This is a fast-paced lesson which goes through the main steps of selective breeding and looks at the potential risks of this process. The lesson begins by looking at the characteristics of a number of organisms that would be selected. Time is taken to ensure that students understand that selective breeding is not a new thing and has been going on for a very long time and therefore some of the problems associated with this are now being experienced. The actual process is reduced down into 5 steps which can be recalled and applied to questions. The remainder of the lesson looks at the potential issues with selective breeding. The reduction in the nose size of pugs is explored as an example of the health problems which bred animals may face. This lesson has been written for GCSE students.

This is a fully-resourced lesson that looks at the functional and structural differences between the transport tissues in a plant, the xylem and phloem. The lesson includes an engaging lesson presentation (41 slides), which includes numerous student-led tasks, progress checks and quick competitions and two question worksheets, one of which is a differentiated version to enable those students who are finding this topic difficult to still be able to access the learning. The lesson begins with the introduction of the two tissues as well as a brief introduction to the substances which they each carry. The next part of the lesson focuses on the xylem cells and the resulting xylem vessel, and key terms such as lignin are brought into the lesson so that students can understand how these cells are waterproofed, which causes them to decay and form hollow tubes. Having met a lot of information, students are challenged to act like an examiner to form a table based question to compare the xylem against the phloem where they have to come up with features which could be compared against. This table will form the backbone of the lesson and students will use it later in the lesson when they have to write summary passages about each of the tissues. Moving forwards, a quick competition is used to enable the students to meet the names of the cells that form the phloem tissue, the sieve tube elements and the companion cells. Students will see how they are involved in the functioning of the phloem and questions are posed which relate to other topics such as the involvement of mitochondria wherever active transport occurs. Progress checks like this are found at regular intervals throughout the lesson so that students can constantly assess their understanding. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students. If you are looking to teach about these tissues but to a higher standard, you could use my uploaded alternative called Xylem and Phloem (A-level)

This is an engaging and fully-resourced revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 2 (Cells and control) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology 9-1 specification. The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include: Describe mitosis as part of the cell cycle, including the stages interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase and cytokinesis Describe the importance of mitosis in growth, repair and asexual reproduction Describe the division of a cell by mitosis as the production of two daughter cells, each with identical sets of chromosomes in the nucleus to the parent cell, and that this results in the formation of two genetically identical diploid body cells Explain the importance of cell differentiation in the development of specialised cells Discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with the use of stem cells in medicine Describe the structures and functions of the brain including the cerebellum, cerebral hemispheres and medulla oblongata Explain how the difficulties of accessing brain tissue inside the skull can be overcome by using CT scanning and PET scanning to investigate brain function Explain the structure and function of sensory receptors, sensory neurones, relay neurones in the CNS, motor neurones and synapses in the transmission of electrical impulses, including the axon, dendron, myelin sheath and the role of neurotransmitters Explain the structure and function of the eye as a sensory receptor including the role of the cornea, lens and iris Describe defects of the eye including cataracts, longsightedness and short-sightedness Explain how long-sightedness and short-sightedness can be corrected The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as "Can I have a P please BOB” where they have to recognise the different phases of mitosis from pictures or descriptions. The activities will crucially enable the students to determine which areas of topic 2 will need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.

This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that includes a detailed and engaging powerpoint (81 slides) that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Topic 8 (Grey Matter) of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification. The specification points that are tested within the lesson include: Know the structure and function of sensory, relay and motor neurones including the role of Schwann cells and myelination. Understand how the nervous systems of organisms can cause effectors to respond to a stimulus. Understand how the pupil dilates and contracts. Understand how a nerve impulse (action potential) is conducted along an axon including changes in membrane permeability to sodium and potassium ions and the role of the myelination in saltatory conduction. Know the structure and function of synapses in nerve impulse transmission, including the role of neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine. Understand how IAA bring about responses in plants to environmental cues Know the location and functions of the cerebral hemispheres, hypothalamus, cerebellum and medulla oblongata in the human brain. Understand how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans are used in medical diagnosis and the investigation of brain structure and function. Understand how imbalances in certain, naturally occurring brain chemicals can contribute to ill health, including dopamine in Parkinson’s disease and serotonin in depression, and to the development of new drugs. Understand the effects of drugs on synaptic transmissions, including the use of L-Dopa in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and the action of MDMA in Ecstasy. Students will be engaged by the numerous quiz rounds such as “From NUMBERS 2 LETTERS” and “COMMUNICATE the WORD” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual A-level terminal exams

