What factors affect pupils' readiness to learn? And how can we properly test those factors? Holly Power and Kate O'Gorman from Riddlesdown High School in Purley, Surrey demonstrate how the topic of readiness to learn can not only fit in with their Year 8 class' curriculum requirements, but can also encourage pupils to be more aware of their own learning environment. They have adapted a lesson plan available for download from Teachers TV designed by former science teacher Matthew Tosh. The lesson focuses on food and drink, with pupils researching which foods are good for the brain and then trying the caffeine experiment, which tests response rate. Another experiment shown considers extraneous variables and has the pupils enjoying distracting one another as they attempt to take a test. The lesson is concluded with the pupils thinking about their own individual perfect learning day in order to consolidate all what they have learnt in the lesson.

Video Series: KS3 Science
Release Date 2008