Renewable & Non-Renewable Energy Fact Cards - eleven brightly coloured fact cards each detailing the advantages and disadvantages of different renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Each card also gives a brief summary of how that particular energy resource is harvested and utilised.
A worksheet to support students investigating turning moments using a seesaw. The sheet gives full instructions for the practical and an outline results table for students to complete.
This activity includes fact cards explaining how six different methods of contraception work. It gives some of the advantages and disadvantages of each method. I usually display these around the classroom and get the students to rotate between them, memorising them as they go. They then transfer their new knowledge into the outline table provided. Some questions are also posed to gauge their level of understanding of when each type of contraceptive might be appropriate.
Contact and non-contact forces 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.
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.
Making Sense of Chemical Formulae - a quick starter or plenary activity. Students are shown some ball and stick molecular models and they need to identify the atoms present. Can be done against the clock to add a bit of competition.
Properties and uses of metals combined crossword and word search activity, ideal for reinforcing key scientific vocabulary in a starter, plenary or homework.
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.
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.
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.
Elements, compounds and mixtures 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.
Six fact cards (two about each of the Earth, Moon and Sun) with images and accompanying questions. I have the cards laminated and displayed around the classroom. The students then rotate around them, against the clock, before completing the questions. Could also be used as the basis of a comprehension task. Suitable for upper KS2.
Writing molecular formulae. A presentation that guides students through the process of writing the molecular formula for a compound from its molecular (ball and stick) diagram. For an activity I usually print out the 10 different ball and stick diagrams included in the presentation and stick them around the classroom. I then get students to rotate around them identifying and counting their atoms against the stopwatch.