GCSE Chemistry Required Practical: Measuring Temperature Changes

This resource consists of a pair of practicals (4 lessons of work total) containing everything you’ll need to teach the GCSE Chemistry required practical “Measuring the temperature change of a chemical reaction (quantitative and qualitative methods)”

Lesson one in both practicals allows students to identify variables and complete the practical to collect results, while in Lesson 2 students will plot their data on a graph, explain the graph shape and describe trends, as well as complete summary and practice exam questions about the practical.
As part of this resource, students will also learn how to calculate the uncertainty of a set of values.

This resource is suitable for students studying AQA Trilogy Combined Science (higher and foundation) and AQA Triple chemistry (higher and foundation)

Lesson Objectives:

• Carry out a practical to measure the temperature changes of a reaction involving a qualitative variable change
• Place metals in order of reactivity using temperature change data
• Carry out a practical to measure the temperature changes of a reaction involving a quantitative variable change
• Calculate the uncertainty for a set of values
• Describe and explain the shape of a temperature change graph
• Describe ways to improve a practical investigation to achieve more accurate and reliable results.

Working scientifically to:

• Follow written instructions
• Identify variables in a practical investigation
• Measure chemicals accurately
• Handle chemicals safely
• Plot a graph from practical data
• Draw a line of best fit for practical data
• Read values from a graph

Lesson features:

• Powerpoints with all instructions from worksheet broken down into managable chunks on slides for easy viewing and discussion
• Student worksheet with all equipment, instructions, diagrams, and summary questions and exam questions, including a full answer sheet for teachers
• Two practical sheets - one for the quantitative and qualitative practical
• Duplicates of answers on powerpoint slides to faciliate easy discussion and student marking, including examiners reports where available
• Practical order form with additional guidance and instructions, including relevant quantities and hazcard numbers
• Stretch and challenge questions throughout
• Starter “Think, Pair, Share” activities
• Explicit teaching/recap of key vocabulary and graph plotting

Lesson Resource Contains

• Student practical worksheet - Quantitative Practical (PDF)
• Student practical worksheet - Qualitative Practical (PDF)
• Student practical worksheet answers - Quantitative Practical (PDF)
• Student practical worksheet answers - Qualitative Practical (PDF)
• Powerpoint Presentation - Quantitative Practical (pptx.)
• Powerpoint Presentation - Qualitative Practical (pptx.)
• Editable Practical order forms for both practicals (.docx)