Model a Chemical Reaction in Everyday Terms

Strengthen understanding of chemical reactions using relatable analogies.

Teaching Context:
Best for Year 10 Chemistry during the introduction to chemical reactions and balancing equations.

Basic AI Prompt:
Explain a chemical reaction using a real life example, like cooking or rusting.

Enhanced AI Prompt:
Imagine you are helping a Year 10 student understand chemical reactions. Use a real life analogy, like baking a cake or iron rusting, to explain the idea of reactants turning into products. Make it simple but accurate, and highlight what changes during the reaction.

Spice it Up (Optional Extension):
Ask the AI to write a comic script or infographic outline that visualises the reaction.

Lesson Implementation:
Begin with a relatable example of a reaction, such as baking. Discuss what goes in and what comes out. Students use the AI prompt to see how that analogy links to reactants and products. Give students cards labelled with “reactant” or “product” to physically sort a range of reactions.

Ask them to read their AI response and identify key language about change. They then create a visual to communicate the process, either on paper or using Canva. For assessment, students choose a different real life reaction to explain in their own words using the same structure. This supports conceptual understanding with everyday language and creative output.

Got ideas on different ways to use this prompt? Share them with the class in the comments below!

Also, if you liked this, you'll love the thousands of subject-specific prompts in our books section!