Chemistry is tough, and sometimes students think they have to tackle it all on their own. But the truth is, science is a collaborative discipline. Researchers, lab partners, and entire teams of scientists work together to solve big problems every day. Encouraging teamwork in your classroom not only builds stronger chemistry skills but also helps students practice communication, problem-solving, and resilience.
If you’re looking for ways to get your students working together productively, here are some tried and true strategies.
Lab Activities
Labs are the most natural place for teamwork to shine. By working in pairs or small groups, students practice dividing responsibilities, communicating clearly, and checking each other’s work for accuracy. You can assign roles (like safety officer, materials manager, recorder, and presenter) to keep everyone engaged and accountable. I’m really not a fan of assigning roles. I’m more of a “let them figure it out” kind of teacher. But for that reason, I often let my students choose their own lab partners.
Group Quizzes
Want to lower the stress of assessments while boosting collaboration? Try a group quiz. Students work together to solve problems, explain their reasoning, and come to a consensus on the best answer. It’s a great way to encourage peer teaching; when one student explains a concept to another, everyone’s understanding gets stronger.I have different rules for my group quizzes depending on how things are going in class. The rules vary from 5 minutes with a partner to a full quiz with the whole class. You can read more about that and other ways I balance rigor and grace in the chemistry classroom.
Quick Practice Worksheets
Every one of my lessons comes with a Quick Practice worksheet, designed for fast, targeted reinforcement. They’re just a few questions on the topic students would have JUST learned in your class. Which is why group work is perfect for these worksheets! Teaching helps students to LEARN the content. When they talk to each other, they are more likely to retain the information. Because the worksheets are short and focused, they make collaboration approachable without feeling overwhelming. Plus some of them have a bit of fun flair to them, like being logic puzzles or color by number worksheets.
Unit Review Sessions
Before a test, bring your students together for a structured unit review. In my classroom, there’s lots of ways that we review. We either play finger lights, Jeopardy, Blooket, or some other game. I have a ton in my Google Drive (that I’ll eventually get to TPT – I promise!)
The easiest thing to do is to bring out all the activities you’ve done throughout the unit and do them again. That means break out those card sorts, task cards, pixel art activities, and secret puzzles out again. Nothing wrong with using your materials again! In fact, it’s one of the ways more seasoned teachers “get it all done.” Usually I’ll take EVERYTHING out and give students the choice to review what they want or need. They’ll team up with their friends usually, but I encourage them to pair up with students who need the same practice they do. When students review together, they catch gaps in their own understanding and build confidence heading into tests.
Study Groups
Encourage your students to form study groups outside of class. You can support this by giving them tips on how to structure a study session. I like to encourage quizzing each other with flashcards, redoing classwork problems, or teaching one concept to the group. Short study sessions with peers can go a long way toward reinforcing content.
Collaborative Games and Puzzles
Team-based games (like my chemistry mystery activities or an escape room) add a layer of fun to collaboration. Students work together to solve linked questions or uncover clues, which makes learning feel like a challenge instead of a chore. These activities are perfect for days when you want to review content without another lecture, or when you’re not feeling 100% and you want your students to take the lead for the day.
Final Thoughts
Getting students to work together in chemistry class isn’t just about getting through an activity. It’s about helping students see that learning science is a shared experience. By incorporating labs, group quizzes, Quick Practice worksheets, review sessions, study groups, and collaborative games, you’ll create a classroom culture where students feel supported by both you and each other.
When students learn to lean on their peers, they don’t just master the content. They build the confidence and collaboration skills they’ll carry long past your classroom. And that’s what it’s all about, right? Because if you’re really honest with yourself, you know your students won’t really be using this chemistry knowledge when they’re grown. But the skills of logic, discernment, and problem solving they learn in your class will carry on for years to come.
