From January 2017 we’ll have a new education resource ‘theme’ to share with teachers across the UK and Ireland. 

Each school term we team up with our regional Education Coordinators to share and promote a handful of resources and tools for teaching chemistry in line with a particular theme. Previous themes have included ‘Bring your own device’, ‘Practical skills and assessment’, and ‘Space’. We publish the theme as a cardboard bookmark – a keepsake with links to five key resources.

 


Our Spring 2017 theme will be ‘Inspiring young scientists’, and for the first time we’ll focus on Primary and Key Stage 3 (and equivalent) chemistry. The theme lists five resources selected from over 160 in Learn Chemistry, and includes a link to the whole set, now complete with rich supporting information to help teachers make better use of our resources for primary teachers.

Here they are:

• Science ideas webs. Connect the dots between science and history, from the Stone Age to the Space Age. 
• Concept cartoons. Introduce young scientists to a fun new way of thinking and talking about key chemistry ideas, from Millgate House Education.
• Demonstration videos. Make a lava lamp, race raisins, and much more – without the need for lab equipment!
• The perfect warm up. Inspire your students to investigate reusable and disposable hand warmers by making their own. 
• Let’s talk… primary science. Encourage constructive talk and lead children to investigative activities with the help of these videos. 

To access well over 100 primary resources (including those listed above), with supporting information and curriculum links, visit Learn Chemistry. 

All our theme resources are free to access on Learn Chemistry, but if you want one of our lovely bookmarks you’ve two options:

1. Ask your local Education Coordinator.
2. Download, print, and guillotine your own.

I think you should choose option 1. Our coordinators are experts in science education and outreach, and will be making particular efforts to support primary teachers in 2017.

Enjoy!

Want to increase your confidence in teaching chemistry? Looking for fresh ideas for difficult topics?

From 5–7 January 2017 we will be at the ASE annual conference at the University of Reading. Whether you’re a specialist or non-specialist chemistry teacher, we would love to see you there.

We are running bite-sized professional development sessions on our exhibition stand. Each session lasts only 15 minutes and will be repeated multiple times throughout the event. There will be lots of opportunities to fit in time for discovering exciting new ideas for your classroom practice.

The sessions are:

• Discover out of this world materials science (Key Stages 1–3)
  Have a go at a new idea for a science practical which is easily sourced and affordable.
• How can I tackle misconceptions with scientific models? (Key Stages 3–4)
  Try a hands on activity you can use to introduce scientific models to your students.
• How can I enhance my GCSE practical teaching?
  Learn more about the benefits of screen experiments for pre and post lab support
• Bringing hands-on spectroscopy to your A-level classroom
  Take part in a spectroscopy in a suitcase workshop and find out more about how you can use it with your students.

The exhibition is free to attend, so come and see us on stand C33 to find out more.