This resource has been designed to motivate students whilst they evaluate their understanding of the content in modules 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the OCR A-level Biology A specification which can be assessed in PAPER 1 (Biological processes). The resource includes a detailed and engaging Powerpoint (149 slides) and is fully-resourced with differentiated worksheets that challenge the students on a wide range of topics. The resource has been written to include different types of activities such as exam questions with explained answers, understanding checks and quiz competitions. The aim was to cover as much of the specification content as possible but the following topics have been given particular attention: Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides Glycogen and starch as stores and providers of energy The homeostatic control of blood glucose concentration Osmoregulation Lipids Ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption Diabetes mellitus Voluntary and involuntary muscle The autonomic control of heart rate The organisation of the nervous system The gross structure of the human heart Haemoglobin and the Bohr shift Bonding The ultrastructure of plant cells Cyclic vs non-cyclic photophosphorylation Oxidative phosphorylation Anaerobic respiration in eukaryotes Helpful hints and tips are given throughout the resource to help students to structure their answers. This resource can be used in the lead up to the actual Paper 1 exam or earlier in the course when a particular area of modules 1, 2, 3 or 5 is being studied. If you are happy with this resource, why not look at the one which has been designed for Paper 2 (Biological diversity)?

This is a fully-resourced REVISION lesson that consists of an engaging PowerPoint (87 slides) and associated worksheets that challenge the students on their knowledge of the content of Topic 1 (Lifestyle, Health and Risk) of the Edexcel A-Level Biology A (Salters-Nuffield) specification. A wide range of activities have been written into the lesson to maintain motivation and these tasks include exam questions (with answers), understanding checks, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions. The lesson has been designed to include as much which of the content from topic 1, but the following specification points have been given particular attention: The differences between monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides, including glycogen and starch (amylose and amylopectin). Be able to relate the structures of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides to their roles in providing and storing energy Know how monosaccharides join to form disaccharides (sucrose, lactose and maltose) and polysaccharides (glycogen and amylose) through condensation reactions forming glycosidic bonds, and how these can be split through hydrolysis reactions. Know how a triglyceride is synthesised by the formation of ester bonds during condensation reactions between glycerol and three fatty acids. Understand the course of events that leads to atherosclerosis Know how factors such as genetics, diet, age, gender, high blood pressure, smoking and inactivity increase the risk of cardiovascular disease Know the benefits and risks of treatments for CVD Understand the blood-clotting process and its role in CVD Understand how the structures of arteries and veins) relate to their functions. Understand the importance of water as a solvent in transport, including its dipole nature. This lesson can be used at numerous points over the duration of the course, as an end of topic revision aid, in the lead up to the mocks or in the lead up to the actual A-level exams.

A highly engaging lesson presentation (74 slides) and accompanying worksheets that uses exam questions (with explained answers), quick tasks and quiz competitions to allow students to assess their understanding of the topic of Biological molecules (Topic 3.1). Students will have fun whilst recognising those areas of the specification which need further attention.

A fun and engaging lesson presentation (33 slides) and associated worksheet that uses exam questions, with fully explained answers, quick tasks and competitions to allow students to assess their understanding of Module 3.1.2 (Transport in Animals). The students will enjoy the lesson whilst being able to recognise which areas of the specification need further attention. Competitions included in the lesson are “SPOT THE ERROR”, “Where’s Lenny” and “Crack the code”

This fully-resourced REVISION LESSON has been designed to provide the students with numerous opportunities to assess their understanding of the content of module 5.2.2 (Respiration) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The importance of this metabolic reaction is obvious and this is reflected in the volume of questions in the terminal exams which require an in depth knowledge of the stages of both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. The lesson contains a wide range of activities that cover the following points of the specification: Glycolysis as a stage of aerobic and anaerobic respiration The use and production of ATP through respiration Anaerobic respiration in mammalian muscle tissue The stages of aerobic respiration that occur in the mitochondrial matrix Oxidative phosphorylation The use of respirometers Calculating the respiratory quotient value for different respiratory substrates Revision lessons which cover the other sub-modules of module 5 are uploaded and tie in well with this content

