A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
This bundle of 5 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B4 (Community level systems) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Ecosystems
Abiotic and biotic factors
Ecological relationships
The carbon cycle
The nitrogen cycle
Decay and decomposition
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding. It is estimated that this bundle would cover about 3 week’s worth of lessons.
This fully-resources lesson looks at the phenomenon known as the Bohr effect and describes and explains how an increased carbon dioxide concentration affects the dissociation of oxyhaemoglobin. The PowerPoint has been designed to cover the second part of point 3.1.2 (j) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification and continually ties in with the previous lesson on the role of haemoglobin.
The lesson begins with a terminology check to ensure that the students can use the terms affinity, oxyhaemoglobin and dissociation. In line with this, they are challenged to draw the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve and are reminded that this shows how oxygen associates with haemoglobin but how it dissociates at low partial pressures. Moving forwards, a quick quiz is used to introduce Christian Bohr and the students are given some initial details of his described effect. This leads into a series of discussions where the outcome is the understanding that an increased concentration of carbon dioxide decreases the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen. The students will learn that this reduction in affinity is a result of a decrease in the pH of the cell cytoplasm which alters the tertiary structure of the haemoglobin. Opportunities are taken at this point to challenge students on their prior knowledge of protein structures as well as the bonds in the tertiary structure. The lesson finishes with a series of questions where the understanding and application skills are tested as students have to explain the benefit of the Bohr effect for an exercising individual. These questions are differentiated to allow students of differing abilities to access the work and to be challenged
This bundle of 4 lessons covers the majority of the content in the sub-topic B5.2 (Natural selection and evolution) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Developments in biological classification systems
Explain how evolution occurs through natural selection
Describe the evidence for evolution
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This is a fully-resourced REVISION lesson which challenges the students on their knowledge of the content in TOPIC B5 (Genetics) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The lesson uses an engaging PowerPoint (63 slides) and accompanying worksheets to motivate students whilst they assess their understanding of this topic.
A range of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions are used to test the following sub-topics:
Recognising and using genetic terminology in context
Constructing genetic diagrams to calculate offspring percentages for diseases caused by dominant and recessive alleles
The sex chromosomes and sex determination
Meiosis and the formation of haploid daughter cells
The structure of DNA
Extracting DNA from a fruit
Genetic and environmental variation
Mutations and their effect on the phenotype
The mathematical element of the course is also tested throughout the lesson and students are given helpful hints on exam techniques and how to structure answers.
This resource is suitable for use at the end of topic B3 or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.
This revision resource has been written to include a range of activities that motivate the students whilst they assess their understanding of the content found in module 2.1.5 (Biological membranes) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The resource includes a detailed and engaging Powerpoint (71 slides) and associated worksheets
The range of activities have been designed to cover as much of the content as possible but the following sub-topics have been given particular attention:
The movement of molecules by active transport which requires ATP as an immediate source of energy
The movement of molecules by passive processes
The use of membrane-spanning proteins in facilitated diffusion and active transport
Factors that increase the rate of simple diffusion
The movement of water across membranes by osmosis
The effects that solutions of different water potentials can have on animal and plant cells
The fluid mosaic model of membrane structure
The roles of the components of the plasma cell membrane
In addition to these topics, some topics from other modules such as organelles, synapses and autoimmune diseases are tested in order to challenge the students on their ability to make links between the modules. The range of activities include exam questions and understanding checks as well as quiz competitions to maintain student engagement.
This revision resource includes a range of activities that will act to engage and motivate the students whilst they assess their understanding of the Animal nutrition content (topic B6) of the CIE IGCSE Combined Science specification for examination in June and November 2020 and 2021. There are exam questions with explained answers as well as quick tasks and quiz competitions such as “Have you got the right BALANCE” where students are challenged to recognise whether a statement about the balanced diet is accurate or not.
The lesson was designed to cover as much content as possible but the following topics have received particular attention:
Mechanical digestion
Chemical digestion by digestive enzymes
Amylase and the break down of starch
The adaptations of the small intestine to allow absorption
The roles of the hydrochloric acid in gastric juice
The break down of lipids in the small intestine
The components of a balanced diet
This resource includes a detailed and engaging PowerPoint (51 slides) and a worksheet which is differentiated two ways. Efforts have been made to make links to other topics such as enzymes (B4) so students can see the importance of being able to make connections in their answers
This clear and detailed lesson describes the process of oxidative phosphorylation, including the roles of the electron carriers, oxygen and the mitochondrial cristae and explains the role of chemiosmosis. The PowerPoint has been designed to cover points 5.2.2 (g) and (h) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification and includes details of the electron transport chain, proton gradients and ATP synthase.
