A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
This is an engaging and fully-resourced revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 8 (Exchange and transport in animals) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology 9-1 specification.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Explain the need for exchange surfaces and a transport system in multicellular organisms including the calculation of surface area : volume ratio
Explain how alveoli are adapted for gas exchange by diffusion between air in the lungs and blood in capillaries
Describe the factors affecting the rate of diffusion, including surface area, concentration gradient and diffusion distance
Explain how the structure of the blood is related to its function
Explain how the structure of the blood vessels is related to their function
Explain how the structure of the heart and circulatory system is related to its function, including the role of the major blood vessels, the valves
Describe cellular respiration as an exothermic reaction which occurs continuously in living cells to release energy for metabolic processes, including aerobic and anaerobic respiration
Compare the process of aerobic respiration with the process of anaerobic respiration
Calculate heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output, using the equation cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as Where’s LENNY?” where they compete to recognise the blood vessel being described from the clues whilst crucially being able to recognise the areas of this topic which need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.
This bundle of 5 revision lessons covers the specification content which can be assessed in Paper 2 of the Edexcel GCSE Biology qualification.
The topics covered within this bundle are:
Topic 1: Key concepts in Biology
Topic 6: Plant structures and functions
Topic 7: Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
Topic 8: Exchange and transport in animals
Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles
All of the lessons have been written to include a range of activities to engage the students whilst enabling them to assess and evaluate their content knowledge so that they address any areas which need further attention.
This bundle of 6 revision lessons covers the content in topics 1 - 6 of the Edexcel A-level Biology (Salters Nuffield) specification that can be assessed in Paper 1 (The Natural Environment and species survival). Each of the lessons has been designed to include a range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions that will motivate the students whilst they evaluate their understanding of the different sub-topics. Helpful hints are given throughout the lesson to aid the students in structuring their answers and the mathematical elements of the course are constantly challenged as well.
The 6 topics covered by this bundle are:
Topic 1: Lifestyle, health and risk
Topic 2: Genes and health
Topic 3: Voice of the genome
Topic 4: Biodiversity and natural resources
Topic 5: On the wild side
Topic 6: Immunity, infection and forensics
This bundle of 6 revision lessons covers the content in topics 1 - 4, 7 and 8 of the Edexcel A-level Biology (Salters Nuffield) specification that can be assessed in Paper 2 (Energy, exercise and coordination).
Each of the lessons has been designed to include a range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions that will motivate the students whilst they evaluate their understanding of the different sub-topics. Helpful hints are given throughout the lesson to aid the students in structuring their answers and the mathematical elements of the course are constantly challenged as well.
The 6 topics covered by this bundle are:
Topic 1: Lifestyle, health and risk
Topic 2: Genes and health
Topic 3: Voice of the genome
Topic 4: Biodiversity and natural resources
Topic 7: Run for your life
Topic 8: Grey matter
This bundle of 4 revision lessons covers the content in topics 1 - 4 of the Edexcel A-level Biology (Salters Nuffield) specification that are taught during year 12 (AS) of the two-year course.
Each of the lessons has been designed to include a range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions that will motivate the students whilst they evaluate their understanding of the different sub-topics.
Helpful hints are given throughout the lesson to aid the students in structuring their answers and the mathematical elements of the course are constantly challenged as well.
The 4 topics covered by this bundle are:
Topic 1: Lifestyle, health and risk
Topic 2: Genes and health
Topic 3: Voice of the genome
Topic 4: Biodiversity and natural resources
This engaging and detailed REVISION resource has been written to encourage students to evaluate their understanding of the content found in MODULE 4.1.1 (Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system) of the OCR A-Level Biology specification. The resource contains a motivating PowerPoint (86 slides) and associated worksheets which have been differentiated to support students of differing abilities in their access of the work. The lesson includes a wide range of activities such as exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to motivate the students whilst they recognise those areas of the specification which require even more attention.
The lesson has been designed to cover as much of the content in module 4.1.1 as possible but the following sub-topics have been given particular attention:
Communicable diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi
Bacteria as pathogens
Antigen-presenting cells
The specific immune response
Antibiotics and the existence of resistant strains
Preventing the spread of pathogens
Vaccinations
Primary defences of the human body
In addition to content from this module, links are made to earlier modules and challenges posed so that students can see how connections between the modules have to be made to be successful.
