Helen Harden
Helen is a former head of chemistry at an 11–18 comprehensive school. She has an in-depth understanding of the science curriculum from primary through to secondary level with a specialist focus on chemistry. Helen has developed award winning resources and currently provides curriculum consultancy and resource development services to UK-based and international organisations.
Helen was formerly the chemistry lead for the University of York's Best Evidence Science Teaching (BEST) project. Her extensive reading of the chemistry education research literature on misconceptions informs much of her work today.
Helen is an active member and former chair of the Association for Science Education. She is currently commissioning editor of ASE’s School Science Review journal. Helen is also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and was a member of the 11–16 Curriculum and Assessment Working Group.
ResourceDiffusion and chemical reactions | Developing understanding | 11–14
Use this worksheet to deepen understanding of diffusion and chemical reactions and how these processes are represented
ResourceDiffusion and dissolving | Developing understanding | 11–14
Deepen learners’ understanding of diffusion and dissolving with this worksheet exploring different conceptual levels of thinking
ResourceMelting and boiling points | Developing understanding | 11–14
Deepen understanding of melting and boiling points and how these are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
ResourceSolutions | Developing understanding | 11–14
Encourage learners to deepen their understanding of solutions and how they are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
ResourceStates of matter | Developing understanding | 11–14 years
Encourage learners to deepen their understanding of states of matter and how they are represented at different conceptual levels of thinking
ResourceAtoms and isotopes | Developing understanding | 14–16
Encourage learners to deepen their understanding of isotopes from the macroscopic to sub-microscopic level
ResourceAtoms and ions | Developing understanding | 14–16 years
Encourage learners to think about how atoms and ions are represented and what this means at the sub-microscopic level
ResourceAtomic structure | Developing understanding | 14–16 years
Encourage learners to think about how the atomic structure is represented and what this means at the sub-microscopic level
ResourceCovalent bonding | Developing understanding | 14–16 years
Develop learners’ understanding of the size and shape of covalent structures by interpreting a range of diagrams and models
ResourceIonic bonding | Developing understanding | 14–16 years
Develop learners’ understanding of ionic lattices through comparing 2D and 3D representations
ResourceMetallic bonding | Developing understanding | 14–16
Develop learners’ sub-microscopic understanding by interpreting a range of models used to represent metallic structure and metal ions
ResourceCarbon allotropes | Developing understanding | 14–16
Encourage learners to think about how different structures of carbon are represented and what this means at the sub-microscopic level
OpinionLearning about women chemists is an entitlement
The contributions of women to chemistry should be written into the core chemistry curriculums, says Helen Harden
CPD articleHow to teach chemical energetics
Exothermic reactions go beyond simply combustion – use these tips to boost student understanding of energy transfer
IdeasAvoid the pitfalls of language
Help students learn the difference between everyday and chemistry vocabulary
