I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
Edexcel IAL specification - students learn how the data for a model is produced and then extrapolated. We then look at factors other than carbon dioxide which can influence the model. Limitations of models are discussed.
2 complete lessons covering the events which lead to the formation of a blood clot and how atherosclerosis occurs.
Edexcel IAL spec link - 1.10 and 1.11
There is an excel video included in the ppt.
There are many opportunities for assessment in the power points and an exam question for each lesson.
Edexcel specification link 6.5 (i) (ii)
Two power point complete lessons focusing on the structure of viruses and bacteria. The second lesson looks at the lytic and lysogenic cycles with a short video clip on retrovirus reproduction - this will be looked at again when we study HIV.
The lesson includes an exam question with mark scheme.
2 lessons looking at the causes, symptoms and treatments of 2 deadly diseases.
Edexcel Spec link 6.6
There is plenty of opportunity for class discussion and links into history for both diseases.
I have included graded tasks in both lessons as my students enjoy working their way up to the higher grades.
This series of lessons covers:
The basic principles of cellular respiration
The importance of cellular respiration in the production of ATP
The site of glycolysis, krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation
The main stages of glycolysis, Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
Anaerobic respiration
Respiratory substrates and respiratory quotient.
Each power point is a complete lesson which includes activities and exam style questions to check understanding.
A level biology lesson exploring how a changing climate can lead to the evolution of a species.
Learning outcomes
Understand how evolution can come about through gene mutations and natural selection
Understand how isolation reduces gene flow between populations, leading to allopatric or sympatric speciation
This is a complete lesson which includes individual and group tasks for students. There are also exam questions to check understanding.
A series of lessons which support the Pearson textbook for the international AS level (edexcel).
These resources are also useful for online lessons to aid student’s understanding at home.
Covered in these lessons:
The need for a circulatory system
The importance of surface area to volume ratio
The advantage of a double circulatory system
The structure and function of blood
The role of platelets in blood clotting
The role of haemoglobin in transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide
The structure of the heart and the cardiac cycle
Atherosclerosis
I have included different activities, some individual and some which could be within a group or with a partner. Plus exam questions and tasks to check understanding.
A level Biology lesson looking at the structure of ATP and its role in cells
Lesson objectives:
Describe the structure of the molecule ATP
Explain why ATP is used by organisms
Describe the role ATP plays in the cell
There are a series of exam questions included to check understanding
A classroom or home learning activity. Students can use digital devices/mobiles to find the answer to clues but to also learn the process of meiosis. There are tasks which can be completed in exercise books, building up a knowledge of the process and comparing it with mitosis.
Activity takes approximately 45 minutes.
Section 2: Marine Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Complete lessons covering the following points:
The meaning of the terms: ecosystem, habitat, population, community, species, biodiversity and ecological niche
Describing interrelationships within marine ecosystems to include mutualism and parasitism
explain the meaning of the term: producer, comsumer, predator, prey and trophic level in context of food chains and food webs
explain how populations of predator and prey may be interrelated
Each powerpoint has talking points, small activities for students (individually or in pairs), video resources and exam questions.
I have also used these for students studying at home.
A task which is suitable for students in class but also during home schooling.
It covers GCSE/IGCSE Photosynthesis specification looking at:
photosynthesis equation
limiting factors
structure of the leaf
mineral ions
photosynthesis practicals
The task is set as a spy mission. Students are directed to different websites which included images, videos and information. Students collect the information and use to complete a mission grid which helps them crack the code. In total there are 15 clues, building up their knowledge of photosynthesis. The PPT includes an answer sheet (remove from powerpoint before sharing with students!)
My students loved this activity and it gave them a good introduction to photosynthesis.
My students often are overwhelmed with the thought of preparing for their mock and IGCSE exams.
I have reduced the specification to simple points to enable the students to produce notes on each section.
To start with, they read through the statements and traffic-light colour code each section to determine areas they really need to focus on.
I advise they work through each point, producing summarised notes to support their learning. I have included a QR code to scan which leads to a page describing each specification point. The majority are in note form but there a few videos for trickier topics.
Students can successfully build up a series of revision notes and feel confident with their understanding of the course.
A complete lesson focusing on the following points in the specification.
Understand the structure of chloroplasts in relation to their role in photosynthesis
Understand what is meant by action spectrum and absorption spectrum
Understand how the chlorophyll pigments can be separated by chromatography.
A variety of activities to promote discussion and learning.
2 lessons focusing on:
the effect of water temperature, water pressure (depth), atmospheric pressure and salinity on the solubility of gases in water
the implications this has for marine organisms
A range of resources including videos, research task, presentations and exam questions.
2 complete lessons introducing enthalpy changes. By the end of the lesson students should:
Know that enthalpy is the heat change measured at a constant pressure and state the standard conditions
Be able to define what we mean by standard enthalpy of a reaction
Be able to construct and interpret enthalpy level diagrams showing an energy change
Lesson includes discussion points and questions to check understanding.
A level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
An activity to introduce the main elements of the transport topic or to be used as a revision tool. I have used it in class but it can be used for home schooling assignment or homework.
The activity took my students over an hour. There are many tasks the students must complete as they collect their clues.
Students need access to the internet to carry out this activity.
A level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
A level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
A fun revision revision resource focusing on the topic Human Transport. Great to be used in the class or as a homework.
Just print the sheets back to back and fold down the dotted line.
The document consists of the specification points students should be aware of.
The activity has 5 pages of tasks focusing on:
the composition of the blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma
adaptations of red blood cells make them suitable for the transport of oxygen
how the immune system responds to disease using white blood cells,
describe the structure of the heart and how it functions
explain how the heart rate changes during exercise and under the influence of adrenaline
the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries and how this relates to their function
the general structure of the circulation system
the factors may increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease