NEW (2016) AS-Level Biology - Lipids

This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA AS-level Biology course, particularly the ‘Biological Molecules’ module.

For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA A-level Biology course please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience

A-Level lesson format: I teach in more of a lecture style compared to GCSE. In the majority of my A-level lessons the beginning portion of the lesson is mainly teacher-led, where students are expected to take notes onto a handout/in their books. This is then mixed in with student-led activities, as well as questions and exam prep.

You will find some of my slides have blank spaces for you to add more detail/descriptions/explanations. If you look at the ‘Notes’ section underneath each of these slides, you will find additional content which you can add in as you teach!

This lesson begins with an introduction to lipids, including a description of the structure of lipids as well as the importance and roles of lipids in the human body.

Students are then introduced (or reminded if taking A-level Chemistry) of the full displayed chemical formula and shorthand formula of a fatty acid, the example given is butanoic acid. Students are now shown the displayed chemical formula of glycerol next to the fatty acid formula, and are asked to use their mino whiteboards to show how a condensation reaction could occur between the two molecules.

Once students have had a go, the answers are revealed and students can note down the chemical structure of the triglyceride molecule which results.

Students are now shown the difference between a saturated and unsaturated fatty acid, the next activity involves students reading information posters about saturated fats, unsaturated fats, cholesterol and phospholipids. They will need to use these information posters to complete a worksheet.

Lastly, students will be shown the foot test for lipids and then be given a set of exam questions on this topic. This will then be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided. The plenary question requires students to describe the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats.

All resources are included. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)