Myriad ideas for involving pupils with language and vocabulary of science, that should lead to an improvement in literacy skills and increase engagement with learning.

100 words per list for the common topics in KS3 Science - atoms,elements, acids, electricity, energy, astronomy, cells, digestion, ecology, electricity, fit, forces, heating, inheritance, magnetism, metals, particles, reactivity, reproduction, respiration, rock cycle, weathering, variation and investigations.

Learning any subject needs three mutually supportive aspects - the subject-specific lexicon, the knowledge and the relevant skills; different subjects show differences in the importance of these three aspects depending on the Government demands and exam requirements.

Two ways of engaging pupils in becoming familiar with the arcane lexicon of Science, and enjoy learning the spelling of this vast vocabulary. A tag game involves a pair, one running, the other static, both trying to remember words and spellings. Messenger is similar but involves trios working together, so maybe more chaotic! These games engage everyone, and every age from year 6 to Heads of Department.