This fully-resourced lesson uses step by step guides to walk students through the interpretation of genetic pedigree diagrams for monohybrid inheritance. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 2.15 (ii) of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification and includes the inheritance when there are more than two alleles at a gene locus as well as those that demonstrate codominance. In order to minimise the likelihood of errors and misconceptions, the guides that are included within the lesson will support the students with the following: Writing parent genotypes Working out the different gametes that are made following meiosis Interpreting Punnett crosses to work out phenotypic ratios Students can often find pedigree trees the most difficult to interpret and to explain so exemplar answers are used and the worksheets are differentiated so students can seek assistance if necessary.

This fully-resourced lesson describes how the mutations that occur during DNA replication can effect a protein’s primary structure and lead to disorders. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover points 2.14 (i) & (ii) as detailed in the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification and focuses on the effects of substitutions, deletions and insertions and considers a real life biological example in sickle cell anaemia. In order to understand how a change in the base sequence can affect the order of the amino acids, students must be confident in their understanding and application of protein synthesis which was covered in the previous lessons. Therefore, the start of the lesson focuses on transcription and translation and students are reminder of how to use the codon table to identify amino acids. Moving forwards, a task called known as THE WALL is used to introduce to the names of three types of mutation whilst challenging the students to recognise three terms which are associated with the genetic code. The main focus of the lesson is base substitutions and how these mutations may or may not cause a change to the amino acid sequence. The students are challenged to use their knowledge of the degenerate nature of the genetic code to explain how a silent mutation can result. Students will learn that a substitution is responsible for the new allele that causes sickle cell anaemia and they are tested on their understanding through an exam-style question. As with all of the questions, a mark scheme is included in the PowerPoint which can be displayed to allow the students to assess their understanding. The rest of the lesson looks at base deletions and base insertions and students are introduced to the idea of a frameshift mutation. One particular task challenges the students to evaluate the statement that base deletions have a bigger impact on primary structure than base substitutions. This is a differentiated task and they have to compare the fact that the reading frame is shifted by a deletion against the change in a single base by a substitution

This lesson describes how monosaccharides are joined together during condensation reactions to form maltose, sucrose and lactose. The PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover the third part of point 1.2 & 1.4 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification but also make links to the previous lesson on monosaccharides when considering the different components of these three disaccharides. The first section of the lesson focuses on a prefix and a suffix so that the students can recognise that the names of the common disaccharides end in -ose. In line with this, a quick quiz round is used to introduce maltose, sucrose and lactose before students are challenged on their prior knowledge as they have to describe how condensation reactions and the formation of glycosidic bonds were involved in the synthesis of each one. The main task of the lesson again challenges the students to recall details of a previous lesson as they have to identify the monomers of each disaccharide when presented with the displayed formula. Time is taken to show how their knowledge of these simple sugars will be important in later topics such as digestion, translocation in the phloem and the Lac Operon in the control of gene expression. The lesson finishes with two exam-style questions where students have to demonstrate and apply their newly acquired knowledge and the mark schemes are included within the lesson PowerPoint so students can assess their understanding and address any misconceptions if they have arisen.

This fully-resourced lesson describes the relationship between the structure of monosaccharides and their roles in living organisms. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the second part of points 1.2 & 1.4 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification and describes alpha-glucose, galactose, fructose, deoxyribose and ribose. The lesson begins by reminding students that monosaccharides are the simplest sugars and that these monomers provide energy. Using the molecular formula of glucose as a guide, students will be given the general formula for the monosaccharides and will learn that deoxyribose is an exception to the rule that the number of carbon and oxygen atoms are equal. Moving forwards, students have to study the displayed formula of glucose for two minutes without being able to note anything down before they are challenged to recreate what they saw in a test of their observational skills. At this point of the lesson, the idea of numbering the carbons is introduced so that the different glycosidic bonds can be understood in an upcoming lesson as well as the recognition of the different isomers of glucose. The difference between alpha and beta-glucose is provided but students do not need to consider the beta form until topic 4. The remainder of the lesson focuses on the roles of the monosaccharides and the final task involves a series of application questions where the students are challenged to suggest why ribose could be considered important for active transport and muscle contraction

This lesson describes the differences between monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides, including glycogen and starch. The PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover point 1.2 (i) of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification and the main aim of the lesson is to prepare the students for the upcoming lessons on the individual carbohydrate groups. The lesson begins with a made-up round of the quiz show POINTLESS, where students have to try to identify four answers to do with carbohydrates. In doing so, they will learn or recall that these molecules are made from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, that they are a source of energy which can sometimes be rightly or wrongly associated with obesity and that the names of the three main groups is derived from the Greek word sakkharon. A number of quick quiz rounds have been written into the lesson to introduce key terms in a fun and memorable way and the first round allows the students to meet some of common monosaccharides. Moving forwards, students will learn that a disaccharide is formed when two of these monomers are joined together and they are then challenged on their knowledge of condensation reactions which were originally encountered during the lesson on water. Students will understand how multiple reactions and multiple glycosidic bonds will result in the formation of a polysaccharide and glycogen and starch are introduced as well as amylose and amylopectin as components of this latter polymer.