The lesson begins with a discussion about the starting point of the reaction. In the previous stages, the starting molecule was the final product of the last stage but in this stage, it is the reduced coenzymes which release their hydrogen atoms. Moving forwards, the process of oxidative phosphorylation is covered in 7 detailed steps and at each point, key facts are discussed and explored in further detail to enable a deep understanding to be developed. Students will see how the proton gradient across the inner membrane is created and that the flow of protons down the channel associated with ATP synthase results in a conformational change and the addition of phosphate groups to ADP by oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding checks are included throughout the lesson to enable the students to assess their progress and prior knowledge checks allow them to recognise the clear links to other topics and modules.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the other uploaded lessons on glycolysis, the Link reaction and Krebs cycle and anaerobic respiration
An engaging lesson presentation (33 slides) that looks at the key details of asexual reproduction, examines the process in bacteria and plants and also considers the advantages and disadvantages. The lesson begins by challenging the students to discuss whether reproduction always requires two (parents). Students will see how only one parent is involved in this type of reproduction and will focus on how it takes place in bacteria. Moving forwards, students will be introduced to the methods of runners, bulbs and tubers in plants. By making connections to natural selection, students will be challenged to think about the benefits of asexual reproduction. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding.
This lesson is suitable for both KS3 and GCSE students
An engaging lesson presentation (58 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 of the AQA GCSE Biology specification.
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Eukaryotes and prokaryotes
Animal and plant cells
Microscopy
Chromosomes
Diffusion
Osmosis
Active transport
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like "A QUESTION of CELLS" and "Take the Hotseat" whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
This bundle of 7 lesson presentations and associated worksheets have been designed to motivate and engage students whilst they assess their knowledge of the 7 Biology topics that are covered in the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification.
The lessons use a range of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to cover the content in the following topics:
B1 Cell Biology
B2 Organisation
B3 Infection and response
B4 Bioenergetics
B5 Homeostasis and response
B6 Inheritance, variation and evolution
B7 Ecology
These revision lessons can be used at the end of the topic, in the lead up to the mock exams or in the lead up to the actual GCSE terminal exams
A fully resourced lesson which includes an informative lesson presentation (25 slides) and an associated worksheet that show students how to give answers to a certain number of significant figures. The answers to questions in Science are often required to be given in significant figures and this lesson guides students through this process, including the rules of rounding that must be applied for success to be likely.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students but is suitable for KS3
An informative lesson presentation (38 slides) that looks at a range of non-communicable diseases and also explores how risk factors can increase the chances of an individual having one of these diseases. The lesson begins by looking at CHD so that students can recognise that this is a non-communicable disease and check on their understanding of this key term. Moving forwards, a step by step question and answer format is used to show students how to form a long answer. Key terminology such as thrombosis and atherosclerosis are introduced using quick quiz competitions which act to maintain the engagement. The rest of the lesson focuses on a range of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and time is taken to deepen knowledge of the human anatomy by challenging students to link the names of arteries to the organs that they supply. Progress checks have been written into the lesson at regular intervals so that students can constantly assess their understanding and any misconceptions can be addressed.
This lesson has been written for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK)
A fully-resourced lesson, which has been designed for GCSE students, and includes an engaging and informative lesson presentation (37 slides) and differentiated worksheets. This lesson explores the type of cell division known as meiosis and focuses on the use of key terminology so that students can apply their knowledge to any organism that carries out this division, and not just humans. For this reason, time is taken at the start of the lesson to go over the meaning of the terms, diploid and haploid. Students are also taught how to think about the quantity of DNA inside a cell in terms of n, so that they can see and understand how this quantity changes through the cell cycle. They are encouraged to fill in a table at each stage of the cycle to show the quantity of DNA. In this way, students will understand how a diploid parent cell goes through interphase and as a result of DNA replication, the quantity of DNA is 4n as the first meiosis division is about to start. Although this could be viewed as high end knowledge, the format of this lesson should allow all abilities to understand and therefore have more chance of being successful with meiosis questions. Students are encouraged to think for themselves to work out how many daughter cells will result at the end of two divisions and to consider the quantity of DNA found inside those cells. At this stage of the lesson, students have to summarise all they have learnt into two key points (as shown on the cover image). The remainder of the lesson gives them the opportunity to apply their knowledge with a range of questions and it is not until right at the end that they are allowed to finally relate this cell division to humans.
Although this lesson has been primarily designed for GCSE students (14 - 16 year olds in the UK), it is highly suitable for A-level lessons, especially if a teacher wants to recap on this cell division before extending knowledge.
