A fully-resourced lesson which guides students through drawing, writing and recognising the electronic configurations of atoms and ions. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (33 slides), an associated worksheet and a competition worksheet. The lesson begins by introducing the students to the number of electrons that can be held on the first three electron shells. They are then shown how to draw an electronic configuration and write this in brackets form. Students are given the opportunity to apply this knowledge by drawing the configuration of first 20 elements of the Periodic Table. Moving forwards, students are guided to enable them to discover how the electron configuration is linked to the position of an atom in the Periodic Table. The remainder of the lesson focuses on ions and how the configuration of these substances can be recognised. Some time is taken to explain how ions are formed from atoms and the lesson finishes with a competition which challenges students to identify atoms or ions from their configurations to form a word. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson to allow the students to check on their understanding and a range of quiz competitions to maintain engagement. This lesson has been written for GCSE students but could be used with younger students, especially the initial part of the lesson on atoms and the link to the Periodic Table

A fully-resourced lesson which guides students through using moles to calculate the mass of a substance in a reaction. The lesson includes a detailed lesson presentation (22 slides) and associated worksheets which are used to check the skills and understanding of the students. The lesson begins by introducing the students to the three steps involved in a calculating mass question. These skills include calculating the relative formula mass and identifying molar ratios in equations to calculate amounts so time is taken to recap on how this is done before students are given the opportunity to try some progress check questions. A worked example brings these three steps together to guide the students to the final answer. The final task involves 4 questions where students are challenged to apply their new-found knowledge. This lesson has been written for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK)

A fully-resourced lesson which looks at the gaseous reversible reaction known as the Haber Process and then explores and explains why the specific conditions are chosen for this reaction. The lesson includes a detailed lesson presentation (29 slides) and associated worksheets which are differentiated. The lesson begins by challenging the students to use a description of the reaction to complete the balanced symbol equation. A quiz competition involving both Chemistry and Maths skills is used to reveal the temperature and pressure which are chosen for this reaction. Students will learn that this only produces a yield of 30% and therefore are encouraged to question why these conditions are chosen. In doing so, they are made to wear two “hats”, so that they consider it from both a Science angle but also a business angle. Their knowledge of reversible reactions and the effect of changing either the temperature or the pressure on the position of the equilibrium are constantly challenged and then checked through a range of progress check questions. As a result of this lesson, students will understand that these conditions are a compromise and be able to explain why. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK).

A resourced lesson which guides students through the method of writing word equations for a range of different chemical reactions. The lesson includes an engaging and informative lesson presentation (33 slides) and an associated worksheet containing questions. The lesson begins by reminding students of the form which word equations take, with the reactants chemically changing into the products. Moving forwards, time is taken to show students how to work out the name of a compound that contains either 2 or 3 elements. This moves nicely into the reaction of acids and how to name the salt that is produced. Students are shown the general formula for the reactions of acids with a metal, a metal carbonate and a metal oxide or hydroxide so that they can form word equations for each of these reactions in the progress check task. The final section of the lesson introduces reversible reactions to the students and shows them the symbol that is used in these word equations to replace the arrow. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson to allow the students to check on their understanding and thorough explanations of the required answers. This lesson has been written for GCSE students but is perfectly suitable for KS3 students too.

A fully-resourced lesson which uses a step-by-step guide to show students how to write fully balanced symbol equations. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (38 slides) and associated worksheets containing questions which iaredifferentiated. The lesson begins by talking the students through the three steps involved in writing a chemical symbol equation. The first step involves writing in the formula for the elements. Students are introduced to the term, diatomic, and shown the 8 molecules that have to be written as a pair of atoms. Moving forwards, students are shown how to write chemical formulae for ionic compounds. They are reminded of how to use the group of the Periodic Table to work out the ion charge and how this is crucial when writing the formula. They are also shown how to write formulae which include brackets which is necessary when the charged molecules are involved. Finally, students are reminded of the rules of balancing symbol equations. There are progress checks at each stage so that students can assess their understanding and any misconceptions can be be addressed immediately. Time is taken to talk about state symbols, in case the exam question requires these to be included in the equation. The final section of the lesson involves students bringing their new-found skills together to write symbol equations for a range of reactions, including a neutralisation and reversible reaction. This task is differentiated so that students who need a little bit of assistance can still access the work. This lesson has been written for GCSE students (14-16 year olds in the UK)

A fully-resourced lesson which looks at the saturated hydrocarbons known as the alkanes and focuses on their structure and reactions. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (38 slides) and an associated worksheet which is differentiated. The lesson begins with the introduction of the name of this group and then a step-by-step guide is used to show students how to draw the displayed formula. Once the first four have been drawn, students are shown how to calculate the general formula for the alkenes and then challenged to do the same for the alkanes. Moving forwards, students will meet the key term, saturated, and time is taken to ensure that the meaning of this word is understood in the context of this lesson. Once they have been introduced to bromine water, students are challenged to work out what will happen when this substance is added to an alkane and they have to explain their answer. The remainder of the lesson looks at the complete and incomplete combustion of the alkanes, focusing on the different products of these reactions and specifically the problems associated with carbon monoxide. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson to allow the students to check on their understanding.

An engaging lesson presentation (37 slides) which gets students to test their practical skills by carrying out the four identification tests for oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and chlorine. The lesson begins by using a competition called “Guess the gas” where students have to used clues to identify the four colourless gases which will be used in the lesson. Moving forwards, students will meet the pieces of equipment that will be used in these tests. Practical instructions for each of the tests are included in the lesson so that students can produce the gas and then carry out the test. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding. This lesson is suitable for both KS3 and GCSE students

A fully-resourced lesson that looks at a number of the allotropes of carbon which need to be known for GCSE Science. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (40 slides) and associated worksheets. The lesson begins by recalling the definition of an allotrope. Students are then introduced to graphene and will understand how this is related to graphite and know the properties of these two materials that are shared. Time is taken to ensure that students can explain why graphene is able to conduct electricity. Moving forwards, students will meet the family of allotropes known as the fullerenes and will see some important details about a few of these. This lesson has been written for students studying GCSE (14 - 16 year olds in the UK).

