Through this fully resourced lesson students will be introduced to the endocrine system. The learning objective for this lesson is for students to explain the function of the endocrine system. They will first define the term hormone and give examples, they will then describe what the endocrine system is and its role in homeostasis and they will finally compare the endocrine and nervous systems that they should have learned previously. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine allele and genotype frequencies based upon the Hardy-Weinberg principle. This lesson requires students to have already been introduced to the Hardy-Weinberg principle and its conditions as well as the equation p+q=1 and what it represents. Students will first determine how genotypes are represented by the Hardy-Weinberg principle (p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1). Students will then calculate a number of allele and genotype frequencies based upon exam style questions, worked answers are then provided for each question. Students will finish by applying their knowledge of the Hardy-Weinberg principle to more exam style questions.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will explore the role of the pituitary gland in maintaining homeostasis. Students will first identify the location of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, they will then describe why the pituitary gland is sometimes called the ‘master gland’, before finally explaining how the nervous systems and endocrine systems work together in the pituitary gland using ADH as an example. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine how steroid and amino acid hormones initiate a response. They will first describe what is meant by a steroid, they will then recall examples of steroid and non-steroid hormones before comparing the action of steroid and non-steroid hormones. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine the role of reproductive isolating mechanisms in speciation. Students will first define the term species and speciation and look some examples of hybrid organisms. Students will then describe the two types of reproductive isolating mechanisms; prezygotic and postzygotic isolation. Students will finally interpret exam style questions related to reproductive isolating mechanisms.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will differentiate between allopatric and sympatric speciation. They will first recall some key recently taught concepts including geographic isolation, the Hardy-Weinberg principle and reproductive isolating mechanisms. Students will then describe the terms allopatric and sympatric speciation and explore examples. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will analyse how natural selection causes allele frequencies to be altered over time. Students will first recall the Hardy-Weinberg principle and the conditions it requires, they will then explain what is meant by genetic drift, the founder effect and the bottleneck effect. Students will finally determine the different ways natural selection alters phenotypes through exploring stabilising, directional, disruptive and sexual selection. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions. This is quite a long lesson with a many new key terms being introduced which may require 2 lessons to cover depending upon the pace and ability of the class.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will explore the main patterns shown by evolution. Students will first recall the main types of evidence that exist for evolution and speciation, they will then identify and describe the three main evolutionary patterns including adaptive radiation, coevolution and convergent evolution. Students will finally differentiate between the gradual and punctuated equilibrium models that explain the tempo of evolution. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will explain the role of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Students will first identify the location of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, they will then describe the role of the main hormones secreted by the thyroid and parathyroid before finally determining the role of the thyroid and the parathyroid in homeostasis. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions including a question on hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine the role of the hormones glucagon and insulin in maintaining homeostasis. Students will first describe the main functions of the pancreas, they will then explain how insulin and glucagon maintain homeostasis before finally exploring the symptoms and treatments of diabetes. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will discover the role of the main adrenal hormones in responding to stress and reducing inflammation. Students will first describe how our body responds to stressful situations in the fight or flight response, they will then explore the adrenal hormones and their roles before finally responding to exam style questions relating to the adrenal glands.

Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine allele frequencies based upon the Hardy-Weinberg principle. This lesson is an introduction to this concept therefore the calculations are quite simple and the main aim is for students to understand the concept of the Hardy-Weinberg principle. My following lesson ‘Calculating Allele and Genotype Frequencies’ explores calcuations in much greater depth. Students will first recall the terms allele, homozygous dominant, homozygous recessive and heterozygous which they should have already covered in a previous topic before being able to access this lesson. Students will then be introduced to the Hardy-Weinberg principle and the conditions it requires. Students will then learn how to calculate simple allele frequencies using the equation p+q=1. Throughout the lesson students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.