UK Curriculum · Year 10 Physics · GCSE (AQA)

Year 10 Physics Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

Year 10 GCSE Physics scheme of work following the AQA specification, covering Units 1 and 2 from September to January: energy stores and resources, energy transfer by heating, electric circuits, electricity in the home, molecules and matter, and radioactivity. Lessons are planned week by week for 1, 2 or 3 days a week, and Units 3 and 4 continue on the Year 11 plan.

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Year 10 Physics learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice
September · Unit 1 — Energy and energy resources

Year 10 Physics — September Lesson Plan

GCSE Physics (AQA)
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
September 1st week
(Physics)		P1.1 Changes in energy storesP1.1 Changes in energy stores P1.2 Conservation of energyP1.1 Changes in energy stores P1.2 Conservation of energy P1.3 Energy and work
September 2nd week
(Physics)		P1.4 Gravitational potential energy storesP1.4 Gravitational potential energy stores P1.5 Kinetic energy storesP1.4 Gravitational potential energy stores P1.5 Kinetic energy stores P1.6 Energy dissipation
September 3rd week
(Physics)		P1.7 Energy and efficiencyP1.7 Energy and efficiency P1.8 Electrical appliancesP1.7 Energy and efficiency P1.8 Electrical appliances P1.9 Energy and power
September 4th week
(Physics)		P1 Summary / Practice questionsP1 Summary / Practice questions Energy calculations & applied problemsP1 Summary / Practice questions Energy calculations & applied problems Review, quiz & practical/application task
October · Unit 1 — Energy transfer by heating + Energy resources

Year 10 Physics — October Lesson Plan

GCSE Physics (AQA)
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
October 1st week
(Physics)		P2.1 Energy transfer by conductionP2.1 Energy transfer by conduction P2.2 Infrared radiationP2.1 Energy transfer by conduction P2.2 Infrared radiation P2.3 More about infrared radiation
October 2nd week
(Physics)		P2.4 Specific heat capacityP2.4 Specific heat capacity P2.5 Heating and insulating buildingsP2.4 Specific heat capacity P2.5 Heating and insulating buildings P3.1 Energy demands
October 3rd week
(Physics)		P3.2 Energy from wind and waterP3.2 Energy from wind and water P3.3 Power from the Sun and the EarthP3.2 Energy from wind and water P3.3 Power from the Sun and the Earth P3.4 Energy and the environment
October 4th week
(Physics)		P3.5 Big energy issuesP3.5 Big energy issues P2/P3 Summary & Practice questionsP3.5 Big energy issues P2/P3 Summary & Practice questions Applied investigation, review & assessment
November · Unit 2 — Particles at work: Electric circuits

Year 10 Physics — November Lesson Plan

GCSE Physics (AQA)
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
November 1st week
(Physics)		P4.1 Electrical charges and fieldsP4.1 Electrical charges and fields P4.2 Current and chargeP4.1 Electrical charges and fields P4.2 Current and charge P4.3 Potential difference and resistance
November 2nd week
(Physics)		P4.4 Component characteristicsP4.4 Component characteristics P4.5 Series circuitsP4.4 Component characteristics P4.5 Series circuits P4.6 Parallel circuits
November 3rd week
(Physics)		P4 Summary questionsP4 Summary questions P4 Practice questionsP4 Summary questions P4 Practice questions Circuit investigation / data interpretation
November 4th week
(Physics)		Electric-circuit calculationsElectric-circuit calculations Concept review & quizElectric-circuit calculations Concept review & quiz Practical/application task
December · Unit 2 — Electricity in the home + Molecules and matter

Year 10 Physics — December Lesson Plan

GCSE Physics (AQA)
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
December 1st week
(Physics)		P5.1 Alternating currentP5.1 Alternating current P5.2 Cables and plugsP5.1 Alternating current P5.2 Cables and plugs P5.3 Electrical power and potential difference
December 2nd week
(Physics)		P5.4 Electrical currents and energy transferP5.4 Electrical currents and energy transfer P5.5 Appliances and efficiencyP5.4 Electrical currents and energy transfer P5.5 Appliances and efficiency P5 Summary / Practice questions
December 3rd week
(Physics)		P6.1 DensityP6.1 Density P6.2 States of matterP6.1 Density P6.2 States of matter P6.3 Changes of state
December 4th week
(Physics)		P6.4 Internal energyP6.4 Internal energy P6.5 Specific latent heatP6.4 Internal energy P6.5 Specific latent heat P6.6–P6.7 Gas pressure & temperature/volume
The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Retrieve and diagnose

Open with exam-style recall questions that check prior knowledge for the week’s GCSE topic.

25 minutes

Explain and practise

Work through the content, required practicals and calculations, then practise GCSE questions with feedback.

10 minutes

Check for mastery

Finish with a short timed task that shows progress towards GCSE exam standard.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 10 Physics

Concept lessons

Focused lessons on each GCSE specification topic.

Exam practice

Exam-style questions, six-mark answers and timed tasks matched to the plan.

Required practicals

Method, variables, apparatus and data analysis for every required practical.

Progress notes

Detailed feedback on answers and exam technique, with clear next steps.

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