The following lesson plans were delivered by NTU undergraduate chemistry students in four special schools in Nottinghamshire in January/February 2024. The sessions culminated in pupils showcasing the experiments they had conducted at the Real Science in Schools Symposium 2024, a key event during the Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity.
The project aimed to develop the skills of chemistry students in communicating science, the confidence of teachers in special schools to deliver practical chemistry lessons, and the engagement of pupils attending special schools with practical science, encouraging them to enjoy science experiments and see themselves as scientists.
These resources are welcome to be used by others when delivering practical chemistry. They were delivered to pupils aged between 10 and 18 years old, in special schools supporting children with a wide range of special educational needs. The sessions were delivered with small groups, and equipment was either shared in small groups or each child had their own equipment to conduct their own experiment. This project was funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