This resource is suitable for use at the end of the module, in the lead up to AS or A2 mocks or in the lead up to the actual A-level exams.
This bundle contains 6 detailed revision resources which have been designed to challenge the students on their knowledge of the AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy Specification content that can be assessed in the 6 papers that they will sit whilst remaining engaged and motivated due to the wide range of activities. These activities include differentiated tasks, quiz competitions and exam questions with displayed answers.
All of the Powerpoint-based lessons are so detailed and extensive that they are likely to be used over the course of a number of lessons, allowing the teacher to focus on specific areas for part of all of a lesson. The papers covered by these resources are:
Paper 1: Biology topics B1 - B4
Paper 2: Biology topics B5 - B7
Paper 3: Chemistry topics C1 - C5
Paper 4: Chemistry topics C6-C10
Paper 5: Physics topics P1 - P4
Paper 6: Physics topics P5 - P7
This is a fully-resourced REVISION resource that consists of an engaging PowerPoint (127 slides) and associated worksheets that challenge the students on their knowledge of topic 7 (Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems) of the AQA A-level Biology specification.
A wide range of activities have been written into this resource to maintain motivation and these tasks include exam questions (with answers), understanding checks, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions.
The lesson has been designed to cover as much of the content as possible, but the following sub-topics have been given particular attention:
Genetic terminology
Using genetic diagrams to calculate phenotypic ratios and percentages for the inheritance of a single gene
Applying the Hardy-Weinberg principle
Sex-linkage
Codominance, multiple alleles and interpreting genetic trees
Types of variation
Ecological terminology
Dihybrid inheritance
Using the chi-squared test to determine significance
Epistasis
Succession
Sampling to estimate populations and consider distribution
The mathematic elements of this topic and specification are challenged throughout the resource and useful hints given to enable the students to pick up vital marks from questions on this topic.
Due to the size of this resource, teachers may choose to use it over the course of a number of lessons and it is suitable for use at the end of topic 7, in the lead up to the mocks or in the lead up to the actual A-level exams.
This is a fully-resourced REVISION lesson that challenges the students on their knowledge of the content found in TOPIC 4 (Biodiversity and Natural resources) of the Edexcel A-level Biology (Salters Nuffield) specification. The lesson contains an engaging PowerPoint (104 slides) and accompanying worksheets that use a range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to motivate the students whilst they evaluate their knowledge of the different sub-topics.
The lesson has been designed to cover as much of the topic 4 specification as possible, but the following sub-topics have been given particular attention:
Three-domain classification
The features of the kingdoms
Evolutionary relationships
Behavioural, anatomical and physiological adaptations
Glycosidic bonds
The structure and function of cellulose
The ultrastructure of plant cells
Calculating the index of diversity and the heterozygosity index
Applying the Hardy-Weinberg principle to calculate allele frequencies
This lesson is suitable for revision at the end of the topic, in the lead up to the mocks or in the lead up to the actual A-level exams as topic 4 is assessed on both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
This is a fully-resourced REVISION lesson which challenges the students on their knowledge of the content in TOPIC B5 (Genetics) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The lesson uses an engaging PowerPoint (63 slides) and accompanying worksheets to motivate students whilst they assess their understanding of this topic.
A range of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions are used to test the following sub-topics:
Recognising and using genetic terminology in context
Constructing genetic diagrams to calculate offspring percentages for diseases caused by dominant and recessive alleles
The sex chromosomes and sex determination
Meiosis and the formation of haploid daughter cells
The structure of DNA
Extracting DNA from a fruit
Genetic and environmental variation
Mutations and their effect on the phenotype
The mathematical element of the course is also tested throughout the lesson and students are given helpful hints on exam techniques and how to structure answers.
This resource is suitable for use at the end of topic B3 or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.
This bundle of 4 revision lessons covers the content in topics 5 - 8 of the Edexcel A-level Biology (Salters Nuffield) specification that are taught during year 13 (A2) of the two-year course.
