A nice activity to show the effect of washing woolen clothes in too hot water. I would come to school wearing a woolen jumper ready for throwing out. The worksheet gets the student to cut out a jumper shape as a template to put on my jumper and cut out a real wool jumper shape. 10 to 15 shapes can easily be cut from one of my jumpers (which I continue to wear full of jumper shaped holes) this IS funny The students heat water in a 250ml beaker to different temps (nice investigation) and "wash" their wool jumper shape for a few mins, then see how it has changed by placing it on the second template

A nice graphic worksheet which allows students to use a mirror next to the worksheet and "tick off" colour in or even mark in missing teeth or fillings. At the same time finding out what they should have and practice the terminology. Has been used as a before the dentist and after the dentist visit....if the students are up for it

A basic worksheet with my drawing of a baby inside the womb. Works well with most students and promotes discussion

Using red & blue litmus to investigate different substances. Both red & blue results are required for correct results

A lovely challenge to get students thinking about what concentration means. At basic levels the expt can be used to determine which acid is the more concentrated (Mg reacts more quickly) On the higher level you can use the apparatus suggested to calculate pretty much how much more concentrated one is than the other (determined by you) but calculated by the ratio of the times taken to react equal amounts of Mg

Very simple worksheet to get students thinking and visualising living things With blank table on the back for students to make up there own

A nice colourful worksheet to be filled in as a selection of substances are tested with pH included

A nice colourful worksheet to be filled in whilst a selection of substances are tested

Having taught in mainstream primary and secondary schools for 25 years and in special education for 14 years I have realized that there is no "fairy dust" that solves the many problems & challenges of everyday teaching. As Basil Fawlty would say most of this originates from "the bleeding obvious", but it does not harm any of us to be reminded of what is often overlooked, ignored and even considered unimportant as it is difficult to "evidence". These are my 20 most important “tips”, not “tricks” to help you engage students, although you may well think it is magic when one of these “wins over” a student you thought lost forever to “the dark side”.