Paul Preece at Camborne Science and Community College demonstrates the classic combustion experiment with a candle in a sealed bell jar. By putting carbon dioxide, oxygen and humidity sensors inside the jar as the candle burns, pupils can see for themselves exactly what's happening inside the jar, as the three graphs are projected in real time on the whiteboard. In this complete lesson, Paul leads up to the demonstration by introducing his Year 7s to the concept of chemical reactions and to the combustion process itself. This activity was one of several that contributed to a joint ASE/BECTA project exploring how the creative use of ICT in the classroom can support traditionally 'hard to teach' science topics. This is an extended version of one of the lessons featured in 'Hard to Teach - Secondary Science Using ICT' - see http://www.teachers.tv/video/34483

Video Series: Hard To Teach
Release Date 2009