Variation - Continuous, Discontinuous and Histograms

✓ Engaging powerpoint
✓ Recaps previous learning
✓ Lots of AFL tasks and activities
✓ Worksheet for class survey activity
✓ Lots of graph exam skills

This lesson on Variation is designed for KS4 Science students enrolled in the CIE Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (2023-25) course. This is the first lesson in the topic 18 Variation and Selection.

The lesson recaps previous learning from other linked topics to ensure students have a strong foundation before diving into the material. It also includes concise and easy-to-understand information and a variety of quick assessment for learning tasks to help students solidify their understanding of the topic. There is a strong emphasis on graph skills, and particular what students should watch out for in exams.

This resource also includes a worksheet to print with tables for students to fill in during a classroom survey activity. I would also make sure that you have graph paper to hand.

Objectives:

• Describe variation as differences between individuals of the same species
• State that continuous variation results in a range of phenotypes between two extremes; examples include body length and body mass
• State that discontinuous variation results in a limited number of phenotypes with no intermediates; examples include ABO blood groups, seed shape in peas and seed colour in peas
• State that discontinuous variation is usually caused by genes only and continuous variation is caused by both genes and the environment
• Investigate and describe examples of continuous and discontinuous variation
• Describe gene mutation as a random change in
  the base sequence of DNA
• State that mutation is the way in which new alleles are formed
• State that ionising radiation and some chemicals increase the rate of mutation
• State that mutation, meiosis, random mating and random fertilisation are sources of genetic variation in populations

This lesson would also be adaptable for all GCSE students (whether AQA, Edexcel, OCR) and great for KS3 Science or as a GCSE revision resource.