This fully-resourced lesson explores how the structure of capillaries, arteries and veins relate to their functions. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 1.7 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification. This lesson has been written to build on any prior knowledge from iGCSE or earlier in this topic to enable students to fully understand each type of blood vessel has its particular features. Students will be able to make the connection between the narrow lumen and elastic tissue in the walls of arteries and the need to maintain the high pressure of the blood. A quick version of GUESS WHO is used to introduce smooth muscle and collagen as the substances that are found in the tunica media and externa and again the reason for their presence is explored and explained. The next part of the lesson looks at the role of the capillaries in exchange and links are made to diffusion to ensure that students can explain how the red blood cells pressing against the endothelium results in a short diffusion distance. The remainder of the lesson considers the structure of the veins and students are challenged to explain how the differences to those observed in arteries is due to the lower blood pressure found in these vessels. Valves are introduced and important mechanisms like the skeletal muscle pump are discussed to ensure that students can understand how the return of blood to the right atrium of the heart is maintained.

This fully-resourced lesson explains the meaning of biodiversity and describes how it can be calculated within a habitat and within a species. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 4.2 of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A specification and in addition to biodiversity, the meaning of endemism is also explained. A quiz competition called BIOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY SNAP runs over the course of the lesson and this will engage the students whilst challenging them to recognise key terms from their definitions. This quiz will introduce species, population, biodiversity, endemic, heterozygote and natural selection and each of these terms is put into context once introduced. Once biodiversity has been revealed, the students will learn that they are expected to be able to measure biodiversity within a habitat, within a species and within different habitats so that they can be compared. The rest of the lesson uses step by step guides, discussion points and selected tasks to demonstrate how to determine species richness, the heterozygosity index and an index of diversity. Students are challenged with a range of exam-style questions where they have to apply their knowledge and all mark schemes are displayed and clearly explained within the PowerPoint to allow students to assess their understanding and address any misconceptions if they arise.

This engaging lesson describes the myogenic stimulation of the heart and focuses on the roles of the SAN, AVN and bundle of His. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the point 4.4 (iv) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification but also describes the role of the Purkyne fibres. The lesson begins with the introduction of the SAN as the natural pacemaker and then time is given to study each step of the conduction of the impulse as it spreads away from the myogenic tissue in a wave of excitation. The lesson has been written to make clear links to the cardiac cycle and the structure of the heart and students are challenged on their knowledge of this system from earlier in the topic. Moving forwards, students are encouraged to consider why a delay would occur at the AVN and then they will learn that the impulse is conducted along the Bundle of His to the apex so that the contraction of the ventricles can happen from the bottom upwards. The structure of the cardiac muscle cells is discussed and the final task of the lesson challenges the students to describe the conducting tissue, with an emphasis on the use of key terminology.

This fully-resourced lesson describes the roles of the platelets and plasma proteins in the sequence of events that lead to blood clotting. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been primarily designed to cover the content detailed in point 4.4 (viii) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification and includes descriptions of the roles of thromboplastin, thrombin and fibrin but time has also been taken to look at haemophilia as a sex-linked disease so that students are prepared for topic 8 (genetic variation). The lesson begins with the introduction of clotting factors as integral parts of the blood clotting process and explains that factor III, thromboplastin, needs to be recalled as well as the events that immediately precede and follows its release. Students will learn how damage to the lining and the exposure of collagen triggers the release of this factor and how a cascade of events then results. Quick quiz rounds and tasks are used to introduce the names of the other substances involved which are prothrombin, thrombin, fibrinogen and fibrin. In a link to the upcoming topic of proteins, students will understand how the insolubility of fibrin enables this mesh of fibres to trap platelets and red blood cells and to form the permanent clot. The final part of the lesson introduces haemophilia as a sex-linked disease and students are challenged to apply their knowledge to an unfamiliar situation as they have to write genotypes and determine phenotypes before explaining why men are more likely to suffer from this disease than women.

