A worksheet to support students completing the classic experiment where they measure (albeit very roughly!) the amount of energy stored in different foods. The sheet gives full instructions for the practical as well as some concluding questions to confirm their level of knowledge and understanding.

Using chemicals safely card sort and gap filler. Three starter or plenary activities in one. Students sort the cards into the correct groups of chemical name, hazard symbol and examples. Best done working in pairs. Students are given a chemical safety grid with some gaps, which they need to fill. Could be printed out or done on the board with the whole class. Students are given a risk assessment template to complete, based on their knowledge of chemicals they have used previously.

Forces topic combined word search and cloze activity, ideal for use as a lesson starter or plenary for lower ability students.

Animal reproduction literacy task and crosswords. Students are presented with several pieces of text, which they need to analyse and rearrange into the most appropriate order. They could then interrogate the text to pick out key scientific vocabulary, nouns, verbs etc. They could then use the information in the text to help complete the crosswords, either working alone or with a partner.

Light revision word search. A quick way of reinforcing light-related key vocabulary and spellings. Once students have completed the word search, they can fill in the missing word meanings at the bottom of the sheet.

Light literacy task. Students are presented with several pieces of text, which they need to analyse and rearrange into the most appropriate order. They could then interrogate the text to pick out key scientific vocabulary, nouns, verbs etc.

Hearing Flow Chart - a quick starter or plenary activity, where students complete the gaps to explain how the ear works. Can either be displayed on the board as a whole class activity, or printed out for individual or paired work. Answers are included.

Viscosity Guided Investigation - presentation that guides students through the process of planning and carrying out an investigation into how temperature affects the viscosity of washing up liquid. Presentation includes structured planning questions, risk assessment template, method and diagrams, outline results table, outline graph and structured conclusion questions. I use this as an introductory practical for KS2 children getting into the science lab for the first time.

Making Magnesium Oxide - worksheet to guide students through the classic chemistry practical.

Balancing Forces Challenge - Card Sort Activity and Task/Answer Booklet - the zipped archive contains some forces objects and arrows for printing out and a booklet that challenges students to build different force arrow diagrams with their cards. The booklet contains model answers and explanation for students to check their ideas against.

Cholera in London Cartoon Strip and Interview - contains a cartoon writing/drawing frame, background information and quotes from key figures involved in the battle against cholera in London in the mid-Victorian era.

Scientific Investigation Template and Check Sheet - the zipped archive contains an investigation template and guidance notes, which can either be typed into directly or printed off. It also contains a check sheet, for students to confirm that their write-up includes all the important features.

Bundle of Hassle-Free Chemistry Investigations - contains presentations for five simple chemistry investigations that work first time and require very little preparation. The investigations are: Investigating how temperature affects the rate sugar cubes dissolve; Investigating how speed of stirring affects the rate sugar cubes dissolve; Investigating how temperature affects the rate of lateral diffusion; Investigating how temperature affects the rate of a chemical reaction (sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid redox); Investigating how concentration affects the rate of a chemical reaction (sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid redox). Each presentation contains instructions, diagrams, outline results table, outline graph.

Several slides showing different parallel circuit diagrams, with students posed a question on each diagram. This could be done as a mini-whiteboard activity or quick revision task.

Multiple choice starter activity where students are shown different series and parallel circuit diagrams and have to correctly work out the ammeter value.

A combined comprehension task and crossword on the topic of animal reproduction. Three different versions of the crossword are provided, some with clues missing so that students need to work collaboratively to complete it.

A crossword and word search activity summarising key ideas from the KS3 chemistry chemical reactions topic. Could be used as either a starter or plenary activity. Both activities have the same answers, so less able students can use the word search to help scaffold their answers to the crossword. More able students can do the crossword alone.

Simple little card sort activity, ideal for use as a paired starter activity. Can be done without cutting the cards out if you’re in a rush. Gives a range of simple every day examples of reversible and irreversible changes.

Hazchem symbol cards with their meanings and examples, which can be used as the basis of a card sort (if you have time) or gap filler activity (if you don’t). A quick and simple starter or plenary activity. Also a useful discussion point about hazards in the lab and the wider world.