Oxford AQA A Level Psychology: TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS [3.3.1 Psychology of Sleep]

This fully editable lesson focuses on the different types of biological rhythms, including circadian, infradian, and ultradian rhythms, as well as the roles of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers in regulating these processes. Designed using the OxfordAQA International A-level Psychology (9685) specification, this lesson provides a thorough understanding of biological rhythms with real-life examples and engaging activities.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Lesson Slides: Covers the essential types of biological rhythms, including circadian (e.g., the sleep-wake cycle), infradian (e.g., the menstrual cycle), and ultradian rhythms (e.g., REM and NREM sleep cycles). The slides also explain the roles of endogenous pacemakers, such as the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and exogenous zeitgebers, like light, in regulating these cycles. The lesson explores how disruptions to these rhythms can lead to disorders like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and sleep disturbances.

Interactive Activities: Engages students through a “Do Now” activity that asks them to identify examples of circadian rhythms in everyday life, followed by Think-Pair-Share discussions on biological rhythms’ impact on behavior and physiological processes. The lesson also includes matching key terms and concepts to reinforce learning. Students will apply their understanding to questions like how body clocks influence daily functioning and the effects of environmental cues like light on our internal clocks.

Assessment Materials: Includes exam-style questions with model answers to evaluate understanding of biological rhythms. These questions ask students to differentiate between circadian, infradian, and ultradian rhythms, describe the role of exogenous zeitgebers, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of using case studies to study biological rhythms.