A fully-resourced lesson that teaches students how to calculate the concentration of a solution in the units grams per decimetres cubed and mol per decimetre cubed. The lesson includes a concise but detailed lesson presentation (20 slides) and a set of differentiated questions. The lesson begins by introducing students to volumes in decimetres cubed and time is taken to ensure that students are able to convert to this measurement. Moving forwards, students are guided through how to calculate the concentration in both units through the use of worked examples. Differentiated questions are available so that all abilities can access the work. This lesson has been written for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but could be used with students who are beginning their A level Chemistry studies

A fully-resourced lesson that looks at the meaning of the mole and shows how this measurement is used in calculations. The lesson includes a clear lesson presentation (32 slides) and a set of questions. This lesson has been written to explain in a concise manner so that the key details are understood and embedded. Students are shown how to recognise when a mole calculation requires them to use Avogadro’s constant and when they should the formula including the relative formula mass. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 -16 year olds in the UK)

A fully-resourced lesson which guides students through the method involved in calculating the empirical formula and includes a concise, clear lesson presentation (21 slides) and practice questions. Students are given a template to use as they are introduced to the questions and then encouraged to work without it as the lesson progresses. The students are shown how empirical formula questions can be made more difficult and hints are given so that students are able to tackle them and access all of the marks available. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK)

This is a fully-resourced lesson which looks at the properties of group 0 of the Periodic Table, the Noble Gases, and includes a lesson presentation (29 slides) and an associated worksheet. The lesson uses a range of engaging quiz competitions to enable the students to understand why these elements do not react. Other properties such as their boiling points are explored and there is continual reference to the other groups of elements so that students can make clear comparisons. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK), but it is also suitable for younger students who might be carrying out a project on the Periodic Table

This is a detailed and engaging lesson presentation which focuses on the properties of the elements found in group 1 of the Periodic Table, the alkali metals. Students are challenged throughout the lesson to be able to link their observations of the reactions to the properties. Once they have learnt that the reactivity increases as they move down the group, time is taken to go over this in detail so that students can explain why sodium is more reactive than lithium (and so on) in terms of electron configuration. Progress checks are embedded throughout the lesson so that students have the opportunity to assess their understanding. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but is suitable for younger students who may be carrying out a project on the Periodic Table

This is a fully-resourced lesson about group 7 of the Periodic Table, the halogens, which includes a lesson presentation (34 slides) and a differentiated worksheet. The lesson begins by challenging students to recognise and explain why the electronic structure of group 1 and group 7 means that they react together easily. As the lesson progresses, students will learn more and more properties about the halogens and key terms such as diatomic are used throughout so that students become accustomed to these. Moving forwards, students will carry out a series of displacement reactions so that they can recognise that the reactivity of these elements decreases as they go down the group. Students are challeged to explain this with reference to electron configuration and a differentiated worksheet will help those who need assistance to access this work. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but is suitable for younger students who might be carrying out a project on the Periodic Table

An engaging and informative lesson which uses a murder mystery style concept to challenge the students to use a range of identification tests to detect the cations and identify the killer. Students will enjoy the range of practical experiments which feed into the plot and allow them to find out who the owner of the belt buckle and earring back that were found at the crime scene. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but could be used as part of a forensic science project or alike

A concise and engaging lesson, which looks at chemical and physical changes with the key objective that students can recognise the differences between the two. Key terminology is used throughout, such as irreversible and practical examples are discussed. A number of short sharp quiz competitions are used to maintain motivation as well as checking on the understanding. This lesson is suitable for KS3 and GCSE students (11 - 16 year olds in the UK)

A detailed lesson which uses a step by step guide to take students through titration calculations. The lesson begins by looking at jey terminology such as the “rough” and “titre”, which are discussed and explained so that there isnt any confusion. Time is taken to go over key steps in the method, such as using the molar ratio from the equation, so that students are prepared for these if they encounter in an assessment. This lesson has been designed primarily for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but is suitable for older students covering this at A-level

A fully resourced lesson, which includes differentiated worksheets, and guides the students through the process of extracting aluminium. There are close links throughout the lesson to the reactivity series and electrolysis so that the students are able to understand how the knowledge of all of these is brought together. Students will meet cryolite and recognise why this is used in the process and will finish off by writing half equations to show the products at the electrodes. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK)

A fully-resourced lesson, which includes a lesson presentation (49 slides) and associated worksheets and guides students through the topic of extracting metals. The main focus of the lesson is the extracting of the metals (from their oxides) that fall below carbon in the reactivity series. Students will see how the metal oxides are reduced in order to form the required metal. Some time is taken to briefly look at the extraction of aluminium from aluminium oxide but if a lesson on the extraction of a particular metal is sought, then please look at my additional resources which cover iron and aluminium in greater detail. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK)

A short lesson which includes a lesson presentation (27 slides) and a hint worksheet and looks at redox reactions that involve oxygen and electrons. When focussing on oxygen, the lesson uses the example of extracting metals by reacting them with carbon to show how the metal is reduced and the carbon is oxidised. Key terminology such as reducing agents are also discussed. The important topic of electrolysis is used when teaching about the redox reactions that involve electrons and students are reminded about half equations. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK) but is suitable for other ages