KS3 ~ Year 7 ~ Compounds

This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 C1.2 ’Elements, Atoms & Compounds’.

For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.

This lesson begins with a video on elements & compounds, students will answer a set of questions whilst watching the video. This work can then be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.

Next, students are given a set of diagrams which depict either elements or compounds. Students need to identify whether the picture is of an element or compound, then write an explanation for their choice. This task can then be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.

Next, students are given a set of two diagrams - one is of a mixture and the other is of a compound. Students are asked to ‘Think > Pair > Share’ their ideas on which is a mixture and which is a compound, giving an explanation for their answer. Students can feed their ideas back to a class discussion, before the definition for a mixture vs. a compound is revealed using the PowerPoint presentation. Students are then asked to copy and complete a set of sentences to summarise the differences between elements, mixtures and compounds. This work can be marked and corrected using the answers provided on the PowerPoint.

Next, students are asked to complete an investigation looking at the properties of a mixture of iron and sulphur before and after it is heated. Before it is hated, students should identify that iron and sulphur is a mixture, with iron showing magnetic properties. Then, the mixture is heated and students are asked to decide whether it is now a mixture or a compound, they will also need to test the magnetic properties of this substance to see whether it has changed.

The plenary task is an exit card, students are asked to write down three things they have learned this lesson, five key words and one question to test their peers on what they have learned this lesson.

All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)