Myriad ideas for involving pupils with language and vocabulary of science, that should lead to an improvement in literacy skills and increase engagement with learning.

A game that is suitable for the last week of term for years 8 or 9, reinforcing the translation between chemical name and symbol. The pupils cut out / rearrange / stick down / colour in - and learn at the same time.

This comprehensive collection of posters, each of which gives 20 Key Words, includes cells, reproduction, ecology, microbes, respiration, digestion, atoms, acids, chemicals, metals, rocks, reactivity, energy, circuits, forces, sound, light, heating, magnetism, space, pressure . . . .!!

An idea for connecting words and meanings, that is suitable for a large ability range. The idea is adaptable as a starter or plenary for any topic.

The Water -cycle-games file is a 39 page pdf that includes diagrams of the water cycle (coloured and photocopiable), word searches, and cutout-and-match activities(making boxes, flowers, fortune-folding) that encourage learners to master the 50 relevant to the water cycle (a list of 50 words is included). The tag-game file is a physically fun game that encourages pupils to add labels to a diagram of the water cycle.

Instructions for five different tasks that could be reports / group work / video; hints are given to students as to methods for engaging with each project and improving the presentation.

A two-part project (could be used independently); first is a tag game that maps over a dozen scientists onto a two millennia timeline in order to show that measuring temperature is a work in progress. Second is stimulus material that encourages pupils to learn more about four of the most famous scientists, their lives, the society in which they lived and other inventions they developed.

A kinesthetic game for demonstrating that although the sunlight will always hit one face of the Earth, the rotation of the Earth will give the appearance of sun rise and sun set.

Two ways of engaging pupils in becoming familiar with the arcane lexicon of Science, and enjoy learning the spelling of this vast vocabulary. A tag game involves a pair, one running, the other static, both trying to remember words and spellings. Messenger is similar but involves trios working together, so maybe more chaotic! These games engage everyone, and every age from year 6 to Heads of Department.

A paper exercise that pupils can use to show how genes (on individual chromosomes) can be sorted and resorted during reproduction - the idea of dominant and recessive alleles, including sex chromosome, then follows naturally