Each of the lessons has been designed to include a range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions that will motivate the students whilst they evaluate their understanding of the different sub-topics.
Helpful hints are given throughout the lesson to aid the students in structuring their answers and the mathematical elements of the course are constantly challenged as well.
The 4 topics covered by this bundle are:
Topic 5: On the wild side
Topic 6: Immunity, infection and forensics
Topic 7: Run for your life
Topic 8: Grey matter
This is a fully-resourced revision resource which has been designed to encourage students to evaluate their understanding of the content in TOPIC 4 of the AQA A-level Biology specification (Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms) . The resource includes an engaging PowerPoint (96 slides) and associated worksheets, some of which have been differentiated to allow those struggling with the content to access the work.
The wide range of activities which includes exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions will motivate the students whilst they assess their knowledge and recognise those areas which require even further attention. The lesson has been designed to cover as many sub-topics as possible but the following have been given particular attention:
Classification hierarchy
DNA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
The binomial naming system
Phylogeny
Modern day classification using biological molecules
Calculating biodiversity
Selection pressures and types of selections
Transcription
Gene mutations
Physiological, behavioural and anatomical adaptations
Meiosis and variation
Non-disjunction
The mathematical element of this topic and the course is challenged throughout the lesson and helpful hints are regularly provided to help students to structure their answers. This resource can be used as a revision aid at the end of the topic, in the lead up to AS or A2 mocks or in the lead up to the actual terminal A-level exams.
This bundle of 4 revision lessons covers the content in topics 5 - 8 of the AQA A-level Biology specification that are commonly taught during year 13 (A2) of the two-year course.
Each of the lessons has been designed to include a range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions that will motivate the students whilst they evaluate their understanding of the different sub-topics.
Helpful hints are given throughout the lesson to aid the students in structuring their answers and the mathematical elements of the course are constantly challenged as well.
The 4 topics covered by this bundle are:
Topic 5: Energy transfers in and between organisms
Topic 6: Organisms respond to changes in their environment
Topic 7: Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
Topic 8: The control of gene expression
This is a fully-resourced REVISION lesson which challenges the students on their knowledge of the content in TOPIC B5 (Health, disease and the development of medicines) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The lesson uses an engaging PowerPoint (79 slides) and accompanying worksheets to motivate students whilst they assess their understanding of this topic.
The lesson has been designed in the way that the students have to work their way through a series of wards at the hospital which deals with communicable diseases caused by a range of pathogens and the non-communicable diseases ward such as the cardiac ward where CHD patients are assessed and treated. A range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions back up the engaging lesson and are used to test the following sub-topics:
Bacterial, fungal and viral diseases in animals and plants
Treatment of bacterial infections with antibiotics
Preventing and reducing the spread of pathogens
Vaccinations
The physical and chemical defences of the human body
The risk factors of CHD
The range of surgical treatments for CHD
Calculating the BMI
Smoking and cardiovascular diseases
The mathematical element of the course is also tested throughout the lesson and students are given helpful hints on exam techniques and how to structure answers.
This resource is suitable for use at the end of topic B5 or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.
This is a fully-resourced REVISION lesson which challenges the students on their knowledge of the content in TOPIC B2 (Cells and control) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The lesson uses an engaging PowerPoint (70 slides) and accompanying worksheets to motivate students whilst they assess their understanding of this topic.
A range of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions are used to test the following sub-topics:
The structure of the CNS
Reflex reactions and the neurones involved
Synapses
Mitosis and the cell cycle
The use of percentile charts to monitor growth
Cell differentiation and specialisation
Stem cells and their potential for use in medicine
There is a big emphasis on the mathematical elements of the course such as percentage change and standard form and students are given helpful hints on exam techniques and how to structure answers.
This resource is suitable for use at the end of topic B2 or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.
All of the 5 lessons in this bundle have been designed to include a range of activities that motivate, engage and ultimately challenge the students on their knowledge of the specification content that can be assessed on PAPER 1 of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course. The topics covered in this bundle are:
TOPIC 1: Key concepts in Biology
TOPIC 2: Cells and control
TOPIC 3: Genetics
TOPIC 4: Natural selection and genetic modification
TOPIC 5: Health, disease and the development of medicines
Helpful hints are provided throughout the lessons to support the students with exam technique and in structuring their answers and the mathematical elements of the course are constantly challenged. These lessons are suitable for use mid-topic to focus on a specific area, at the end of a topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual PAPER 1 exam.