A fully resourced revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions (with explained answers), quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within module 6.3.1 (Ecosystems) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The topics tested within this lesson include: Ecosystems Transfer of biomass Recycling within ecosystems Succession Studying ecosystems Student will enjoy the range of tasks and quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise any areas which require further attention

A fully resourced revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions (with explained answers), quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within module 4 (Biodiversity, evolution and disease) of the OCR A-level Biology specification. The topics tested within this lesson include: Communicable diseases, biodiversity, classification and evolution Student will enjoy the range of tasks and quiz rounds whilst crucially being able to recognise any areas which require further attention

This is a fully-resourced lesson which looks at how IVF is used a treatment for infertility and considers the arguments for and against this process. The lesson includes an engaging, informative and discussion provoking lesson presentation and a pair of differentiated worksheets which challenge the mathematical skills of the students when looking at the % chance of multiple births from IVF. The lesson begins by getting the students to recognise the phrase “test tube baby” and then to link this to IVF. Extra pieces of interesting information are given throughout the lesson, such as the introduction of Louise Brown at this point. A step by step guide is used to go through the key steps in the process. Questions are continually posed to the students which get them to think and attempt to verbalise their answers such as when they are questioned whether men are needed for this process. There is a focus on key terminology throughout, such as haploid and zygote and genetic screening. Students will learn that multiple births are much more common in IVF births than from natural conception and then they will be asked to manipulate data in a mathematical task with some figures from a maternity ward. As these questions are quite difficult, this worksheet has been differentiated so that all students can access the learning. Although this has been written for GCSE students, it is suitable for use with older students.

This fully-resourced lesson explores how the presence of particular alleles at one locus can mask the expression of alleles at a second locus in epistasis. The detailed and engaging PowerPoint and associated resources have been designed to cover the part of point 6.1.2 (b[ii]) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification which states that students should be able to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and understanding of the use of phenotypic ratios to identify epistasis. This is a topic which students tend to find difficult, and therefore the lesson was written to split the topic into small chunks where examples of dominant, recessive and complimentary epistasis are considered, discussed at length and then explained. Understanding checks, in various forms, are included throughout the lesson so that students can assess their progress and any misconceptions are immediately addressed. There are regular links to related topics such as dihybrid inheritance so that students can meet the challenge of interpreting genotypes as well as recognising the different types of epistasis.

This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Module 5.2.1 (Photosynthesis) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include: The interrelationship between photosynthesis and respiration The structure of a chloroplast The importance of photosynthetic pigments in photosynthesis The light dependent stage of photosynthesis The fixation of carbon dioxide and the light independent stage of photosynthesis Factors affecting photosynthesis Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds such as “Can you DEPEND on your knowledge” and “Photosynthesising the SAFE way” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual A-level terminal exams

An engaging lesson presentation (60 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within unit B2 (Organisation) of the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification (specification point 4.2) The topics that are tested within the lesson include: Principles of organisation The human digestive system The heart and blood vessels Blood Coronary heart disease The effect of lifestyle on some non-communicable diseases Plant organ systems Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “SPOT the SUBSTANCE" and “Where’s LENNY” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention

An engaging lesson presentation (64 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within unit B1 (Cell Biology) of the AQA GCSE Combined Science specification (specification point 4.1). The topics that are tested within the lesson include: Eukaryotes and prokaryotes Animal and plant cells Microscopy Chromosomes The cell cycle including mitosis Stem cells Diffusion Osmosis Active transport Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “SPOT the CELL” and “Take the Hotseat” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention

A detailed lesson presentation (37 slides) and associated worksheets that looks at the different pieces of evidence that scientists use to support evolution and discusses how these support the theory. The lesson begins by challenging students to decide which piece of evidence is the key piece in supporting evolution (fossils). Students will then have to arrange a number of statements to describe how a fossil is formed. Students are introduced to the fossil record and questions are used to check that they understand where the oldest fossils would be found. Moving forwards, students are given three pieces of evidence that would be observed in the fossil record and they are challenged to explain how each of these supports the theory of evolution. Quick competitions are then used to get the students to see some extinct organisms in the Dodo and Woolly Mammoth and again they are questioned on how extinct animals support the theory of evolution. Further evidence in rapid changes in species and molecular comparison is discussed. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding and there is a set homework included.