Do your students struggle to write their method for their science experiments? Maybe they just have not had a lot of experience writing a science lab method. I have the same issues with my students, especially in KS3, this is a totally new style of writing than what they are used to! To combat this, I have designed these worksheets that scaffold the process and build up student skills. I promise you, you will see some amazing improvements if you follow these simple steps! Give them some writing rules. Show them what a bad one looks like (and model why it is bad). Show them what a good one looks like (and model why it is good). Get them to review some poorly written and well written methods - allowing them to start to see what makes a good method. Now start them writing by asking them to turn a series of diagrams into a written method following the rules. Finally, they get to go solo! Get them to write a method from scratch without all the previous scaffolding (obviously they can look back at the rules and the examples of good methods to help them out if they need it!) The quality of my students’ written methods has vastly improved and, more importantly, my student CONFIDENCE is soaring when we write methods! Something they would avoid in the past, not knowing where to start. So, what exactly do you get included in this resource? Bell-ringers x1 & exit tickets x2 (for you to choose which is most appropriate) Rules for writing a method (printer friendly copy for students and a colour copy that could be printed as a poster or shared digitally) Reviewing 2 methods – teacher modelled example highlighting and annotating what are the pros and cons of each method (according to the rules) Reviewing 2 methods – students to complete independently Turning lab diagrams into a method – students use the sequenced images and turn them into a logical method Students write their own method for making their favourite sandwich! Peer assessment forms for students to assess each other’s sandwich method. If you would like more science teaching ideas and tips, please check out my blog. I spend a lot of time researching each blog and teaching strategy to provide the best high quality information for teachers everywhere. You can find the link in my TES shop!

If you are keen to get your student completing labs, but they don’t have too much experience using lab equipment yet, start them off with this ‘intro to lab skills’ lab! Using a simple method to mix and then separate salt and water, we can give our students a chance to practice lots of different lab skills, including: Working safely in the lab by wearing safety goggles Measuring volumes of liquids Measuring mass of solids Setting up a Bunsen burner correctly Using a Bunsen burner safely Making observations using keywords Included in this resource are: Teacher notes Bell-ringers x2 & exit tickets x2 (for you to choose which is most appropriate) Optional booklet front page to print out if you want to present it to students as a booklet. Student friendly instructions and risk assessment Comprehension questions to secure student understanding of the method Drawings and explanation of the lab equipment required (designed to help students write the method themselves) Student written method and risk assessment worksheet (if you want the students to write their own methods). A page for observation writing, along with keywords and definitions that could be used. The equipment you will need to be able to complete the lab include: Beakers, measuring cylinders, stirring rods, balance, weight boats, Bunsen burners, tripods, gauze mat, heat proof mat, salt, water. Printouts of the worksheets.

Do your students get nervous using the Bunsen burner the first time? Maybe you are the teacher start getting anxious knowing there is a lab coming up where Bunsen burners are used! Try out my introduction to Bunsen burners activities - with a lab procedure included. These activities give the students the opportunity to earn a Bunsen burner license, having shown you they can act responsibly and work with confidence when using a Bunsen burner. My students were particularly wary of Bunsen burners, especially after the pandemic, they had very few lab skills. This is a nice way to ease them in, and build their confidence - especially when it comes to changing the type of flame used (to start with my students are terrified of touching the collar on the Bunsen!) By giving them a certificate with their Bunsen license at the end of the lesson, we are showing our students trust and ownership over what they can do in the lab - a big step up in responsibility! So, what exactly do you get included in this resource? Optional booklet front page to print out if you want to present it to students as a booklet. An introduction to the Bunsen with some facts, followed by a diagram to label (words included) – this is scaffolded to also have a version with the first letters to help students out (alternatively you could get them to research the names on a device or show them a labelled image on your whiteboard). Top tips for Bunsen safety followed by a match up activity for the different flame colours produced by the Bunsen. Lab procedure for students to follow in order to get their Bunsen burner license. Bunsen burner license certificate (colour and B&W copy). Answers are included for any activities.

When it is back to school time, make sure you engage your students with this fun and easy to prepare introduction to the science lab booklet! The focus of this booklet is to learn the types of lab equipment used, how to set it up safely, and how to use it correctly. Included in this booklet there are 7 different activities: Colouring sheet with lab equipment (these are labelled to introduce students to the names) A lab equipment match up activity (pictures to words) Label the lab equipment activity Bunsen burner set up (cut and stick activity) Lab equipment wordsearch Measuring using lab equipment (mass, volume and temperature) Identify the correct equipment for different tasks activity - to help encourage students to use the correct keywords when describing what they are measuring e.g. measuring the volume of water. All the answers are included for all the worksheets. You will find names and pictures of chemistry lab equipment often used, e.g. Bunsen burners, beakers, test tubes, measuring cylinders, conical flasks, balance etc. By including a lab equipment activity like this one when you start back to school, you are setting students up for success! This booklet contains a range of activities designed to introduce students to the science lab and the lab equipment used. To cater to students of different abilities, I have included a range of activities - use them all to solidify understand or pick and choose what works best for your students!

If you need to review the basics of chemistry then these worksheets for atomic structure are ideal. It covers the atomic structure model, along with the history of the atom. It also covers some aspects of the periodic table. Read on for a full list of all the topics included. My students loved completing this atomic structure worksheet independently. It gave them the freedom to review their knowledge without it being so teacher led. IN THIS RESOURCE YOU WILL FIND: A complete 12 page booklet with an overview of the following topics from AQA GCSE C1: Atomic Structure: o Atoms (label and draw) o Sub-atomic particles and their features o Identifying element symbols, mass and atomic number on the periodic table o Calculating sub-atomic particles of different elements o Drawing electron structure o Isotopes o Calculating relative atomic mass o History of the atom o Elements, compounds and mixtures o Separating mixtures o Periodic table o Group 1 Alkali metals o Group 7 Halogens o Group 0 Noble Gases Further details: This atomic structure worksheet has been designed to be laid out as a booklet. Or they could be treated as separate worksheets. This could also be a perfect sub lesson if you are not in school. Alternatively, this would make a fantastic homework research project set over a week or more. The opportunities are endless with this fun and engaging independent booklet task! ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ If you are looking for some great activities for Biology and Science lessons, then check out the Miss Osmosis Blog. Here you will find research based teaching strategies to help you in your science classroom! If you enjoy this resource, please consider leaving a review.