Monthly Archives: December 2009

Christmas Quiz results

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For some of the groups I teach I begin each lesson with a very quick ten-question quiz. The last quiz of the term was a bit different.

Question 1
Who would win in a fight between Batman and Superman?

I was disappointed by pupils’ answers to this question. Despite Batman defeating Superman in Dark Knight Returns and Superman giving Batman a powerful kryptonite ring as a precaution in case he ever steps out of line, most pupils thought Superman could defeat Batman.

Question 2
What did I have for breakfast?

Nobody got the correct answer (Sugar Puffs) and some of the incorrect answers were a bit frightening.

You can download the Ten Question Quiz Template (.PDF, 8kB). I shrink it down on the photocopier to fit four-per-page.

What’s inside a Ferrero Rocher?

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I love Ferrero Rocher; I wanted to know what was inside one.

Layer 1 is shiny gold foil. Do not eat this layer, it does not taste good.

Layer 2 is made of chocolate and crushed hazelnuts. This is my favourite layer.

Layer 3 is a crispy shell that the chocolate/hazelnut mix is wrapped around.

Layer 4 is a smooth chocolatey layer. This is my second favourite layer.

Layer 5 is the centre of the Ferrero Rocher – a whole hazelnut.

How to make a revision timetable

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If you’re interested in this post, you might also be interested in my post about
exam technique in physics.

revision-timetable-small

There’s a running joke amongst teachers about the pupil who spends so much time preparing a revision timetable that they never actually do any revision. Like all good comedy, it’s at least partially based in fact. It’s very easy to allow something – anything – to distract you from your revision.

But this isn’t going to be a problem for you. I’ve made a revision timetable for you.

The timetable has six 1-hour blocks of revision per day. Each 1-hour block is broken into two 25-minute revision sessions separated by a ten minute break. This ten minute break allows you to cool off, and gives you some room to manoeuvre if you’re coming to the end of a topic and you don’t want to run into the next session.

There are five breaks splitting up the six sessions: two 1-hour breaks (for lunch and tea) and three 30-minute breaks.

Let’s take Wednesday as an example:

revision-timetable-example

I suggest you start in the morning at 1000 so Session 1 runs from 1000-1025, followed by a ten minute break, then Session 2 from 1035-1100. Session 3 starts after a half-hour break at 1130 and runs ’til 1155, then Session 4 from 1205-1230. Session 5 begins (after a one-hour lunch break) at 1330. The day runs like this until 1930, at which time all revision should stop until the next day.

There are two versions of the revision timetable template to download. One is completely blank and the other has the suggested timing of each session printed on (in light-grey ink so that you can write over it). I suggest you download both.

Download blank revision timetable (.PDF, 10.9kB)
Download revision timetable with sample timings (.PDF, 13.9kB)

What to do with your timetable:

  • Distribute sessions appropriately. The template I’ve provided has sixty sessions per week – don’t spend thirty of those sessions on one subject at the expense of another. Likewise, don’t spend too much revision time on a subject you feel confident in.
  • Create variety within the day, but not too much. You shouldn’t be doing more than four or five different subjects in any one day. Perhaps alternate two subjects in the first half of the day, and a different two subjects in the second half.
  • Once it’s finished, it’s finished. Spending too much time “improving” or “refining” your revision timetable is just as bad as wasting time making it in the first place.

What not to do with your timetable:

  • Colour-coding is a waste of time. Do you really think you’ll revise physics better if you write it in green?