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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Preparing salt. Presentation to guide students through the practical preparation of salt from hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide.

Properties and uses of metals combined crossword and word search activity, ideal for reinforcing key scientific vocabulary in a starter, plenary or homework.