My year 9s and my year 11s love this challenge. The idea behind it is that the pupils will really get to grips with the protons, neutrons and electrons of each element so they can correctly answer questions about ions, bonding and electronic configuration. This is coming in earlier in the new Edexcel specification! I give pupils 3 minutes for this activity. If it cannot be done in that time, they haven't grasped it yet! They do it as a starter or a plenary, and all begin at the same time. It works well as a mini test where they race against each other (or even you) to be the first one to finish with them all correct. They can even mark each others! When they finish one challenge (95% correct or more) they move on to the next one. I use school rewards for when they advance and I have also included a certificate that I have given to the ones who complete all 3. This can obviously be modified to reflect you and your class. Don't forget to leave a review!

These grids specifically cover the Edexcel Chemistry topics in the core module. They are fully differentiated, where higher ability pupils have to make the links between the keywords without hints or a leading question. The lower ability can use the given rules which include 'define the word' and 'spot the mistake'. NB this only includes topics 1-3. There is also a literacy grid. Pupils choose a topic or part of a topic they need to revise or struggle to remember. Use a describe question about that topic e.g. Describe how chalk becomes marble using ___________ and ___________. They roll the dice going along the corridor and up the stairs to select a box. They repeat until they have a number of random pictures/words. They are to write a short creative story about the part of the topic they have chose. Could be used at the beginning of a topic to see what pupils know about the topic. Higher ability, more words/images to fit in. Example: I have chosen “Describe what happens to reactivity of elements as you go DOWN the group”. I rolled the dice and it gave me 4,4 (Wednesday) and 5,3 (kitten). “The was once a crazy cat lady who gave her kitten a different metal in group one every day of the week. On Monday she gave the kitten some lithium and he didn’t even look at it. On Tuesday she give the kitten some sodium. He sniffed it, and then walked away. On Wednesday she gave the kitten potassium. He licked the edge, and it turned his tongue lilac, but he didn’t eat it. On Thursday she gave the kitten some Rubidium. He ate about half of it and walked away. Getting annoyed, the crazy cat lady went out and bought some Caesium for breakfast on Friday. She was certain her picky cat would like this. Sure enough, on Friday the kitten ate all of the rubidium and meowed for more. I wonder if there is an element he might like even more…”

After the popularity of the Original Platinum 20... This is the first in the ions challenge. Pupils are given 20 common ion names, with some additional information (group number etc) and are given 3 minutes to get the ions written down with the correct charge! I have BIG plans for the medium and hard challenges!

Science controlled assessment flowchart - split into sections. Each section that can be marked is in a separate box. Parts A, B and C are different colours. Will help pupils to access more marks when it is time for the real thing! EDIT: "Dependent variable(s)" should have been "Control variable(s)". Now changed.

Writing frame to help pupils in KS3 or bottom set GCSE groups get to grips with how to write parts of an investigation. Pink sections are the higher tier sections. Pupils can work up to these.

Fully differentiated challenge resource for GCSE and KS3 revision needing minimal input from you! Pupils can choose their challenge to collect a number of stars over the course of the lesson. The reward they get varies on how many stars they collect. They must create a document proving they have done them! I also set a question limit. They can swap a star they have already gained if they want to ask me for help. It is a revision exercise, and they have covered the material previously.

Differentiated to help lower ability follow the revision resources.

Mind map that covers structure of an atom, electronic configuration, the periodic table and isotopes. Follows the new Edexcel transition document for chemistry but can be used as C2 topic 1 revision for year 11s. I have both year groups and they appreciate it equally. Works best on A3 but is readable on A4.

Up to 2 hours of christmas related activities with a fun challenge to appeal to all age groups and abilities. The first set of activities are fully differentiated, where pupils can chose their challenge. If they complete a lower challenge, they get less points, but there is a first finisher bonus. The choice is theirs. There is also a science reindeer classification key activity. The second set of activities are a little more crafty with mathematics and symmetry coming in to one of the activities. There are also different challenges for different amounts of points. Pupils could work individually or alone.

Covers C1.26 Acid Rain to C1.30 Investigating fuels. Includes Climate change, choosing fuels and biofuels. Especially made for a bottom set year 10 class for them to follow. Behaviour has improved significantly and motivation has also increased. They used to be a difficult class, now they are lovely! Pupils can follow all activities to see how far they are through the lesson. Printed on A3 they can trim the edges and stick it straight in their book! I cannot take full credit for some parts of the PowerPoints, they just follow the activity documents.

This resource is appropriate for the new Edexcel transition topic in KS3 and also for C1 in KS4. This resource covers properties of metals, the reactivity series, oxidation and reduction, methods of extraction and word equations. You can make this resource interactive for lower ability, or for revision of C1 in year 11 by following the content on the PowerPoint and having pupils fill in the activity after each stage. The PowerPoint is included and the diagrams match up.

Suitable for KS3 and KS4 chemistry revision on making salts, reactions of acids and states of matter. Follows the new chemistry Edexcel transition content. Powerpoint lesson plan available to go with this in the free resources section as I am not the original author of most slides.

