A lesson on the important difference between cause and correlation. The teacher notes give details of examples where there is a strong correlation but no causal link, examples which can be hard to think of on the spot! The presentation is based around air pollution and helps students to understand the key ideas. It can be followed up with the worksheet which includes many examples. For each example students sort the three options given into correlation, cause or no link

A teacher demo is used to introduce some student practical work comparing, by measuring mass, the amount of sugar in different soft drinks. Students will need to draw up a calibration curve and the practical work will help to develop their ability to use a burette accurately.

Displacement reactions can be difficult for students to master so here's a card game based around whist that will help them. As they play the game, students have to decide whether or not the chemicals on the cards will react, if they can provide a card that prompts a displacement reaction they win! The game is designed to prompt higher level thought and discussion. Also included are outline details for a teacher demonstration of the displacement reactions with an accompanying worksheet for students to complete

In this series of activities students analyse a sample of soil from Mars. The activities are straightforward and are designed to be a good introduction to practical work for year 7 students. The activities include testing for the presence of water, determining the acidity of the sample and examining the soil structure using a microscope. The sheet gives full details for teachers and technicians including a recipe for the Martian soil and there is a worksheet for students to complete as they go. Also included is a cut and stick Martian globe that students can make to fit around a tennis ball

UV reactive beads change from white to coloured when exposed to ultra violet light and are wonderful for teaching reaction rates (so much easier than trying to work out when the cross has disappeared!) They are genuinely suitable for use with any age group and the notes here give ideas about how to carry out investigations at different levels. Post 16 students can use these beads to find activation enthalpy with a convincing degree of accuracy.

This Venn diagram activity is ideal for diagnosing student misconceptions and helping them gain a really good understanding of collision theory. The statements that need placing have been chosen to prompt debate and discussion and it makes a great whole class activity. Although it was written for keystage 4 students it is also useful to use with keystage 5 students at the start of the topic. A second sheet gives the answers. There's a follow up worksheet to consolidate important concepts and a further colour in sheet exploring why chemists want to control reaction rates.

Using this simulation, written in excel, your students can explore the impact of surface area, temperature and concentration on reaction rate. As the conditions change, so the graph changes. When opening the spreadsheet, don't forget to click on "enable". There is a worksheet for students to complete as they work through the activity. There are also two additional worksheets with further explore rates graphs and help students to deepen their understanding.

This excel spreadsheet provides good simulation of the Haber process where you can adjust the proportions of the raw materials, the temperature, the catalyst and the pressure to find out how much ammonia you make. Get it right and you can maximise your profit per day! When opening the spreadsheet, don't forget to click "enable" Students can work individually on this activity or the simulation can be projected and used with the whole class. There is also a worksheet to help students think through the process at the molecular level along with notes and answers for the teacher.

As well as instructions and technical details for this classic piece of practical work, this activity is also reinforced by a great simulation where students can see try cracking different large molecules and find the effect on the resulting mixture. If they can match the supply to the demand successfully, they can maximise their profit. The simulation could be carried out by individual students or by a teacher in front of a whole class. There is also a follow up worksheet for students to help them understand the equations that underpin the reactions

A fun practical activity that introduces the idea about accuracy of measurement and using the appropriate piece of equipment. The teacher sheet is backed up by a worksheet for students. It is aimed at keystage 3 students but is likely to be useful for less able keystage 4 students.

A teacher led demonstration activity to help students understand how errors in measurement are inevitable. The accompanying worksheet allows students to record the errors as they occur in the demonstration and then provides an opportunity to think through what they learnt.

A cut and stick diagram to help students think through the rock cycle plus a worksheet about the three main types of rock.

This hands-one, minds-on activity is designed to get students thinking about the differences between atoms and molecules. It is backed up with a student worksheets which gets students thinking even further. Molymod (or equivalent) models are required. Although this activity is aimed primarily at KS3 students, GCSE students are likely to find it helpful too.

This card game is based on rummy and is designed to help students understand how salts are made when an acid and alkali react. Points are scored when a complete set of chemicals is collected. The game can be followed with a student worksheet developing ideas about neutralisation.

Here are two activities designed to help students understand the significance of elements and investigate some of their properties. The activities are backed up by a student worksheet. It is primarily aimed at KS3 students though teachers might like to use it with less able KS4 students too.

So many students find this topic confusing! This resource is intended to make clear the differences between atoms and molecules and between elements and compounds. The practical work is backed up by a student worksheet. It's primarily aimed at KS3 students but weaker KS4 students will find it helpful too.