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 series of lessons which support the Pearson textbook for the international AS level (edexcel).
These resources are also useful for online lessons to aid student’s understanding at home.
Covered in these lessons:
The need for a circulatory system
The importance of surface area to volume ratio
The advantage of a double circulatory system
The structure and function of blood
The role of platelets in blood clotting
The role of haemoglobin in transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide
The structure of the heart and the cardiac cycle
Atherosclerosis
I have included different activities, some individual and some which could be within a group or with a partner. Plus exam questions and tasks to check understanding.
A level Biology lesson looking at the structure of ATP and its role in cells
Lesson objectives:
Describe the structure of the molecule ATP
Explain why ATP is used by organisms
Describe the role ATP plays in the cell
There are a series of exam questions included to check understanding
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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
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 level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
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 level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
A level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
A level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
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.
Focused questions for the article in June 2022 (unit 5).
There are over 10 pages of questions which include the answer sheet.
Topic questions include:
Coordination of the nervous system
Control of breathing and heart rate
Protein synthesis and transcription factors
Protein Transport
Immune Response
Ion Transport
The questions help support revision of many topics found thoughout the A level course.