A step by step guide for year 7 up to year 11 revision on how to write word equations for neutralisation. It includes naming salts for hydrochloric, sulphuric and nitric acid and all the general equations.

Some presents have been stolen from under your tree! The police have found 5 clues at the scene of the crime: some different powders, a shoe print, some fibres and a handwritten christmas card. It’s s down to you to use your problem solving skills and knowledge of chromatography and ions tests to determine which of the 32 suspects stole the presents! The only thing you can’t find out is why… Students should be given the brief and an hour to try to solve all the clues. The 5 clues are: -A shoe print - they have to problem solve to figure out which of the 6 it is. -2 different fibres - they must look at the properties of the materials and decide which items of clothing they came from. - An ionic compound - they must use knowledge of testing for ions to name the compounds and then assign the right name to the powder found at the scene. Don’t worry, there is step by step information for classes that have not yet studied this. - A second compound - students will use a flow chart to attempt to name this powder! - A handwritten christmas card from the thief that just says ‘Sorry!’ - Students have to find the Rf values from the chromatograms from the ink at the scene and from the pens found on the suspects. This is a Christmas crime with a twist! This is geared more towards KS4 chemistry, but I have done it with a few different sets of year 9 groups and they have loved it! As the teacher, you will control the clues and some of the information about what was found at the scene. The pieces of information given to the students are outlined in the PowerPoint either on slide 1 or in the notes section of the slide. THERE ARE NO PRACTICALS PLANNED WITH THIS ACTIVITY! ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SOME PRINTING. You could incorporate practicals in with it if you wanted to, but it is not planned to need any. It is planned to be as low maintainance as possible.

Full topic with resources, including teaching powerpoint aznd a specification for the technicians to follow. Homework sheets also included.

THIS CAN BE DONE INDIVIDUALLY, NO need for teams, just extra time! ALSO VIEW MY OTHER KS4 CHRISTMAS RESOURCE AT https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-crime-scene-christmas-chemistry-activity-for-ks3-and-ks4-new-for-2017-11792556 There has been a murder at Santa’s workshop and one of the Elves did it! But which one? Get your students to solve 5 separate science related clues to piece together information about the murderous elf. Activities include classification keys for the reindeer, speed of the sleigh and the science behind our favourite christmas words! If you have a TA, maybe they can play dead santa! Read through the case brief with the class, and give them a time limit. The, suspect list and final clue are included alongside the PowerPoint activity but don’t give these out until right at the end. All of the answers are also included in this pack. There really is minimal effort required from the teacher. Set it up, introduce the murder and let them compete. Just tick the team’s box when they have finished each clue and advance the slide to give the answer when the time runs out. All worksheets that were made using a generator are credited on the worksheet itself. All content is original.

UPDATED FOR SUMMER 2024! After the Santa and Easter murder mysteries were such a success, I thought I would create a summer one for use on those last few days in the summer term to go alongside the quizzes or other activities you might do every year. This mystery follows the murder of Mr. Rossi who was (unfortunately) still in his ice cream van when someone melted it! There are 20 suspects and 5 clues for teams to solve before gaining access to the final clue, which will allow them to start eliminating suspects. The clues rely on team work to complete them well within an hour, and require problem solving skills as well. Some clues are (loosely) linked to science; there is a classification key and a speed calculation, but the main aspect is team work and problem solving. Students will need the case brief printed, and some of the slides in the PowerPoint to complete this. The slides needed are labeled in the notes section. There is a leader board so you are able to display the progress of each team. I allow teams to lock in an answer whenever they want, but I won’t tell them if they’re right until the end. They can work on the clues in any order but MUST have completed all 5 before accessing final clues. all answers are provided in the PowerPoint. Enjoy

Currently 32 quizzes of sixteen questions (with a tie breaker, just in case!) for use in tutor time and/or as a house competition in teams. Each week/quiz has a different theme. All answers are included at the end of the PowerPoint, sometimes with additional infomation. UPDATED TO FIX ERRORS. From Quiz 15 onwards, question 10 always has a literacy theme to try to improve whole school literacy. These quizzes fit perfectly in a tutor session and could be run amongst your tutor group or as house teams. There will be enough for one per week for the WHOLE YEAR by July so keep checking back once purchased. 1 - General knowledge 2 - European Day of Languages 3 - Weather 4 - Islands 5 - Lyrics 6 - Cartoons 7 - Logos 8 - Remembrance 9- Polish National Day 10 - Movies 11 - Dingbats 12 - Attendance 13 - Games 14 - Christmas 15 - New Year 16 - Alphabet part 1 17 - Alphabet part 2 18 - Numbers 19 - General Knowledge part 2 20 - Food and Drink 21 - Animals 22 - Sport 23 - Capital Cities 24 - Celebrity Guess Who 25 - Flags 26 - Easter 27 - The Human Body 28 - Harry Potter 29 - Space 30 - Mental Health Awareness 31 - Collective nouns 32 - Periodic table 33 - General Knowledge part 3 34- Dinosaurs 35- Famous Landmarks 36- Weird World Records 37- Emojis 38- Summer FREE SAMPLE IF YOU WANT TO TRY IT FIRST https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/house-tutor-time-quiz-sample-quiz-13-games-1205490517