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Materials chemistry
Classroom resources featuring activities from our Materials Chemistry professional development course for teachers
This collection is most valuable to those who have attended this course and wish to put into practice with their students some of the ideas and activities presented as part of that event. Please note that this list is not exhaustive; not all trainer activities have a corresponding classroom resource. In some circumstances there is variation between the training resource and classroom resource.
Carbon nanotubes grown using kitchen chemicals
Cheap compounds found in kitchen cupboards can act as catalysts for making carbon nanotubes
Nanotubes make Kevlar armour smarter
Conducting composite senses damage and stiffens on impact
Modern applications
Inspirational chemistry book chapter ‘Modern applications’. This chapter suggests games, activities, practicals and demonstrations for teaching various topics, such as observing reactions, making new medicines and composite materials.
Modelling alloys with plasticine
Try this class activity to explore how alloying can be used to change the properties of a metal. Includes kit list and teaching notes.
Cross-linking polymers – alginate worms
With a collection of equipment easy to find in your classroom, learners can form alginate polymer ‘worms’ and explore cross-linking polymers
Identifying polymers by density
Investigate and identify a variety of polymers used in everyday materials by testing their density in this practical. Includes kit list and safety instructions.
The plastic that came out of thin air
The story of Roy Plunkett and the discovery of Teflon® (polytetrafluoroethene) can be used to show that many things in science were discovered accidentally.
Plastics challenge
Links to Practical Action’s plastics challenge, where students develop products from recycled objects, as a possible way of tackling environmental problems caused by plastic waste.
Nanotechnology
The Inspirational chemistry chapter ‘Nanotechnology’. This chapter suggests games, activities, practicals and demonstrations for teaching various topics, including ways that nanotechnology can improve our everyday lives.
Chemical misconceptions II: Iron - a metal
Judge the veracity of twenty statements about one of the most familiar examples of a metal, iron, and understand more about its structure.
Starters for 10: Advanced level 1 (16–18)
This chapter in our Starters for ten series covers quantitative chemistry, atomic structure, bonding, trends in the periodic table, organic chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, redox, analysis and experimental skills.
Rusting: a lateral thinking problem | 11–14 years
Learners apply their knowledge of rusting in the context of shipwrecks. A lateral thinking exercise and planning an investigation will help them develop higher-order skills.
Polymer puzzles
This activity is designed to develop the students’ higher order thinking – particularly critical thinking skills – in the context of problem solving. It should help students to recall the facts about some common polymers.