Catherine Smith
Catherine is chemistry lead at The Hinckley School, an 11–18 academy in Leicestershire. She has taught for nearly 20 years in the state sector and has had many roles, including advanced skills teacher and head of science. In 2011/12, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) appointed Catherine as a school teacher fellow to the University of Leicester where she worked on projects to support the transition from A-level to undergraduate chemistry studies. During this time, she co-authored the popular Starter for 10 activities and the series of Problem based practicals. Catherine has been a coach on the RSC ITT Scholarship programme since the RSC first established it and is perhaps best known for her love of the methane rocket demonstration.
Games and puzzlesAtoms, molecules and ions 4-in-a-line
Match the symbol or the particle diagram to the type of particle it represents. Get 4-in-a-line to win!
ResourceDecision tree: what type of bonding? | 14–16 years
Use this decision tree to help your learners find answers to questions about structure and bonding by scaffolding their thinking
IdeasScaffold learning with decision trees
Help students unravel complex topics with a decision tree – a visual support you can gradually remove
ResourceDecision tree: acid, base or buffer? | 16–18 years
Help learners understand which equation they need to answer questions about acids, bases and buffers by scaffolding their thinking
CPD articleHow to teach solubility at 14–16
Concentrate learners’ minds on the key aspects of solutions
CPD articleTeaching isomerism at post-16
Ensure your students succeed with structural and stereoisomerism
ResourceA practical investigation of cis-trans isomerism in transition metal complexes
Investigate isomerism in transition metal complexes with this experiment, including pre- and post-lab questions
CPD articleTeaching structure and bonding in metals at 14–16
Help your learners to master the fundamentals of metallic bonding
PosterHow to teach the Earth’s structure for younger students
Get to the core of the Earth’s composition with this poster, fact sheet and classroom activity
ResourcePatient prognosis | Problem based practical activities
Dilution, colorimetry and observation skills come together to get students to adapt their chemical knowledge to support medicine.
ResourceCompound confusion | Problem based practical activities
Explore the use of analytical methods and empirical formula to identify unlabelled chemicals.
ResourceCool drinking | Problem based practical activities
Support students to discover the correct chemical compound to achieve a desired effect on a product, in this case a drinks container.
ResourceIodination inquiry | Problem based practical activities
Gather data and determine the rate equations for certain reactions with this class practical.
ResourceAcid erosion | Problem based practical activities
Remember to brush up on acid erosion with this experiment into the effects of different acid concentrates on tooth enamel
ResourceCoursework conundrum | Problem based practical activities
Explore the oxidation of alcohols and carboxylic acids, to help a student in this experiment scenario
ResourceAlcohol detective | Problem based practical activities
Students use distillation to purify two samples of fake vodka seized by the local police, and impart an important lesson on chemistry and alcohol.
ResourceA little gas | Problem based practical activities
Students will review the use of computer simulations in sixth form chemistry, writing for science magazine ’The Mole’
ResourceCleaning solutions | Problem based practical activities
Compare household chemicals and make a recommendation for the best bleach to an advertising agency.
ResourceCarbonate rocks | Problem based practical activities
Using mass change experiments and visual inspection, students must identify four unknown metal carbonates.
PosterEverything you need to teach fractional distillation
With this poster and classroom activity, your 14–16 students will soon be experts