresses into food chains, webs and energy transfer on coral reefs using Finding Nemo as an example. It contains a feed web game, which requires some printing, but little preparation. They then look at a Finding Nemo food web and discuss what would happen if characters were removed as well as energy transfer. For the homework pupils must use the simulation on explorelearning.com (the simulation is called the same as the worksheet title)
Ocean Acidification
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Ocean Acidification

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This lesson is about the effects on carbon dioxide on our environment. The lesson starts with a literacy starter, pupils use a word cloud to determine the title of the lesson, and can list any words that they are unsure of. Pupils then listen to a podcast about ocean acidification, there are questions so that pupils are focussed during the task. There are then some slides about how ocean acidification happens, looking at combustion (equations) and the formation of carbonic acid (equations). The lesson then focusses on the formation of salts - how carbon dioxide reacts with carbonates in the ocean (equations). Finally, pupils use all the information they have learned to write a response to Nemo's letter about why his home is being destroyed.
The Ghostbusters Science - Sound Whole Topic
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The Ghostbusters Science - Sound Whole Topic

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This unit is for a KS3 class. The pretense of the unit is based on The Ghostbusters, where pupils are learning abut sound so they can eventually become a Ghostbuster, to gain interest. Lessons include, hearing ranges, the ear and pitch and amplitude.
KS3 Science/STEM Club
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KS3 Science/STEM Club

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With a busy schedule sometimes it's hard to enjoy running a STEM Club if you have to think of tasks every week, especially towards the end of the year. Over the summer I created a scheme of work for your STEM Club. It was divided into themes, e.g. Superheroes and Fairy Tales. One and a half terms in, it seems to be working very well, for our KS3 and KS2 Science Clubs. Not all the resources are mine, but I've attached help sheets for some session. Most of the information is in the spread sheet outlining each session I hope you enjoy using this and it makes your life that little bit easier. For the Plastics Challenge information please go to http://practicalaction.org/plastics-challenge
KS3 Science/STEM Club
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KS3 Science/STEM Club

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I have previously put up a scheme of learning for Science Clubs with themes, for the academic year of 2015-2016, https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks3-science-stem-club-11208097 As our Science Club runs over Year 7 and Year 8 a second scheme has now been written, so it can work on a two year rotation basis. The layout is slightly different, but has the same essential parts, with activities grouped into themes, which include: Dr Seuss and Oceanography
Frozen Science -Matter Whole Topic
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Frozen Science -Matter Whole Topic

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This unit is for a low ability KS3 class. The pretense of the unit is based on the film Frozen to gain interest. Lessons include states of matter, diffusion and separation techniques.
Jurassic Park Science - Energy Whole Topic
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Jurassic Park Science - Energy Whole Topic

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This unit is for a KS3 class. The pretence of the unit is based on Jurassic park, where pupils design a park for John Hammond, that doesn't involve actual dinosaurs, to gain interest. Lessons include, types of energy, energy transfer, and electric bills..
Star Wars Science - Forces Whole Topic
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Star Wars Science - Forces Whole Topic

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This unit is for a low ability KS3 class. The pretence of the unit is based on the film Star Wars to gain interest. Lessons include force diagrams, Hooke's Law, Speed and Acceleration.
Combined Biology AQA Required Practical Booklet
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Combined Biology AQA Required Practical Booklet

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This booklet contains all the required practicals for Combined Biology (AQA). It begins with a contents page, which has the list of practicals and the skills the pupils will learn during the practical. The skills have a RAG box so pupils can self assess how well they think they can do the skill. The contents also has a space for the date when the practical was done and a column for exam question feedback. Each required practical has a sheet for pupils to fill in. Each sheet follows the same format. Pupils fill in the risk assessment, results, conclusion and evaluation for each practical. Graph paper is included where needed. Finally, each practical has questions relating to the practical and practice exam questions that are either about the practical or similar practical or ask the pupils to apply what they have learnt from the practical.