Percy Julian: Black Chemist – KS3 Reading Task

A complete literacy-in-science activity that fits your scheme and inspires your students. This engaging reading comprehension introduces Percy Julian, the Black chemist whose discoveries connect directly to AQA KS3 Chemistry: Pure and Impure Substances and Separation Techniques. Students practise reading for meaning while revisiting key scientific ideas so you can celebrate diversity without losing curriculum time.

What’s Included
• Curriculum-Aligned 2-Page Reading Text – Real-world chemistry through Julian’s story of discovery and determination.
• Comprehension Questions + Teacher Answers – From recall to higher-order reasoning, all fully marked for quick feedback.
• Key Vocabulary List – Pure, mixture, crystallisation, distillation, filtration.
• Extension Discussion Task – “Why is purity vital in medicine?” encourages deeper thinking and class debate.

Why Teachers Love It
• Ready to print – zero prep required
• Perfect for literacy starters, cover lessons or homework
• Builds reading comprehension and curriculum recall simultaneously

AQA Topic Link: KS3 Chemistry – Mixtures & Separation / Pure and Impure Substances

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