This bundle of 19 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B6 (Global challenges) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Biology specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Investigating distribution by sampling
Increasing biodiversity
Loss of biodiversity
Selective breeding
Genetic engineering
Producing a GMO
Health and disease
Communicable diseases
Stopping the spread of diseases
Plant diseases
Plant defences
The Human Body’s Defences
Blood clotting
The uses of vaccines
Monoclonal antibodies
Antibiotics
Developing drugs
Non-communicable diseases
Treating cardiovascular diseases
Organ transplants
Stem cells in medicine
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This lesson uses the example of the genetic engineering of bacteria to produce insulin to walk students through the steps involved in this process. It has been written for GCSE students and therefore includes the detail required at this level, such as the involvement of restriction enzymes and the sticky ends that their cut produces. The lesson begins by challenging students to recognise that insulin is being described by a series of clues. Some further details of this hormone are recalled to test their previous knowledge of the endocrine system and also to lead into the genetic engineering of bacteria to make this protein. Moving forwards, time is taken to go through the details of plasmids and how they act as vectors as well as the enzymes, restriction and ligase. The main task of the lesson uses a series of descriptions to go through the steps involved in the process. Words or phrases are missing from each description so students have to use the terms they’ve encountered in this lesson as well as their prior knowledge to complete the step. Discussion-provoking questions are added to encourage the students to consider why certain parts of the process occur. The lesson concludes by the consideration of other organisms which have been genetically engineered as well as some of the risks of the process, which students are asked to complete for homework.
As detailed above, this lesson has been designed for GCSE students but could be used with students taking A-level Biology, who are struggling to understand the detail found at this level and need to revisit the foundations.
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
This is a fully-resourced REVISION lesson that consists of an engaging PowerPoint (129 slides) and associated worksheets that challenge the students on their knowledge of topics 4 - 6 (Community-level systems, Interaction between systems and Global challenges) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification and can be assessed on PAPER 2.
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 sub-topics have been given particular attention:
Identifying bacterial, fungal and viral diseases
The steps in the process of genetic engineering
Evolution by natural selection
The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria
The prevention and reduction of the spread of pathogens
Vaccinations
The risk factors of CHD
Genetic terminology
Predicting the results of single-gene crosses
Sex determination
Ecological terms
The carbon cycle
The mathematic elements of the Combined Science specification are challenged throughout the resource.
Due to the size of this resource, it is likely that it’ll be used over the course of a number of lessons and it is suitable for use as an end of topic revision aid, in the lead up to the mocks or in the lead up to the actual GCSE exams.
This bundle of 4 revision lessons covers the content in topics 5 - 8 of the AQA A-level Biology specification that are commonly taught during year 13 (A2) of the two-year course.
Each of the lessons has been designed to include a range of exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions that will motivate the students whilst they evaluate their understanding of the different sub-topics.
Helpful hints are given throughout the lesson to aid the students in structuring their answers and the mathematical elements of the course are constantly challenged as well.
The 4 topics covered by this bundle are:
Topic 5: Energy transfers in and between organisms
Topic 6: Organisms respond to changes in their environment
Topic 7: Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
Topic 8: The control of gene expression
This lesson has been designed to cover the content as detailed in point 2.13 (The structure and function of the nervous system) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology & Combined Science specifications. Consisting of a detailed and engaging PowerPoint (38 slides) and accompanying worksheets, the range of activities will motivate the students whilst ensuring that the content is covered in detail. Students will learn how receptors, sensory neurones, the CNS, motor neurones and effectors are involved in the detection and response to a stimulus. There is a focus on the structure of the sensory and motor neurones and the presence of the myelin sheath in both of these neurones is discussed with relation to the increased speed of conduction. Students will understand that a synapses involve the diffusion of neurotransmitters and allow communication between neurones and they are briefly introduced to relay neurones but these are covered in more detail in the reflexes lesson. Progress checks are included throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding of the content and any misconceptions can be addressed whilst quiz competitions, like FROM NUMBERS 2 LETTERS and SAY WHAT YOU SEE, are used to introduce new terms in a fun and memorable way.
This lesson has been written for GCSE-aged students who are studying the Edexcel GCSE Biology or Combined Science specifications but can be used with older students who need to know the key details of the nervous system for their A level course before taking it to greater depths
This lesson has been designed to cover the higher tier content of specification points 7.4 & 7.5 (The hormones involved in the stages of the menstrual cycle) which is found in topic 7 of the Edexcel GCSE Biology & Combined Science specifications. A wide range of activities will engage and motivate the students whilst the content is covered in detail and understanding checks are included at regular points to enable the students to self-assess their new found knowledge. Students will learn about the different stages of the menstrual cycle including menstruation and ovulation and will see how FSH, oestrogen, LH and progesterone interact to control these stages.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE-aged students who are taking the Edexcel GCSE Biology or Combined Science course but it is also suitable for younger students who are looking into this topic as part of the reproduction module