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 complete topic including 8 full lesson powerpoints and 7 worksheets.
Each lesson includes bell ringer activities (starter activities) and plenary activities plus lots of retrieval practice. Each lesson takes approximately 50 - 60 minutes. The PowerPoint can be modified to suit your lesson. There is also a recommend practical activity that involves an eye dissection (worksheet included). There are also many exam-style questions to ensure students understand the material.
I have included a range of different resources and tasks including pair and individual work.
Students should be able to complete the following after the lessons:
Describe the geotropic and phototropic responses of roots and stems and understand the role of auxin in the phototropic response of stems.
State that the central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord andis linked to sense organs by nerves.
Understand that stimulation of receptors in the sense organs sends electrical impulses along nerves into and out of the central nervous system, resulting in rapid responses
Understand the role of neurotransmitters at synapses
Understand the role of neurotransmitters at synapses
Describe the structure and functioning of a simple reflex arc illustrated by the withdrawal of a finger from a hot object
Describe the structure and function of the eye as a receptor
Understand the function of the eye in focusing on near and distant objects, and in responding to changes in light intensity
Describe the role of the skin in temperature regulation, with reference to sweating, vasoconstriction and vasodilation
8 lessons with powerpoints and worksheets covering the topic Gas Exchange in both plants and humans. This covers:
The breathing system of humans including diagrams of the system to label
Gas exchange and the alveolus. Students discover how alveoli are adapted to gas echange.
Ventilation
Core practical - breathing rate and exercise
Smoking and how the lungs are damaged
Gas exchange in the leaf
Gas exchange mission - students are given access to the powerpoint to complete a spy mission linked to gas exchange (optional lesson)
Core practical - investigating the effect of light on photosynthesis/respiration
Each lesson contains a series of tasks to aid students learning including videos, discussion, labelling diagrams and exam questions.
A PDF worksheet, with answers, focusing on the limiting factors of photosynthesis. The experiment involves a student changing the light wavelength and investigating the rate of the reaction. Questions are similar to those found on exam papers relating to the topic.
This resource is great for:
In-class worksheet
Pre/post-test
Homework assignment
Support work
Photosynthesis Topic with complete PowerPoint lessons and worksheets including lab activities. Each lesson involves a range of activities to promote interest and learning of the material.
The content covers the following points:
The word equation and the balanced chemical symbol equation for photosynthesis
Understand how varying carbon dioxide concentration, light intensity and temperature affect the rate of photosynthesis
Describe the structure of the leaf and explain how it is adapted for photosynthesis
Understand that plants require mineral ions for growth, and that magnesium ions are needed for chlorophyll and nitrate ions are needed for amino acids
Practical: investigate photosynthesis, showing the evolution of oxygen from a water plant, the production of starch and the requirements of light, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll
Can your students identify reasons they underperformed in exams?
Maybe their target is to “revise more” for the next test.
There are different types of mistakes that can cause students to drop marks in an exam:
Not reading the questions
Incorrect wording or not topic specific
Understanding the main ideas of this topic but not knowing they had to apply the knowledge to this question.
Timing
These are just a few types of mistakes.
The printable worksheet allows students time to really reflect on their overall exam performance. Analysis of each question marked incorrectly can lead to a pattern in the type of mistake being made again and again. Once the types of mistakes being made are acknowledged, students can use the smart targets to focus on avoiding this type of mistake.
We have been using this technique for 4 years and have seen a marked improvement in our external exam results.
A PDF worksheet which focuses on the changes in an embryo from totipotent cells to cell differentiation. There are questions to challenge students understanding of these terms plus DNA methylation and acetylation. Answer sheet included.
This resource is great for:
In-class worksheet
Pre/post-test
Homework assignment
Support work
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.
Exam-style questions focusing on the structure of proteins.
Answer sheet included.
Suitable for checking understanding in class or as a revision activity.
A PDF worksheet focusing on the DNA replication experiment devised by Meselson and Stahl. Students answer exam-style questions.
Use activity for retrieval practice, revision or to check understanding.
Can be used in class or as a homework activity.
Answer sheet included.
A pdf worksheet focusing on the experiment with water plants with and without light. Also contains respiring organisms. The experiment uses bicarbonate indicator which changes colour in the presence of low and high concentrations of carbon dioxide.
The experiment is explained and there are exam-style questions to promote understanding.
Answer sheet included.
Suggested uses: in class activity; homework task; revision task
A technique suggested in the book, Powerlearning. This is a revision technique with self-feedback. Students begin by reading each question and determining which ones they know the answer to and which ones they don’t. Independently, students determine what they know and what requires further study. Students answer the ones they know the answer to and then search for the answers they don’t know. Students then verify the answers they thought were correct.
Students can fold the page over and use the questions for revision/retrieval practice.
A PDF worksheet which focuses on plant reproduction and the formation of the pollen tube. These questions are exam-style questions which check student understanding.
Useful for in class activity, homework, retrieval practice activity.
Answer sheet included.
A revision plan for students studying the Edexcel Biology Unit 4 module.
The timetable can be edited to change the dates. Currently it is for the upcoming January 2023 exams. The timetable covers 9 weeks of intensive revision.
Included in the pack is a detailed day to day revision plan to guide students through their revision. Also included are exam questions (with mark scheme) per topic area and worksheets.
This has been a great resource for weaker students to help plan their revision and ensure they cover the content.
A pdf worksheet focusing on the lungs and respiratory system. Students label the different sections and can colour the different sections.
Students complete a table describing the function of each part.
A useful activity when studying gas exchange and ventilation in humans.
Answer sheet 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.
PDF worksheets which covers both the light dependent and independent reactions. Students refer to a diagram of both processes to answer exam style questions.
Suitable for revision, retrieval activities and homework.
Answer sheet included.
A PDF worksheet focusing on the experiment which investigates which factors a growing seeds requires. Students need to determine which conditions would allow seed growth and explain their answer. Typical GCSE question.
Markscheme included.
This resource is great for:
In-class worksheet
Pre/post-test
Homework assignment
Support work
Tes paid licence
