KS3 Science Bunsen burner practical: parts, flames and a fair test. Editable Year 7 PowerPoint with retrieval starter, answers and technician Equipment Request slide.

About this lesson

Lesson 4 of 8 in the Year 7 Working Scientifically unit. Pupils label the parts of a Bunsen burner, explain why an open air hole makes a hotter flame, and measure how long water takes to heat with each flame.

Built into every lesson

• Retrieval starter: five questions check the prior knowledge pupils need for the lesson (answers in the notes)
• A concrete, surprising hook to get pupils talking
• Learning objectives pupils can act on, each with a ‘Show it’ task
• Formative assessment throughout: checks, hinge question, plenary and exit ticket
• Common misconceptions targeted: a hidden teacher slide and hinge questions from documented KS3 misconceptions
• Command words always come with a sentence starter or writing frame
• Four Tier 3 key words, with pronunciation and warnings about everyday meanings
• Booklet task slides, each followed by an expected-answers slide, so all the answers are in this PowerPoint
• Interactive tools made specifically for these lessons: selected lessons link from the slides to an ‘Explore’ tool and a ‘Check it’ tool that build and check understanding. They match each lesson’s content and level, not generic web activities
• Written for KS3 reading levels: one short idea per bullet
• Fully editable PowerPoint (the lesson only: the printable workbook is a separate, paid resource)
• Practical lesson: includes a Predict-Observe-Explain box, results table and a hidden Equipment Request slide for your technician (kit code WS-L4-P1)

The full series

This lesson is part of a complete KS3 Science series that follows Activate 1 and 2, covering Years 7 and 8. Lessons carry their Activate topic code. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Oxford University Press. Practical lessons include an Equipment Request slide for your technician.

What is free and what is paid

• Lesson 1 (Safety in the Lab) is FREE. This lesson is £2.50.
• The Scheme of Work (SoW) that goes with these resources is FREE.
• The Working Scientifically student workbook is NOT free and is NOT included in this lesson. It holds the pages pupils write in when the slides say ‘Turn to Page…’, and is sold separately for £5.00 per topic. It is designed to cut down copying from the board, so lesson time goes on checking understanding.
• A Practical Requisition Database is sold separately for £5.00. It makes requesting practicals and demos with your technicians seamless.
• Save on the whole topic: all eight lesson PowerPoints plus the workbook are available together as a bundle for £15, about a third off.

Last updated: October 2026 (first release).