FREE Downloads for Secondary School Lessons

We've collaborated with teachers to create free downloadable lessons for Secondary School pupils. These lessons cover Citizenship, English and Science.

Take a look, download them for free and use them when you want:

Citizenship

Dogs showing aggressive behaviour regularly make the news. PDSA is working with other animal charities and organisations on a number of different initiatives to try and prevent this from happening.

We’ve created an engaging scheme of work where pupils learn about the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Animal Welfare Act. They then plan, present and evaluate an informed debate on the hot topic of ‘Aggressive Dogs’.

The lesson packs can be used as one-off lessons, but we suggest using the whole scheme of work, which links to the National Curriculum for Key Stages 3 and 4.

The ‘Aggressive Dogs debate’ scheme of work


Download an overview of the entire ‘Aggressive Dogs debate’ scheme of work. Pupils will learn the legislation about aggressive dogs, then research, plan, conduct and evaluate a structured debate. Each pupil will then have a specific role to play while debating this controversial topic.
Download the 'Aggressive Dogs debate' scheme of work.

  1. Bite down on the law
    Pupils discuss the topic of aggressive dogs and learn about the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Animal Welfare Acts.

    Download the 'Bite down on the law' lesson pack.

  2. Effective debating
    Pupils hold a role-play mini-debate. They then review their debate, identifying effective debating techniques.

    Download the 'Effective debating' lesson pack.

  3. Roles and structure in debates
    Pupils learn about the roles people play in courtrooms and the structure of court cases. They then start researching for their role in this debate.

    Download the 'Roles and structure in debates' lesson pack.

  4. Planning a debate
    Pupils learn about and discuss the ‘nature’ versus ‘nurture’ debate and link this to aggressive tendencies in dogs. They then plan and prepare their debates in teams, which include members of a jury, witnesses, a prosecution and a defence.

    Download the 'Planning a debate' lesson pack.

  5. The ‘Aggressive Dogs’ debate Part 1
    Pupils set up and conduct a class debate on the topic of ‘Aggressive Dogs’, following a structured plan.

    Download the 'The Aggressive Dogs debate Part 1' lesson pack.

  6. The ‘Aggressive Dogs’ debate Part 2
    Pupils continue to conduct a class debate on the topic of Aggressive Dogs’, following a structured plan.

    Download the 'The Aggressive Dogs debate Part 2' lesson pack.

  7. Evaluate the debate
    Pupils evaluate and draw conclusions about aggressive dogs based on the findings of the debate and evaluate their own and their classmates’ performances.

    Download the 'Evaluate the debate' lesson pack.

English

This scheme of work can be used to teach about writing to persuade, incorporating reading, writing, speaking and listening tasks. It can be used and adapted for Key Stages 3 and 4 pupils.

Using PDSA resources, pupils will gain an in depth knowledge of how to analyse persuasive writing, perform a persuasive speech and write for a persuasive purpose.

Writing to persuade

Download an overview of the entire 'Writing to persuade' scheme of work.

Pupils will learn to identify and use persuasive techniques to achieve purpose and to target various audiences. Through varied tasks, pupils will analyse and evaluate persuasive devices in different contexts and complete reading, writing and speaking and listening activities.

  1. Persuasive leaflets
    Pupils identify and analyse persuasive techniques using PDSA leaflets and investigate how the style and tone is used for specific audiences and purposes.

    Download the 'Persuasive leaflets' lesson pack.

  2. Designing a leaflet
    Pupils consider how leaflets are structured to attract and persuade an audience. They then create their own persuasive leaflets aimed at attracting and persuading younger children.

    Download the 'Designing a leaflet' lesson pack.

  3. Persuasion in moving media
    Pupils identify persuasive devices and evaluate their use in a video. They then produce a storyboard for their own persuasive video.

    Download the 'Persuasion in moving media' lesson pack.

  4. PDSA experts
    Pupils summarise research conducted about PDSA in groups. They then communicate their ‘expert’ knowledge to the rest of the class.

    Download the 'PDSA experts' lesson pack.

  5. Persuasive presentations
    Pupils plan and prepare a persuasive presentation to give to the Senior Management team at their school, asking their permission for the school to fundraise for PDSA.

    Download the 'Persuasive presentations' lesson pack.

  6. Presenting to an audience
    Pupils analyse aspects of persuasive speech and complete their presentations, assessing themselves for performance and persuasive devices used.

    Download the 'Presenting to an audience' lesson pack.

  7. Persuasive analysis
    Pupils use the ‘point, evidence, explanation’ technique to analyse a persuasive letter and identify formal and informal language devices.

    Download the 'Persuasive Analysis' lesson pack.

  8. Writing to persuade
    Pupils collate and use all knowledge learned during the unit to complete an assessment where they have to write a persuasive letter.

    Download the 'Writing to Persuade' lesson pack.

History

These lesson plans explore the role played by animals in war and discuss the famous PDSA Dickin Medal awarded to animals ‘for gallantry and devotion to duty’ while serving in the Armed Forces.

Animals in War project

This self-guided project is for pupils aged between 12 and 14. It aims to help pupils understand how animals have played a part in historic warfare and how they are still being used in modern day conflicts.

This includes research on the famous PDSA Dickin Medal, which acknowledges outstanding acts of bravery displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces.

Pupils can download the Animals in War project pack and work through it section by section.

Download the Animals in War project pack

Science

Becoming a veterinary surgeon is a popular career choice. These engaging science lessons help pupils learn about being a vet or a vet nurse and their role in promoting responsible pet care. Designed for Key Stage 3 students. 

Science in action

Find out about life as a vet. This free resource is designed to support QCA Schemes of Work Science KS3, Unit 9a: Investigating Scientific Questions. It enables pupils to gain an awareness of how the scientific principle is applied in a real working environment and the importance of assessing evidence correctly.

Download the 'Science in action' lesson pack.

Show us what you've done!

We’d love to see your completed project. Email it us: education@pdsa.org.uk

Keep visiting PDSA and see if we’ve put your project up on our website.