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 detailed lesson describes the processes of PCR and electrophoresis to allow students to understand how gene sequencing can be used. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been planned to cover the content of point 7.1 of the Edexcel A-level biology B specification.
The lesson begins by comparing the number of genes in the genome with the number of base pairs, to allow students to learn that the bases in the genes only accounts for about 1.5% of the genome. This challenges them to recall that most is non-coding DNA, and the importance and usefulness of these sections are explored during the lesson. Moving forward, a step-by-step guide describes the key steps in the polymerase chain reaction, and time is taken at each step to qualify the fine details such as the use of Taq polymerase instead of human DNA polymerase.
The remainder of the lesson focuses on the various uses of these DNA samples once they’ve been amplified by the PCR. The steps of the electrophoresis process are described and students will see how DNA profiling can be used in forensic science to identify criminals and for paternity tests.
Understanding and prior knowledge checks are found throughout the lesson, along with the answers, to allow students to assess their grasp of the current topic as well as their ability to identify the links with previously covered topics.
This bundle includes 4 revision lessons which use multiple-choice questions to challenge the students on their knowledge and understanding of the content of topics 1 - 4 of the AQA A-level biology specification. Each lesson includes a multiple-choice assessment, consisting of 20 questions from across the topic, and a PowerPoint that contains the answers (with explanations), as well as additional questions that challenge the students to add detail and also check on prior knowledge.
If you would like to view the quality of these lessons, then download the topic 1 revision lesson as this has been uploaded for free.
This revision lesson uses a 20 question multiple-choice assessment to challenge the students on their understanding of the topic 2 content (Cells). It has been written to check their knowledge from across the AQA A-level biology topic 2 specification and includes questions on the structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, the methods of studying cells, mitosis and binary fission, transport across cell membranes and the immune system. The lesson includes a PowerPoint where the answers to the 20 questions are revealed, along with their respective specification codes, to allow the students to pinpoint areas of the specification that require extra attention. The PowerPoint also includes extra questions and tasks to challenge some of the content not directly questioned in the MC assessment.
Lessons challenging their knowledge of topics 1, 3 and 4 have also been uploaded.
This revision lesson uses a multiple-choice assessment to challenge the students on their understanding of topic 8, the control of gene expression. In addition to the 20 question assessment, this lesson includes a PowerPoint where the answers are revealed and additional questions are posed about the content of topic 8 which isn’t directly challenged in the questions. The PowerPoint also contains prior knowledge checks on content from topics 1, 3, 4 and 6.
Revision lessons of this format which challenge topics 1 - 7 are also uploaded.
This bundle contains 5 detailed lessons which have been intricately planned to cover the content of topic 8.4 of the AQA A-level biology specification, which is titled “Gene technologies allow the study and alteration of gene function allowing a better understanding of organism function and the design of new industrial and medical processes”.
Each lesson contains real-world examples to increase the relevance of the content and is full of tasks as well as understanding and prior knowledge checks.
If you would like to sample the quality of these lessons, download the “producing DNA fragments” lesson as this has been uploaded for free.
This bundle includes 4 revision lessons which use multiple-choice questions to challenge the students on their knowledge and understanding of the content of topics 5 - 8 of the AQA A-level biology specification. Each lesson includes a multiple-choice assessment, consisting of 20 questions from across the topic, and a PowerPoint that contains the answers (with explanations), as well as additional questions that challenge the students to add detail and also check on prior knowledge.
If you would like to view the quality of these lessons, then download the topic 6 revision lesson as this has been uploaded for free.
This revision lesson provides students with the opportunity to assess their understanding of energy transfers in and between organisms (topic 5). The lesson includes a multiple-choice assessment of 20 questions, challenging photosynthesis, respiration, energy and ecosystems, and nutrient cycles, and a PowerPoint containing the answers, where each answer slide shows the exact specification code to enable students to note the areas which may require extra attention. The PowerPoint also contains additional questions to challenge content from topic 5 of the AQA A-level biology specification that isn’t directly covered by the 20 questions, and prior knowledge checks to encourage students to make links to related content from topics 1 - 4.
This lesson has been designed to be used at the end of topic 5, and in the build up to mocks and the final A-level examinations.
All 4 lessons included in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 6.2 (Nervous coordination) of the AQA A-Level Biology specification. The specification points that are covered within these lessons include:
The structure of a myelinated motor neurone
The establishment of a resting potential
Depolarisation
All or nothing principle
Factors affecting the speed of conductance
The lessons have been written to include a wide range of activities and numerous understanding and prior knowledge checks so students can assess their progress against the current topic as well as be challenged to make links to other topics within this module and earlier modules
If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons, download the saltatory conduction lesson which is free
This bundle of 5 lessons have been designed to cover the content of point 6.4.3 of the AQA A-level biology specification, which is titled “Control of blood water potential”. The lessons describe the structure of the glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, PCT, loop of Henle, DCT and collecting duct, and explain how these structures are related to their respective functions. Each lesson is filled with a variety of tasks which will engage the students whilst ensuring that the detailed content is delivered. There are multiple understanding and prior knowledge checks to allow the students to assess their progress against the current topic and their ability to recall relevant content from previous topics. All answers to these checks are embedded into the PowerPoint.
