• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Elements and their symbols). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. What is the chemical symbol for lithium? (Lt / Li / H / He) → LiPrompt: Symbols have one capital letter, sometimes followed by a small letter.
2. Which element has the symbol B? (argon / carbon / boron / lead) → boronPrompt: Some symbols come from Latin names: Fe (ferrum), Cu (cuprum), Na (natrium), K (kalium), Ag (argentum), Au (aurum), Pb (plumbum).
3. Type the chemical symbol for tin. Use a capital letter, then a small letter if needed. → SnPrompt: It may come from the Latin name.

• Show the periodic table and ask what patterns students can see before anything is explained.
• Share the objective: Elements, compounds and mixtures. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Is water (H₂O) an element, a compound or a mixture?
• Step 1: A compound has two or more elements chemically joined in fixed proportions.
• Step 2: So the answer is: compound
• Answer: compound
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Is carbon dioxide (CO₂) an element, a compound or a mixture? (element / compound / mixture) → compoundPrompt: How many types of atom are there?
2. How many elements are there in water, H₂O? (1 / 3 / 4 / 2) → 2Prompt: Count the different symbols, not the atoms.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Elements and compounds: which statement is NOT true? (Mixtures can be separated by physical methods such as filtering. / Water is an element. / Air is a mixture. / A compound contains two or more elements chemically joined.) → Water is an element.Prompt: Is water made of one kind of atom?
2. Sodium is a reactive metal and chlorine is a poisonous gas. What is sodium chloride like? (a poisonous gas / table salt, which is safe to eat in small amounts / exactly like sodium / a shiny metal) → table salt, which is safe to eat in small amountsPrompt: A compound can be very different from its elements.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-6.