Chemistry Week 2024

This year’s Chemistry Week is a perfect chance for schools across the UK to explore the important role chemistry has in shaping all of our futures. Held annually by the Royal Society of Chemistry, this year’s theme - Chemistry is Shaping the Future - focuses on how chemistry is helping to create a cleaner, healthier world through advancements in sustainable materials, nutrition, medicine and energy. This theme is a great entry point for pupils across all key stages to understand how chemistry affects our daily lives, health and future careers. 

For all of our teachers who use Developing Experts to deliver science lessons, this week - and the rest of November - is a great opportunity to focus on core chemistry topics and connect them to real-world issues in a way that excites and engages pupils from EYFS through to KS4. Below are some ways that you can get started. 

Focusing on chemistry in the classroom 

EYFS: Introduce your pupils to simple scientific concepts through sensory activities. You could focus on creating simple mixtures like bubbles or slime, where the children can explore textures and changes in materials. Activities like this can be found in our EYFS unit on Materials. 

Key Stage 1: In KS1, pupils could investigate materials and their properties by looking at natural and synthetic materials and considering where these come from. You can find several units on materials and their properties in our Year 1 and Year 2 topics. Another simple activity could involve sorting recyclables, introducing the concept of sustainable materials and their role in protecting the planet.

Key Stage 2: Have your KS2 pupils take a closer look at sustainability by discussing how chemistry is used to create clean air and water solutions. A great practical activity could include creating a water filter using natural materials to demonstrate how filtration works, bringing in curriculum links to separating mixtures and understanding properties of materials.

Key Stage 3: Engage KS3 pupils with discussions on how chemistry affects climate change, energy and the environment. You could create an experiment around electrolysis or explore how renewable energy is produced, connecting to matter, chemical reactions and the Earth’s resources. 

Key Stage 4: With KS4 pupils, consider focusing on careers in chemistry, showing how the subject drives innovation in fields from medicine to green technology. Developing Experts’ career and expert films are a great way to introduce your pupils to industries where chemistry plays an important role. You can have a look at all the industries we partner with by visiting our sponsor page. 

Chemistry Week is a great time to explore the wide range of careers available in the chemical sciences. By discussing real-world contexts and careers, you and your pupils can explore fields like clean energy, environmental science and pharmaceutical research.