I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
A PDF worksheet of a dichotomous key to identify invertebrates. This can be used as an independent learning task where students can work through the clues in the key.
Answer sheet included.
Lesson 1 covers the CNS, receptors and responses. It also introduces neurones and their role.
Lesson 2 covers synapses and their structure/role in the nervous system
Lesson 3 looks at the 3 types of neurones found in the CNS which will link into reflex arc
Lesson 4 looks at the Reflex arc
There are activities and assessments in each of the power point. There are also questions to generate a class discussion and check points.
A power point lesson which guides students through data in the form of carbon dioxide levels; global temperature; rising sea levels and glacial melting.
Students gain practice in data analysis which is vital in this module. There are also a series of exam questions with answers to support their understanding.
This lesson links with Edexcel IAL Unit 4
Edexcel Spec link 6.7 (i) (ii)
An introduction to how bacteria are able to spread from one person to another. We then look at how the body protects itself against pathogen entry. This is a circus activity where students gather information from around the room (cards provided). Finally we research how bacteria cause the disease with endotoxins and exotoxins.
Edexcel Specification 6.17 - 6.19
Two lessons which takes students through the process of how the polymerase chain reaction works and how gel electrophoresis can produces banding patterns.
There are opportunities for class discussion and tasks for the students to complete. I have also included a video which discusses DNA fingerprinting.
2 lessons focusing on the process of fertilisation in mammals including the acrosome and cortical reaction. In plants, formation of the pollen tube and then double fertilisation.
Activities include video, diagrams and exam style questions.
An A3 PDF worksheet which summarises each of the core practical methods to gain 5 marks in the first question on unit 3. It also supports the experimental design question in unit 1 and unit 2
I have also included the biotic and abiotic factors to control, where appropriate, and the effect of not controlling this on the experiment.
A practical investigation that enables students to determine whether light intensity affects the population of plants in 2 areas, one being shaded and the other with light. Students randomly generate coordinates for an area marked out. I have suggested using 2 tape measures at right angles. Quadrats are then placed at the sites and the plants are counted. Students then use the data to estimate the total plant population.
Practical activity - Investigating the changes in the population of a plant species along an environmental gradient. Transect samples are taken systematically in a linear pattern. In this investigation, you will use an interrupted belt transect to investigate the effect of the increase in height (altitude on a hill).
Students record their results in the table and plot a scatter graph. A conclusion can then be drawn using their results.
2 worksheets focusing on the role of carbohydrates in biological organisms including how they are formed and the different structures they form.
Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.
Exam-style questions and answers included.
A pdf worksheet which focuses on the need for nitrate and magnesium ions by a plant. Students should know how both water and mineral ions pass into the plant (osmosis and active transport).
The worksheet contains exam-style questions with an answer sheet.
Suitable for in class activity; homework; research task.
A level Biology topic focusing on gene technology.
This unit includes:
the principles of genetic technology
the tools and techniques available to the genetic engineer
explaining the use of microarrays
outline the use of bioinformatics in sequencing genomes
describe examples of the uses of genetic technology in medicine and agriculture
Pros and Cons of GMO
In this unit includes powerpoint lessons, worksheets, videos and discussion/debate tasks.
The unit contains 4 lessons but this can be increased if you would like more time on a particular aspect e.g. debate.
This is an interactive lesson focusing on the different methods used by forensic scientists to determine the time of death.
This includes:
Algor mortis (body temperature)
Rigor mortis (muscle contraction)
Livor mortis (colour of skin after death)
Entomology (study of insects)
Decomposition
Students click on each link to gain information about each method. The information is in the form of text, diagrams and videos.
Students can summarise this information in their notes if the teacher wishes.
The students are then given information about 5 deceased people and the state of the body when found.
Working in pairs or groups, students use the information to predict and approximate the time of death (they are given a current time and work backwards).
A3 REVISION MATS FOR EDEXCEL BIOLOGY UNIT 5
SUITABLE FOR BOTH A LEVEL AND INTERNATIONAL A LEVEL.
ANSWER SHEET INCLUDED.
THESE RESOURCES HAVE HELPED MY STUDENTS LEARN THE TOPICS AND THEN APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE TO EXAM QUESTIONS.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
MUSCLE
NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION
TYPES OF FIBRE
STRUCTURE OF A NEURONE
CHANGES IN MEMBRANE POTENTIAL
SYNAPSES AND NEUROTRANSMITTERS
BRAIN STRUCTURE
BRAIN SCANS
BRAIN DISORDERS
CONTROL OF HEART RATE
CONTROL OF BREATHING RATE
THERMOREGULATION
A PDF file with tasks that cover the key information studied regarding Biological Molecules including structure, names of bonds formed and types of reaction.
Activities include basic exam questions focusing on structure and properties; crossword to consolidate learning of vocabulary; match name to structure activity.
Answer sheet included
Welcome aboard the Midnight Express, an opulent vintage train renowned for its luxurious journeys across picturesque landscapes.
However, tonight’s journey takes an unexpected turn when Mrs. Boucheron, a wealthy socialite, is found murdered in her cabin.
As the train hurtles through the night, suspicion falls on the eight eclectic passengers. You are the detective who must solve the mystery and identify the killer before the train reaches its final destination.
The story runs alongside tasks to test students’ knowledge and understanding of the immune system (specific and non-specific responses)
The escape room is interactive. Students can move objects and click on them to reveal clues. No handouts are required but scrap paper is useful as some clues need to be written down and rearranged.
There are gentle hints at the top of each page but students should click around the whole room to move or reveal clues.
It is important clues are solved as they are required to pass to the next page.
The escape room is a great end-of-topic task to check student´s understanding in a novel way.
What is a digital escape room?
Digital Escape rooms are interactive activities that promote individual learning and peer collaboration through problem-solving. Each escape room has a range of activities to challenge the students while also covering the specification. This means they are an excellent resource to use as a revision tool. All of the activities are online, eliminating the need for printing materials.
How does the escape room work?
Students will be given a link to access the digital escape room. You do not need to provide an email address or a Google account to access the material. Escape rooms can be completed on laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, so they can be set as homework or used in cover lessons.
Starting the Task
• Give students the link to the escape room
• Students can enjoy working through the challenges with a partner but they can be completed alone.
• Students will need to look closely at the images. Some objects can be moved to reveal clues, other need to be clicked on.
• There is a teacher answer sheet provided if you need to guide students.
A formative assessment task which can take 2 lessons or be set as a homework. I set this before the end of topic test to allow students time to clarify the ideas behind the unit. Students can use their text books and tablets but the work must be explained in their own words.
I have included the criteria to include in the poster and the mark scheme which would be used to grade the work. This works well as a peer assessment as well as a teacher assessed task.
A whole lesson plan allowing students to discover the structure and function of the eye. This lesson is following the double award IGCSE for Edexcel and students need to describe the structure and function of the eye. I have not included information about accommodation.
This lesson is a lovely introduction to the eye and includes an eye dissection task plus a 3D image starter activity; exam question and brief investigation into the response to bright light.
This PPT links to the Edexcel A2 course - describe how drugs can be produced using genetically modified organisms.
It also links to risks and benefits associated with the use of genetically modified organisms.
The PPT is a complete lesson with short tasks which generate discussions regarding this ethical issue.
I have included the uses of the enzymes they need to know.
There are A level past paper questions to test knowledge plus a fun quick quiz at end of PPT.