The Ultimate Toolkit: Top Resources for Teaching IBDP Chemistry (New Spec 2025)

Welcome to a brand-new era of IBDP Chemistry! With the 2025 specification now officially in play, educators and students alike are seeking powerful, purposeful, and practical resources that align with the revised curriculum. Whether you're just starting your IB journey or a seasoned teacher ready to revamp your classroom strategy—this curated collection of Chemistry gold is for you. Let’s look into the elements of success, shall we?

1. The Cohesive Chemistry Newsletter & Podcast

For: Timely updates, pedagogical gems & community insight. if you haven’t subscribed to the Cohesive Chemistry newsletter yet, now’s the time. Curated with care, this weekly gem delivers news, exam insights, practical lesson ideas, and updates that align beautifully with the new specification. It feels like having a CPD session drop into your inbox—minus the PowerPoint fatigue!

Get it here: Cohesive Chemistry Newsletter

Chemcat Chemistry

2. Chemcat Chemistry Structured Notes

For: Comprehensive, syllabus-aligned student supportChemCat Chemistry’s structured notes are an absolute win for students. Organized by topic and sub-topic, these notes mirror the new spec and promote active recall. Teachers can also use them to create flipped lessons or guided revision.

Check it out: ChemCat Chemistry Notes

3. Paper 1B Questions + Curriculum Tracker by Jon.HK

For: Data-driven teaching & exam-prep confidenceJon.HK’s resources are like a Swiss Army knife for IB Chemistry teachers. His Paper 1B-style MCQs with worked solutions give students authentic practice. Combine that with the curriculum tracking spreadsheet, and you've got a crystal-clear roadmap for ensuring complete syllabus coverage and identifying gaps.

🧪 Explore here: Jon.HK Resources

4. RSC for Practical Work

For: Visual learners & teachers planning engaging labsStruggling with practical delivery in a tight schedule or limited lab? The Royal Society of Chemistry’s video library is your go-to! These short, focused videos demonstrate key experiments from the new spec—making it easy for students to visualize and understand lab work, even before stepping into the lab.

Watch here: RSC Chemistry Practical Videos

5. Thinking Routines from Harvard Project Zero

For: Deep conceptual understanding & visible thinkingWhen teaching abstract or “hard-to-grasp” topics like bonding, equilibrium, or electrochemistry, using Harvard’s Project Zero Thinking Routines can transform how students engage with content. These routines—such as "See-Think-Wonder", "Claim-Support-Question", and "What Makes You Say That?"—create structured opportunities for students to slow down, reflect, and articulate their thinking.

Try using "Connect-Extend-Challenge" after introducing a new concept or "I used to think… now I think…" during revision. These routines make student thinking visible, encourage metacognition, and fit perfectly into inquiry-driven IB Chemistry classrooms. Access the Thinking Toolbox here: Project Zero Thinking Routines

6. Alchemie Chemistry Interactives

For: Visual + kinesthetic learners exploring mechanismsThe Alchemie platform (www.alchem.ie) is an incredible space for students to explore concepts like molecular geometry, equilibrium, and reaction pathways through intuitive, gamified interfaces. It’s interactive chemistry—but without the mess or confusion. Play around here: Alchemie

 7. Compound Chem Infographics

For: Stunning visuals + contextual chemistryWhat’s better than chemistry? Beautiful chemistry. Compound Chem’s infographics take complex ideas and distill them into one-page masterpieces. Whether it’s periodic trends, organic mechanisms, or spectroscopy, there’s an infographic for it—and they look great on classroom walls too.

📊 Visualize it here: Compound Chem

The IBDP Chemistry course is a challenging but beautiful exploration of the molecular world. With these curated resources, you'll have the confidence to spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and help students thrive in this dynamic new specification.

Let’s bring Chemistry to life—one proton at a time.

What are YOUR go-to resources for IB Chemistry 2025? Drop a comment or share your favorite tools below!