Each of the 8 lessons that are included in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 6.4 (Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment) of the AQA A-Level Biology specification. The specification points that are covered within these lessons include:
The principles of homeostasis
The importance of maintaining temperature and blood glucose concentrations
Negative feedback systems
The action of insulin, glucagon and the role of the liver in blood glucose control
The role of adrenaline
The causes of type I and II diabetes and their control
The structure of the nephron and its numerous roles
The formation of the glomerular filtrate by ultrafiltration
Reabsorption of glucose and water by the proximal convoluted tubule
Maintaining a gradient of sodium ions in the medulla by the loop of Henle
The roles of the hypothalamus, the posterior pituitary gland and ADH in osmoregulation
The lessons have been written to include a wide range of activities and numerous understanding and prior knowledge checks so students can assess their progress against the current topic as well as be challenged to make links to other topics within this topic and earlier topics
If you would like to see the quality of the lessons, download the ultrafiltration lesson which is free
This detailed bundle contains 7 lesson PowerPoints and accompanying resources that cover the following specification points found within topic 9.9 of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification:
The gross and microscopic structure of the mammalian kidney
The formation of urea in the liver from excess amino acids
The removal of urea from the bloodstream by ultrafiltration
The selective reabsorption of solutes in the proximal tubule
The reabsorption of water through use of a countercurrent multiplier in the loop of Henel
The differences between endotherms and ectotherms
The regulation of temperature by endotherms by a range of behavioural and physiological responses
The wide range of tasks, which include exam-style questions with detailed markschemes, focused discussion points and quiz competitions which introduce key terms and values, will engage and motivate the students whilst the content is covered in the detail required at A-level
If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons included in this bundle, then download the formation of urea and ultrafiltration lesson as this has been shared for free
The wide variety of tasks that are written into the 18 lesson PowerPoints and accompanying resources that are included in this lesson bundle will engage and motivate the students whilst covering the detailed content of topic 4 of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification (Exchange and transport).
The following specification points are covered by these lessons:
Understand how the surface area to volume ratio affects the transport of molecules in living organisms
Understand why organisms need a mass transport system and specialised gas exchange surfaces as they increase in size
The structure of the cell surface membrane
Passive transport is brought about by diffusion and facilitated diffusion
Passive transport is brought about by osmosis
Understand how the properties of molecules affects how they are transported
Large molecules are transported in and out of cells by endocytosis and exocytosis
The process of active transport
The phosphorylation and hydrolysis of ATP
Understand how insects, fish and mammals are adapted for gas exchange
The structure of the heart, arteries, veins and capillaries
The advantages of the double circulatory system
The sequence of events of the cardiac cycle
The myogenic stimulation of the heart
Interpreting ECG traces
The role of platelets and plasma proteins in the sequence of events leading to blood clotting
The structure of haemoglobin in relation to its role in the transport of respiratory gases
The Bohr effect
The dissociation curve of haemoglobin
The significance of the oxygen affinity of foetal haemoglobin
The similarities and differences between the structure and function of haemoglobin and myoglobin
The formation and reabsorption of tissue fluid
Know that tissue fluid that is not reabsorbed is returned to the blood via the lymph
The structure of the xylem and phloem in relation to their role in transport
The movement of water by the apoplastic and symplastic pathways
The cohesion-tension model
Hours and hours has gone into the intricate planning of all of these lessons and the quality can be sampled by downloading the following lessons which have been uploaded for free:
Surface area to volume ratio
ATP, active transport, endocytosis and exocytosis
Structure of the heart, arteries, veins and capillaries
Double circulatory system
Apoplastic and symplastic pathways
This lesson bundle contains 10 lessons which are fully-resourced and have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 8 of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification (Origins of genetic variation). Each lesson includes a wide range of activities that will engage and motivate the students whilst covering the following topic 8 specification points:
Mutations are the source of new variations
Random assortment and crossing over in meiosis give rise to new combinations of alleles in gametes
Random fertilisation brings about genetic variation
The meaning of genetic terms
Be able to construct genetic crosses and pedigree diagrams
The inheritance of two non-interacting unlinked genes
Autosomal linkage as the presence of alleles on the same chromosome
Sex linkage on the X chromosome
Use the chi squared test to determine the significance of the difference between observed and expected results
Stabilising and disruptive selection
Genetic drift
Population bottlenecks and the founder effect
Monitoring changes in allele frequencies using the Hardy Weinberg equation
If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons in this bundle then download the sex linkage and genetic drift lessons as these have been uploaded for free
This detailed bundle contains 4 lesson PowerPoints and their accompanying resources that cover the following specification points found within topic 9.5 (Nervous transmission) of the Edexcel A-level Biology B specification:
The transport of sodium and potassium ions across the axon membrane results in resting potential
The formation of an action potential and its propagation along an axon
The role of saltatory conduction
The structure and function of a synapse
The formation and effects of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials
The wide range of tasks, which include exam-style questions with detailed mark schemes, focused discussion points and quiz competitions which introduce key terms and values, will engage and motivate the students whilst the content is covered in the detail required at A-level
If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons included in this bundle, then download the resting and action potentials lesson as this has been shared for free
This lesson explains how labelled DNA probes in microarrays can be used to identify active genes. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the content of point 8.20 of the Edexcel International A-level biology specification.
