all picks
A collection of engaging games that challenge students' knowledge and logic.
A pack of lesson plans that can be downloaded, together with video clips from the BBC children's science show that are linked to each lesson. The pack has worksheets and suggested activities for KS3 and 4.
An online lesson plan, supported by video clips, which shows you how to set up a forensic crime scene investigation.
A comprehensive summary of different methods used to separate mixtures.
A collection of engaging games that challenge students' knowledge and logic.
A selection of short, engaging practical demonstrations on various biology, chemistry and physics topics. The page also leads to many other useful resources. You will need to join TES in order to download the demonstrations but it is free and only takes 30 seconds!
A ' Bang Goes the Theory' lesson plan and video clip, aimed at 11-14 year olds, though has useful elements for 10-11 year olds too.
A collection of engaging games that challenge students' knowledge and logic.
BBC Bitesize revision aid on acids and bases and reaction with metals to form salts.
A pack of lesson plans that can be downloaded, together with video clips from the BBC children's science show that are linked to each lesson. The pack has worksheets and suggested activities for KS3 and 4.
A collection of engaging games that challenge students' knowledge and logic.
A pack of lesson plans that can be downloaded, together with video clips from the BBC children's science show that are linked to each lesson. The pack has worksheets and suggested activities for KS3 and 4.
A pack of lesson plans that can be downloaded, together with video clips from the BBC children's science show that are linked to each lesson. The pack has worksheets and suggested activities for KS3 and 4.
A short video clip that demonstrates the crystallization of sodium ethanoate (exothermic) and the reaction of barium hydroxide with ammonium chloride (endothermic). An explanation of the energy changes is then given.
A series of cartoons about solids, liquids and gases, including teacher resources and a quiz. Sound can be turned off if you find it annoying. To find the cartoons, select buttons 2-12 from the main menu
A sequence of ten animated cartoons explaining the properties of solids, liquids and gases, along with changes of state and dissolving.
pages explaining changes of state. Clearly shows the difference between steam and water droplets.
An interactive game that could be played in pairs or small groups, or on an interactive whiteboard.
A flash-based activity in which pupils can try to dissolve various substances in water. There is a linked quiz.
Excellent, clearly presented revision material on compounds, mixtures and separating from BBC bitesize. There is also a good multiple choice quiz.
A sequence of ten animated cartoons explaining the properties of solids, liquids and gases, along with changes of state and dissolving.
An interactive game that could be played in pairs or small groups, or on an interactive whiteboard.
An interactive game based on key words that could be played in pairs or small groups, or on an interactive whiteboard.
Excellent, comprehensive, coverage of atoms and elements, from BBC Bitesize. Well-matched to the lower secondary curriculum.
Excellent, clearly presented revision material on compounds, mixtures and separating from BBC bitesize. There is also a good multiple choice quiz.
An interactive site which allows students to build simple molecules from C, O and H atoms. The site also features an animation of changes of state.
An interactive game based on key words that could be played in pairs or small groups, or on an interactive whiteboard.
An interactive quiz that students could play in pairs or small groups.
A revision video from Bitesize that recaps the pH scale, universal indicator and the relevance of this to the acidification of the oceans due to atmospheric pollution.
An interactive game based on key words that could be played in pairs or small groups, or on an interactive whiteboard.
Excellent, clearly presented revision material on compounds, mixtures and separating from BBC bitesize. There is also a good multiple choice quiz.
This practical activity models the extraction of copper from malachite, which is a copper ore consisting of copper(II) carbonate. In the school laboratory, copper is extracted from copper(II) carbonate by first heating to form copper(II) oxide and then reducing to produce the metal. Teacher notes, apparatus list, student guidance and safety points are included.
A 'Double- Crossed 'cross-curricular activity based on a mystery set in WW2. Pupils use and develop their investigative skills in analysing and evaluating data and evidence and their creativity and problem solving when interpreting evidence, asking questions such as Why? How? and What if? Team work and self evaluation assessment for learning included.
In this simple but thought-provoking demonstration, a piece of paper (or a £5 or £10 note) soaked in a mixture of ethanol and water is ignited. The ethanol burns but the paper does not. This demonstration can be used to engage students and is also suitable for events such as open-evenings. Teacher notes, apparatus list and safety guidance are included.
In this investigation, students observe how atmospheric conditions effect the corrosion of a range of metals. Airtight containers are set up containing dry air, moist air, and air polluted by sulfur dioxide. The corrosion of each metal is observed over a number of days and students are then challenged to consider possible ways of preventing corrosion. Teacher notes, apparatus list, student guidance and safety points are included.
