NZ Curriculum · Year 7 Chemistry · Intermediate

Year 7 Chemistry Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

The Material World (chemistry) unit from our Year 7 New Zealand Curriculum science lesson plan: particle model and mixtures. Week-by-week lessons for 1, 2, 3 or 4 lessons a week, showing when each pace covers this unit; a dash means that pace is on a different science unit that week. For the full year, see the Year 7 Science lesson plan.

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Year 7 Chemistry learning map

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1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice

February · Particle model and mixtures

Year 7 Chemistry — February Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · Material World

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week	4 Day/Week
February 1st week (Chemistry)	Introduction to Particle Theory 1. The 3 states of matter (solid, liquid, gas)	Introduction to Particle Theory 1. The 3 states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) 2. How particles are arranged in each state	Introduction to Particle Theory 1. The 3 states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) 2. How particles are arranged in each state 3. How particles move in each state	Introduction to Particle Theory 1. The 3 states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) 2. How particles are arranged in each state 3. How particles move in each state Particle Motion & Attraction 1. How the motion of particles differs between states
February 2nd week (Chemistry)	Introduction to Particle Theory 1. How particles are arranged in each state	Introduction to Particle Theory 1. How particles move in each state Particle Motion & Attraction 1. How the motion of particles differs between states	Particle Motion & Attraction 1. How the motion of particles differs between states 2. Forces of attraction between particles and how they differ between states 3. Practice: sketching particle diagrams showing arrangement, motion and attraction for each state	Particle Motion & Attraction 1. Forces of attraction between particles and how they differ between states 2. Practice: sketching particle diagrams showing arrangement, motion and attraction for each state Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. How particle arrangement/motion/attraction explain a substance's properties (e.g. why gases can be compressed but solids can't) 2. Changes of state explained using particle theory
February 3rd week (Chemistry)	Introduction to Particle Theory 1. How particles move in each state	Particle Motion & Attraction 1. Forces of attraction between particles and how they differ between states 2. Practice: sketching particle diagrams showing arrangement, motion and attraction for each state	Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. How particle arrangement/motion/attraction explain a substance's properties (e.g. why gases can be compressed but solids can't) 2. Changes of state explained using particle theory 3. Practice: explaining a real substance's properties using particle theory	Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. Practice: explaining a real substance's properties using particle theory Investigating Particle Theory 1. Planning and conducting an investigation into a particle-theory phenomenon (e.g. diffusion, expansion) 2. Recording and representing the results Pure Substances vs Mixtures 1. What a pure substance is (element or compound)
February 4th week (Chemistry)	Particle Motion & Attraction 1. How the motion of particles differs between states	Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. How particle arrangement/motion/attraction explain a substance's properties (e.g. why gases can be compressed but solids can't) 2. Changes of state explained using particle theory	Investigating Particle Theory 1. Planning and conducting an investigation into a particle-theory phenomenon (e.g. diffusion, expansion) 2. Recording and representing the results Pure Substances vs Mixtures 1. What a pure substance is (element or compound)	Pure Substances vs Mixtures 1. What a mixture is 2. Using the particle model to explain the difference between pure substances and mixtures 3. Practice: classifying real substances as pure or a mixture, using particle diagrams Types of Mixtures 1. Solutions (solute + solvent)

March · Particle model and mixtures

Year 7 Chemistry — March Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · Material World

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week	4 Day/Week
March 1st week (Chemistry)	Particle Motion & Attraction 1. Forces of attraction between particles and how they differ between states	Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. Practice: explaining a real substance's properties using particle theory Investigating Particle Theory 1. Planning and conducting an investigation into a particle-theory phenomenon (e.g. diffusion, expansion)	Pure Substances vs Mixtures 1. What a mixture is 2. Using the particle model to explain the difference between pure substances and mixtures 3. Practice: classifying real substances as pure or a mixture, using particle diagrams	Types of Mixtures 1. Suspensions and colloids 2. Practice: identifying real mixtures as solutions, suspensions or colloids Properties That Allow Mixture Separation 1. Properties used to separate mixtures (particle size, boiling point, solubility, magnetism) 2. Matching a property to the separation technique it enables
March 2nd week (Chemistry)	Particle Motion & Attraction 1. Practice: sketching particle diagrams showing arrangement, motion and attraction for each state	Investigating Particle Theory 1. Recording and representing the results Pure Substances vs Mixtures 1. What a pure substance is (element or compound)	Types of Mixtures 1. Solutions (solute + solvent) 2. Suspensions and colloids 3. Practice: identifying real mixtures as solutions, suspensions or colloids	Separation Techniques 1. Filtration and sieving 2. Evaporation and distillation 3. Chromatography and magnetic separation 4. Practice: choosing and justifying a separation technique for a given mixture
March 3rd week (Chemistry)	Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. How particle arrangement/motion/attraction explain a substance's properties (e.g. why gases can be compressed but solids can't)	Pure Substances vs Mixtures 1. What a mixture is 2. Using the particle model to explain the difference between pure substances and mixtures	Properties That Allow Mixture Separation 1. Properties used to separate mixtures (particle size, boiling point, solubility, magnetism) 2. Matching a property to the separation technique it enables Separation Techniques 1. Filtration and sieving	Applying Separation — Investigation 1. Planning and conducting an investigation to separate a real mixture, including a risk assessment 2. Recording and analysing the results Term 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — particle theory and states of matter 2. Revision workshop — mixtures, pure substances and separation techniques
March 4th week (Chemistry)	Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. Changes of state explained using particle theory	Pure Substances vs Mixtures 1. Practice: classifying real substances as pure or a mixture, using particle diagrams Types of Mixtures 1. Solutions (solute + solvent)	Separation Techniques 1. Evaporation and distillation 2. Chromatography and magnetic separation 3. Practice: choosing and justifying a separation technique for a given mixture	Term 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Term 1 assessment: particle model and mixtures topic test 2. Feedback session

April · Particle model and mixtures

Year 7 Chemistry — April Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · Material World

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week	4 Day/Week
April 1st week (Chemistry)	Relating Particle Behaviour to Properties 1. Practice: explaining a real substance's properties using particle theory	Types of Mixtures 1. Suspensions and colloids 2. Practice: identifying real mixtures as solutions, suspensions or colloids	Applying Separation — Investigation 1. Planning and conducting an investigation to separate a real mixture, including a risk assessment 2. Recording and analysing the results Term 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — particle theory and states of matter	—
April 2nd week (Chemistry)	Investigating Particle Theory 1. Planning and conducting an investigation into a particle-theory phenomenon (e.g. diffusion, expansion)	Properties That Allow Mixture Separation 1. Properties used to separate mixtures (particle size, boiling point, solubility, magnetism) 2. Matching a property to the separation technique it enables	Term 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — mixtures, pure substances and separation techniques 2. Term 1 assessment: particle model and mixtures topic test 3. Feedback session	—

The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Recall and connect

Open with retrieval questions that link the week’s topic to earlier learning and a real New Zealand context.

25 minutes

Model and investigate

Work through the science with diagrams, models and worked examples, then plan, carry out or analyse a short investigation.

10 minutes

Check for mastery

Close with assessment-style questions that show what is secure and what to revisit next lesson.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 7 Chemistry

Concept lessons

Clear, visual lessons on each New Zealand Curriculum chemistry topic.

Practice activities

Short questions and checks matched to each week’s focus.

Science inquiry

Investigation, observation and recording skills built into each unit.

Progress notes

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