This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Chemistry GCSE, particularly the ‘Chemical changes’ SoW.
 
The lesson begins with an worked example of how to balance equations, after this pupils are asked to complete a fill-in-the-blank task to summarize the importance of balancing equations. This work can be assessed using the answers provided on the PowerPoint presentation.
 
There are two further worked examples for the teacher to go through using the PowerPoint presentation, pupils will specifically look at the number of atoms of each element on each side of the equation to decide whether it is balanced or not. If it is not balanced then the class can discuss how to go about balancing it and pupils can attempt to answer the problems.
 
The next worksheet is a set of equations, for each one the student must add up the number of atoms of each element on each side of the equation to decide if the equation is balanced or not. If it is not balanced students can have a go at balancing it, pupils can self-assess their work using the answers provided on the PowerPoint presentation. Finally pupils can have a go at balancing a list of equations, again the answers will be provided for pupils to assess their work.
 
The next part of the lesson pupils will look at reacting masses, pupils will be shown how they can use a balanced symbol equation to work out the reacting masses Pupils will be shown a worked example first, then be given the steps that they need to carry out the calculations themselves. Pupils will then be given a worksheet of problems to work their way through, this work can be self-assessed using the answers in the PowerPoint presentation.
 
Pupils will then be given a set of slightly harder problems to work through, these can be skipped for lower ability classes but would be useful to higher ability classes.
 
The last part of the lesson focuses on teaching students to use the masses of reactants to work out the balanced symbol equation for a reaction. Again, pupils are shown a worked example and given a set of steps to help them to complete the problems themselves. They will then be given a worksheet to complete a set of problems.
 
The plenary task requires students to write a twitter message on what they have learned about quantitative chemistry.