NEW (2016) AQA A-Level Biology - Carbohydrates (Mono, di, poly)

This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA AS-level Biology course, particularly the ‘Biological Molecules’ module.

For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA A-level Biology course please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience

A-Level lesson format: I teach in more of a lecture style compared to GCSE. In the majority of my A-level lessons the beginning portion of the lesson is mainly teacher-led, where students are expected to take notes onto a handout/in their books. This is then mixed in with student-led activities, as well as questions and exam prep.

You will find some of my slides have blank spaces for you to add more detail/descriptions/explanations. If you look at the ‘Notes’ section underneath each of these slides, you will find additional content which you can add in as you teach!

This lesson begins with a ‘Carbohydrates’ true or false activity, students can answer these questions on their mini whiteboards. This will give you an understanding of knowledge attained at GCSE level on this topic.

Students are then introduced to the differences between monosaccharides and discaccharides, and provided with examples of sugars in each of these categories. Students are also introduced to the differences between hydrolysis and condensation reactions, they can have a go at drawing examples of these reactions using the mini whiteboards. After this section of the lesson, students will sort statements into two columns - either describing a condensation or a hydrolysis reaction.

Students are also introduced to the three polysaccharides - starch, glycogen and cellulose - but we will cover these carbohydrates in more details in another lesson.

Students are shown the test for reducing and non-reducing sugars, they need to be able describe the steps involved with both these food tests, as well as state the positive result for each test.

The last part of the lesson focuses on assessment, students will firstly answer a set of questions about what they have learned this lesson. This task can then be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided. Lastly, students will complete an exam question on this topic, which they can then swap with their partner to peer-assess.

The plenary task requires students to summarise what they have learned in 3 facts, 3 key words and with 1 question posed to their peers.

All resources are included. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)