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.
2 A3 PDF worsheets which a range of exam questions covering the topics in the unit Energy, Environment, Microbiology and Immunity.
There are many variations of how students could be examined on topics from unit 4. Students can produce model answers in preparation for the exam.
I have provided questions on the following topic areas:
Photosynthesis - light dependent reaction; Light independent reaction; assimilation of products from photosynthesis; Chloroplast structure; Ecology; decomposition; forensic science; DNA profiling and electrophoresis; succession; aseptic technique; climate change; speciation and evolution; structure of bacteria and viruses; immune response; immunity and vaccination; carbon cycle.
Perfect for Retrieval Practice in preparation for the exams.
My students wrote a model answer for each question on flash cards
Learning Objectives:
Understand how to determine the time of death of a mammal by
examining the extent of decomposition, stage of succession,
forensic entomology, body temperature and degree of muscle
contraction.
You will need internet access
This is an interactive forensics activity. It begins with a body that
has been found within a field. Students use their knowledge of
forensics plus the information provided on the site to determine
the time of death. There is no correct time here but hopefully
students will be able to justify their answer.
Students are able to study entomology results, rigor mortis, body
temperature, digestive contents, blood results plus other facts
such as clothing and exercise.
Students will need a copy of the police report to complete and
graph paper.
Students will be given a link to access the task. You do not need
to provide an email address or have a google account to access
the material.
The task can be completed on laptops, tablets and
mobile phones.so they can be set as homework or used in cover
lessons.
A PDF worksheet designed to summarise the process of protein synthesis to IGCSE students. The task is a word fill exercise but my students added comments to the diagrams to consolidate their understanding.
My students often are overwhelmed with the thought of preparing for their mock and IGCSE exams.
I have reduced the specification to simple points to enable the students to produce notes on each section.
To start with, they read through the statements and traffic-light colour code each section to determine areas they really need to focus on.
I advise they work through each point, producing summarised notes to support their learning. I have included a QR code to scan which leads to a page describing each specification point. The majority are in note form but there a few videos for trickier topics.
Students can successfully build up a series of revision notes and feel confident with their understanding of the course.
The principles of a circulatory system.
Objective: Know why many animals have a heart and circulation which act as a mass transport system to overcome the limits of diffusion
A simple worksheet to generate a discussion amongst pairs/groups. Students use the analogy of a public transport system which makes it easier to understand an animal transport system.
2 lessons focusing on:
the effect of water temperature, water pressure (depth), atmospheric pressure and salinity on the solubility of gases in water
the implications this has for marine organisms
A range of resources including videos, research task, presentations and exam questions.
A complete lesson focusing on the following points in the specification.
Understand the structure of chloroplasts in relation to their role in photosynthesis
Understand what is meant by action spectrum and absorption spectrum
Understand how the chlorophyll pigments can be separated by chromatography.
A variety of activities to promote discussion and learning.
Marine Science AS (exams in 2022)
Water: Particle Theory and Bonding
An understanding of particle theory, including the structure of atoms and ions, and how they bond together to form compounds, helps to explain the properties of water and other substances important to marine life.
A series of 3 complete powerpoints (approximately 5 lessons worth of material).
Includes explanations and students tasks.
Section 2: Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Complete lessons covering the following points:
The meaning of the terms: ecosystem, habitat, population, community, species, biodiversity and ecological niche
Describing interrelationships within marine ecosystems to include mutualism and parasitism
explain the meaning of the term: producer, comsumer, predator, prey and trophic level in context of food chains and food webs
explain how populations of predator and prey may be interrelated
Each powerpoint has talking points, small activities for students (individually or in pairs), video resources and exam questions.
I have also used these for students studying at home.
I use this as a formative assessment in lessons but it can be used for homework. It helps check understanding of the topic and can be used as a revision tool.
A peer assessment sheet is also included but can be used as a self assessment task.
An activity to introduce the main elements of the transport topic or to be used as a revision tool. I have used it in class but it can be used for home schooling assignment or homework.
The activity took my students over an hour. There are many tasks the students must complete as they collect their clues.
Students need access to the internet to carry out this activity.
A classroom or home learning activity. Students can use digital devices/mobiles to find the answer to clues but to also learn the process of meiosis. There are tasks which can be completed in exercise books, building up a knowledge of the process and comparing it with mitosis.
Activity takes approximately 45 minutes.
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.
2 complete lessons focusing on understanding the role meiosis plays in creating gametes. It focuses on independent assortment and crossing-over.
Students have an opportunity to study each phase to compare meiosis to mitosis.
The second lesson studies the adaptation of gametes in both plants and animals. This will lead onto sexual reproduction in subsequent lessons.
A series of three lessons which focuses on A level content from Edexcel Specification but can be applied to other specifications.
Content includes
Understanding what a chromatid is and how it forms
The cell cycle and what occurs at each stage
Control of the cell cycle
The stages of mitosis
Cytokinesis
Cell division in both animal and plant cells
Mitotic index
5 complete lessons with a variety of tasks which explores the structure of cells.
Lesson 1 - Observing cells explores different microscopes available to observe cells and discusses the terms resolution and magnification. It also focuses on staining of cells.
Lesson 2 - Eukaryotic cells - discover the organelles inside eukaryotic cells and their function within the cell
Lesson 3 - Protein transport and the role of RER and Golgi apparatus
Lesson 4 - Prokaryotic cells and the organelles present. Gram staining is also looked at.
Lesson 5 - organisation of cells, tissues and organs.
Lesson 6 - Core Practical 5 Using a graticule
The lessons have a range of activities including video resources. Would make a useful tool for home study.
A task which is suitable for students in class but also during home schooling.
It covers GCSE/IGCSE Photosynthesis specification looking at:
photosynthesis equation
limiting factors
structure of the leaf
mineral ions
photosynthesis practicals
The task is set as a spy mission. Students are directed to different websites which included images, videos and information. Students collect the information and use to complete a mission grid which helps them crack the code. In total there are 15 clues, building up their knowledge of photosynthesis. The PPT includes an answer sheet (remove from powerpoint before sharing with students!)
My students loved this activity and it gave them a good introduction to photosynthesis.
A series of activities for students to complete in class or at home in preparation for the unit 1 examination. It is most useful to use before they attempt exam past papers.
Resources include:
A learning grid with focused questions to ensure students cover main topics in unit 1 (18 pages).
This includes biological molecules; Heart and cardiac cycle; Blood transport system; CVD; Cell membranes; Movement across membranes; Gas exchange; Inheritance; DNA replication; Protein synthesis; Mutations
Also with questions focused towards core practicals.
Exam command words reminder
A series of activities for students to complete in class or at home in preparation for the unit 4 examination. It is most useful to use before they attempt exam past papers
Resources include:
A tick sheet for revision
A learning grid with focused questions to ensure students cover main topics in unit 4 (11 pages). This includes photosynthesis; global warming; evolution; GPP and NPP; microorganisms and how they reproduce; the immune response; immunity ; PCR; DNA profiling and forensics.
Vocabulary reinforcer
Exam command words reminder