This practical activity models the extraction of copper from malachite, which is a copper ore consisting of copper(II) carbonate. In the school laboratory, copper is extracted from copper(II) carbonate by first heating to form copper(II) oxide and then reducing to produce the metal. Teacher notes, apparatus list, student guidance and safety points are included.
This practical activity models the extraction of copper from malachite, which is a copper ore consisting of copper(II) carbonate. In the school laboratory, copper is extracted from copper(II) carbonate by first heating to form copper(II) oxide and then reducing to produce the metal. Teacher notes, apparatus list, student guidance and safety points are included.
Revision word fill exercises on the particle model of solids, liquids and gases
Crossword covering the particle model of solids, liquids and gases. There is a larger harder version available.
An interactive activity looking at temperature / time graphs for melting and boiling. Temperatures have to be entered precisely.
3 simple exercises for solids, liquids and gases.
Simple revision word fill covering the whole of unit 7H, Solutions
Matching pairs exercise testing meanings of terms introduced during unit 7H (solute, solvent, saturated etc)
Small revision crossword covering the whole of unit 7H, Solutions. Larger harder version also available!
Animation to show how salt is obtained comercially by the evaporation of brine.
Brief background information on dissolving and a quiz on dissolving particles.
Matching pairs exercise to match molecular diagrams of elements, compounds and mixtures to their descriptions.
6 short, but well produced animations on different industrial processes. e.g. separating salt from salt water, filtering. The brine evaporator and filter press are linked to this unit.
Tour of an oil refinery using aerial and panoramic photos with information about different processes involved.
The British Crystallographic Association's education pages, with booklets on making crystals and models.
Summary information and simple quiz question on the difference between elements and compounds
Matching pairs exercise to match molecular diagrams of elements, compounds and mixtures to their descriptions.
Materials Database from GSK Active Science, containing data on properties of common (including man made) materials, for pupils to interrogate to find those suitable for particular purposes
A 'who wants to be millionaire' style quiz on mixtures, elements and compounds. Each time the game is reloaded a new set of quesitons are used. Quite a difficult quiz, also covers balancing equations. Probably a bit much for this level
20 questions on Physical and chemical change with printable answer sheet at the end for grading.
Multiple choice quiz on elements, compounds and mixtures.
Interactive video clip with clear basic info on elements, mixtures and compounds how to separate them from BBC Bitesize
Revision quiz covering compounds and mixtures.
Explanation about chemical reactions and balancing equations with some quizes.
Interactive periodic table of elements with a lot of information.
A quiz on elements
Word fill quiz on the basics of chemical reactions, including the idea of reactants / products - useful for revision
Simple crossword that can be completed online based on the material in unit 7F; a larger and harder version is available from the index!
Background information on fire, and interactive video clip.
Drag and drop gap-fill quiz, followed by a matching game (household objects to their pH )
A simple interactive activity in which students use litmus and UI paper strips to test the pH of some household substances. They earn extra points by using their existing knowledge.
An interactive wordsearch about acids and alkalis.
A fun interactive take on Hangman, where students have to guess the word before the granny is abducted by aliens.
Explanation about chemical reactions and balancing equations with some quizes.
An introduction to the five states of matter. Interesting link to Bose-Einstein condensates. Some minor spelling errors (e.g. homogeneous and heterogeneous)
A helpful summary of evidence for the particle model of matter.
The UK Salt Manufacturers' Association website, with lots of background information (maybe biased?) about common salt, its uses and health issues.
Explanation of dissolving in terms of the particle model, from the University of Leicester's science education department
Good background information on separating mixtures. There are rollover words in the text which advance the accompanying diagrams and a short key word quiz at the bottom of the page. The next page is on chromatography and its use in forensic science is highlighted.
Site gives clear information on different methods for separating mixtures. Lots of advertisements on pages may be distracting.
The first two pages outline methods for separating mixtures. The final page contains questions that can be addressed during an investigation.
A series of slides on solutions.
Pages explaining the difference between solutions and mixtures.
Basic information and simple quiz question on the representation of elements and compounds by symbols
Clear simple explanation of some chemical reactions with particle diagrams, extended on the following few pages
Gives information on writing word and balancing simple symbol equations.
A simple but helpful summary of compounds and formulae.
How fire works, from the useful Howstuffworks site. Lots of detail and extension material about the uses and dangers of fire throughout history.