The lesson begins by introducing the BRCA genes, and the students will learn how faulty alleles of these two genes can increase an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer. Therefore, there is a need to be able to locate specific alleles like these, and this function is performed by DNA probes. The students are challenged to use the function of the probes to predict their structure and will understand that they are short lengths of single stranded DNA that have a base sequence complementary to the base sequence of part of the target allele. A quick quiz round is used to introduce hybridisation as a key term, to ensure that students recognise that the probe will bind if the complementary base sequence is encountered. Moving forwards, a DNA microarray is introduced to show that it’s possible to screen for multiple genes.
The remainder of the lesson considers how the DNA probes are used to screen for heritable conditions and drug responses, and real-life examples are used to increase relevance.
This lesson describes the stages of succession from colonisation to the formation of a climax community. The PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets have been designed to cover the content of point 5.15 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification.
This lesson uses a step-by-step method to guide the students through each stage of the process of succession, explaining each of the gradual, progressive changes that occur in a community over time. At each stage, time is taken to consider the organisms involved. There is a focus on lichens as examples of pioneer species and students will understand how colonisation by these organisms is critical to provide organic matter and to turn the bare ground into soil so it is habitable by other species. The island of Surtsey in Iceland is used as a real-world example and shows how different parts of an area can be at different stages of succession.
Understanding and prior knowledge checks are embedded into the PowerPoint (along with the answers) to allow students to assess their progress against the current topic and to encourage them to make links to previously-covered work.
The 8 lessons included in this bundle are detailed and engaging and have been filled with a variety of tasks to challenge the students on their understanding of the content of topic 8, which is titled GREY MATTER. These lessons cover the earlier specification points in this topic, focusing on the conduction of impulses through the mammalian nervous system.
If you would like to view the quality of these lessons, then download the neurones, pupil dilation and nervous and hormonal control lessons as these have been uploaded for free.
All 5 lessons included in this bundle have been filled with a variety of tasks to engage the students whilst covering the content of topic 6.1 of the AQA A-level biology specification, titled “Stimuli, both internal and external, are detected and lead to a response”. These tasks include understanding and prior knowledge checks to allow the students to assess their progress against the current topic, as well as making links to relevant topics from earlier in the course.
The “responses in flowering plants” lesson has been shared for free, so you might choose to download this first to give an indication of the quality of the lessons in this bundle.
This bundle contains 7 detailed and engaging lessons which guide students through the key processes involved in modern genetics. Each lesson contains a variety of tasks, including exam-style questions (and answers), guided discussion points, and quick quiz rounds which will introduce the following content in topic 7 and challenge the students on their understanding:
Understand what is meant by the genome
The PCR can be used to amplify DNA samples
DNA samples can be used for gene sequencing and DNA profiling
The role of transcription factors
Post-transcription modification of mRNA
Gene expression can be changed by epigenetic modification
The differences between totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent stem cells
The formation of iPS cells and why their use is less controversial than embryonic cells
The production of recombinant DNA
If you would like to view the quality of these lessons, then download the epigenetic modification lesson as this has been shared for free.
As the 1st topic on the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) course, the Lifestyle, health and risk topic is extremely important to introduce the students to the detail needed for success in this subject. Extensive planning has gone into all 10 lessons included in this bundle to motivate and engage the students whilst covering the following specification points:
The importance of water
The structure and function of blood vessels
The cardiac cycle and the relationship between the structure and operation of the heart to its function
The course of events that lead to atherosclerosis
The blood clotting process
The differences between monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
The structure and role of the monosaccharides
Understand how monosaccharides join to form disaccharides and polysaccharides through condensation reactions and are split through hydrolysis reactions
The relationship between the structure and roles of the polysaccharides
The synthesis of a triglyceride by the formation of ester bonds between glycerol and fatty acids
The difference between saturated and unsaturated lipids
The PowerPoints and accompanying resources contain a wide variety of tasks which include exam-style questions with mark schemes, guided discussion points and quick quiz competitions.