This detailed lesson describes the formation and effects of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials . The PowerPoint has been designed to cover point 9.5 (v) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification.
This is a topic which is generally poorly understood by students or brushed over so considerable time has been taken to design the activities to motivate the students so that the content is memorable whilst still being covered in detail. Links are continually made to earlier topics in this topic such as synapses and generator potentials but also to topics covered in the previous year.
The lesson begins by challenging the students to recognise a description of generator potential and they will then discover that this is also known as an EPSP. Students will recall that a small depolarisation may not lead to the opening of the voltage gated channels and therefore the full depolarisation which is needed for the initiation of an action potential and will discuss how this problem could be overcome. Lots of discussion points like this are included in the lesson to encourage the students to challenge and debate why a particular process of mechanism occurs. Students will therefore learn that EPSPs can be combined and this is known as summation. A quiz round is used to introduce temporal and spatial summation. Moving forwards, students are presented with a number of examples where they have to decide why type of summation is involved. Again, the lesson has been written to include real-life examples such as chronic pain conditions so the chances of the content sticking is increased. The final part of the lesson introduces IPSPs and the effect of these on summation and action potentials is discussed.
This detailed lesson describes the the structure and function of the motor neurones that form the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for automatic responses. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover point 9.4 (v) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification and describes the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions and how they act antagonistically.
The lesson begins with a focus on the types of effectors that will be connected to the CNS by autonomic motor neurones. Students will learn that effectors which are not under voluntary control such as cardiac muscle, smooth muscle and glands will be innervated by these neurones. Moving forwards, a quick quiz competition is used to introduced ganglia as a structure which connects the two or more neurones involved in the cell signalling between the CNS and the effector. This leads into the discovery of the two divisions and students will begin to recognise the differences between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems based on function but also structure. The remainder of the lesson looks at the differing effects of these two systems.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the lesson on the organisation of the mammalian nervous system which was covered earlier in this topic
This lesson describes the relationship between the structure and function of a synapse, focusing on acetylcholine as the neurotransmitter. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the content of point 9.5 (iv) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification.
The lesson begins by using a version of the WALL (as shown in the cover image) which asks the students to group 12 words into three groups of 4. Not only will this challenge their prior knowledge from topics earlier in this topic but it will also lead to the discovery of four of the structures that are found in a synapse. Moving forwards, students are introduced to acetylcholine as the neurotransmitter involved at cholinergic synapses and they will start to add labels to the structures found in the pre-synaptic bulb. Time is taken to focus on certain structures such as the voltage gated channels as these types of channel were met previously when looking at the depolarisation of a neurone. There is plenty of challenge and discovery as students are pushed to explain why organelles like mitochondria would be found in large numbers in the bulb. With this process being a cascade of events, a bullet point format is used to ensure that the key content is taken in by the students and again key points like exocytosis and the action of acetylcholinesterase are discussed further.
Understanding checks and prior knowledge checks are included throughout the lesson so that students can not only assess their progress against the current topic but also be challenged to make links to earlier topics.
This detailed lesson describes the gross and microscopic structure of the mammalian kidney. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover point 9.9 (i) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification. The lesson was designed to tie in with the other lessons in topic 9.9 on ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption and the control of mammalian plasma concentration and a common theme runs throughout to allow students to build their knowledge gradually and develop a deep understanding of this organ.
Students will come to recognise the renal cortex and renal medulla as the two regions of the kidney and learn the parts of the nephron which are found in each of these regions. Time is taken to look at the vascular supply of this organ and specifically to explain how the renal artery divides into the afferent arterioles which carry blood towards the glomerulus and the efferent arterioles which carry the blood away. The main task of the lesson challenges the students to relate structure to function. Having been introduced to the names of each of the parts of the nephron, they have to use the details of the structures found at these parts to match the function. For example, they have to make the connection between the microvilli in the PCT as a sign that this part is involved in selective reabsorption.