Gives lots of information about experiments you can perform. Includes photos and animations.
Gives a good description of how fireworks work and how they are launched into the sky.
Lots of information on combustion and why things burn as well as fire prevention. It also includes some suggested practical activities and interactive videos.
A no-frills page of word equations for students to copy and complete, summarising the reactions of acids with metals, metal oxides, metal hydroxides, metal carbonates (and ammonia). The answers are hyperlinked.
A comprehensive summary of how metals react with other substances and how a reactivity series can be constructed.
An animated summary of displacement reactions.
A guide on how some metals are extracted from their ores, with links to pages on some common metals. Uses symbol equations.
Gives information on writing word and balancing simple symbol equations.
Gives background information on different types of chemical reactions. Too technical for pupils.
A simple guide to different types of chemical reaction.
An information page on the properties and uses of solids, liquids and gases.
A page introducing solids, followed by ones on liquids and gases with quizes.
A page explaining how matter changes state.
An animated slideshow explaining the particle theory of matter.
An animated interactive page on solids, liquids and gases. Note the particles are too far apart in the solid and liquid.
Description and simple animation showing diffusion.
Revision summary with animations and interactive activities, covering expansion and contraction, pressure in gases and diffusion.
Gives an overview of the difference between a chemical and a physical change.
Revision notes on separating mixtures from BBC Bitesize. Clear information
Page contains information about how distillation works. There is a link to a flash animation of ethanol / water. Not much detail.
Good notes and drop-down box interactive activities on solutions. The site links the information to solutions and suspensions encountered in everyday life. Explore to page 14.
An excellent resource on dissolving. There are several video clips on the page to help with the explanations plus a link to some good teachers notes and historical information. Requires Quicktime for the videos
A large resource that contains some good animations of how substances dissolve. Requires Java to run (free download)
Worksheet detailing how to do the experiment, with notes for teachers and technicians. You may need to alter the worksheet instructions.
Worksheet outlining an experiment on the effect of dissolved salt on the boiling point of water.
Set of lesson plans, with introduction activities and then experimental procedure for investigating solubility of sugar in water. 2 extension activities.
A useful summary of different types of mixture, including solutions and colloids. Also covers solubility at different temperatures.
Clear animation of salt dissolving that can be enlarged for projecting onto a white board and descriptive text of the steps.
Short but well explained flash animation of NaCl dissolving in water.
Use chromatography to find the hidden colours in black ink. You could also try other inks and dyes.
Matching exercises on separating mixtures.
Word fill asking students to associate states (s, l, g) and properties (element / compound / mixture) with common substances
Quiz relating to atoms and elements
Word fill asking students to associate states (s, l, g) and properties (element / compound / mixture) with common substances
A 'hot potatoes' quiz on elements, compounds and mixtures. Useful for pupils to check their understanding.
A good slide show to explain the differences between mixtures, elements and compounds. The language is a bit technical but it conveys a lot of useful information.
Some good background information on elements and compounds. Includes interactive questions within the text.
Bitesize teacher resource on classifying materials
Interactive Periodic table with information about elements.
Lots of information about copper from the Copper Development Association, including a history of how it has been extracted and used for the past 60 centuries.
The best periodic table that I have come across for kids.
Word fill exercise on burning and products
Multiple-choice quiz from Doc Brown's Chemistry Clinic. The questions vary each time the page is loaded. Some questions test knowledge of upper sec info, but some questions are good for developing scientific awareness and skills
Flash demo covering chemical changes with quiz and activities at the end. A couple of tiny textual oddities
Gives an overview of the difference between a chemical and a physical change.
Contains videos and photographs of some chemistry reactions.
Clear information with animations and interactive flash activities on chemical reactions. Free registration is required to access the resource.
Simple drag and drop activity on the pH scale from Doc Brown's Chemistry Clinic.
Crossword from Creative Chemistry on acids, alkalis and salts
Introduction to acids, bases and the pH scale related to the numbers of H+ and OH- ions present with quiz
Site has pictures of metal ores, their formulae, properties and uses with links to other pictures and information
Simple explanation of the reaction between acids and metal carbonates, with an exercise and a quiz
A fun activity in which pupils learn to write balanced symbol equations.
Animations showing different electrolysis reactions and testing the products.
Pages introducing chemical reactions and rates of reaction from Chem4Kids. Also pages on catalysts. Quiz at the end of each page.
Gives an overview of the difference between a chemical and a physical change.