A detailed and engaging lesson presentation (43 slides) and accompanying worksheets that introduces students to the disease, Diabetes (mellitus), and focusses on the similarities and differences between types I and II. The lesson begins by challenging the students mathematically to get the answers 1 and 2 and then to see whether they can link these numbers to a disease. A variety of tasks, which includes competitions and progress checks, are used to get the students to recognise the differences and state which of the types they belong to. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students and can be used with higher level students. However, a lesson more appropriate for A-level Biology students is named “Diabetes Mellitus Type I and II” and is available in my resources

A highly engaging lesson presentation (60 slides) and accompanying worksheets that uses exam questions (with explained answers), quick tasks and competitions to allow students to assess their understanding of the topic of Genes and Health (Topic 2). Students will have fun whilst recognising those areas of the specification which need further attention. Competitions include "Blockbusters" Hotseat" and "james BOND" so that literacy and numeracy skills are tested along with the content knowledge.

An informative lesson presentation (30 slides) that ensures that students know the meaning of the independent, dependent and control variables in an investigation and are able to identify them. Students are challenged to use their definitions to spot the independent and dependent variable from an investigation title. Moving forwards, they are shown how they can use tables and graphs to identify them. The rest of the lesson focuses on the control variables and how these have to be controlled to produce valid results This lesson is suitable for students of all ages studying Science as it is such a key skill

This engaging lesson presentation (48 slides) and associated worksheets uses exam questions with displayed mark schemes, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the topics found within module B4 of the OCR Gateway A Combined Science specification. The topics which are specifically tested within the lesson include: Ecosystems, Competition and interdependence, The carbon cycle and Decomposers Students will enjoy the competitions such as "Number CRAZY" and "Take the HOTSEAT" whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need their further attention

An engaging lesson presentation (88 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within module B3 of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Biology specification. The topics that are tested within the lesson include: Nervous system Reflexes Hormones Negative feedback The menstrual cycle Controlling reproduction Using hormones to treat infertility Controlling body temperature Controlling blood sugar Maintaining water balance Inside the kidney Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like "Have they got the right BALANCE?" and "Take the IVF Hotseat" whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention

An engaging lesson presentation (32 slides) and differentiated worksheets that look at the meaning of the substances termed monoclonal antibodies, explains how they are produced and explores their different applications. The lesson begins by breaking the term down into three parts so that students can understand that these substances are proteins that attach to antigens and come from a single clone of cells. Students will meet key terms such as lymphocytes, myelomas and hybridomas and will be able to link them to understand how these antibodies are produced. Moving forwards, time is taken to focus on the application of monoclonal antibodies in pregnancy tests. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding and a set homework is included as part of the lesson. This lesson has been written for GCSE students but can be used with lower ability A-level students who are studying this topic

This is a detailed, engaging and fully-resourced REVISION LESSON which allows students of all abilities to assess their understanding of the content in module 2.1.3 (Nucleotides and nucleic acids) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. Considerable time has been taken to design the lesson to include a wide range of activities to motivate the students whilst they evaluate their knowledge of DNA, RNA and the roles of these nucleic acids in DNA replication and protein synthesis. Most of the tasks have been differentiated so that students of differing abilities can access the work and move forward as a result of the tasks at hand. This lesson has been planned to cover as much of the specification as possible but the following sub-topics have received particular attention: The structure of DNA Phosphorylated nucleotides DNA replication Transcription and translation Gene mutations and their affect on the primary structure of a polypeptide The structure of RNA In addition to a focus on the current topic, links are made throughout the lesson to other topics such as the journey of an extracellular protein following translation and the cell cycle. If you like the quality of this revision lesson, please look at the other uploaded revision lessons for this module and for this specification

An engaging lesson presentation (54 slides) that uses a variety of exam questions, quick tasks and competitions to allow students to assess their understanding of the different topics within Module B5 of the Combined Science specification. All of the exam questions have displayed answers and some are differentiated to allow for the differing abilities. The students will enjoy the competitions which include "Take the HOTSEAT" and "This shouldn't be too TAXING" whilst recognising those areas which require further attention.

This engaging lesson presentation (52 slides) and associated worksheets uses exam questions with displayed mark schemes, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the topics found within module B2 of the OCR Gateway A Combined Science specification. The topics which are specifically tested within the lesson include: Diffusion, Osmosis, Active transport, Exchange and transport, Circulatory system, Heart and blood, Plant transport systems, Students will enjoy the competitions such as "Where's Lenny?" and "Take the Hotseat" whilst being able to recognise those areas which need their further attention.