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 fully-resourced lesson challenges the students to use fully labelled genetic diagrams to interpret the results of monohybrid and dihybrid crosses as detailed in topic 7.1 (Inheritance) of the AQA A-level Biology specification. Step-by-step guides are used to demonstrate how diagrams for the inheritance of one and two genes should be constructed and a focus is given to the areas where students commonly make mistakes, such as in writing out the gametes. The main task of each section of the lesson provides an opportunity for the students to apply their understanding by calculating phenotypic ratios. All of the questions have fully-explained mark schemes and students can assess their progress and address any misconceptions immediately. Key genetic terminology is used throughout the lesson and mirrors that used in actual exam questions.
Topic 8 of the Edexcel International A-level biology specification is content heavy and therefore all 11 lessons included in this bundle have been planned to cover this content in an engaging and memorable way. The lessons are filled with a wide variety of tasks, including understanding and prior knowledge checks, guided discussion periods and quick quiz competitions. Answers to all of the knowledge checks are embedded into the PowerPoints to allow the students to assess their progress.
The following specification points are covered by this bundle:
8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.8, 8.10, 8.13, 8.14, 8.18, 8.19, 8.20
If you would like to get a sense for the quality of the lessons in this bundle, then download the nervous and hormonal control, saltatory conduction and pupil reflex lessons as these have been shared for free.
This bundle of 9 revision lessons covers the specification content in all of the topics of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology 9-1 specification.
Topic 1: Key concepts in Biology
Topic 2: Cells and control
Topic 3: Genetics
Topic 4: Natural selection and modification
Topic 5: Health, disease and the development of medicines
Topic 6: Plant structures and functions
Topic 7: Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
Topic 8: Exchange and transport in animals
Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles
All of the lessons have been written to include a range of activities to engage the students whilst enabling them to assess and evaluate their content knowledge so that they recognise those areas which will need further attention prior to the exams.
This bundle of 10 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic B5 (Health, disease and development of medicines) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Health
The difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases
Pathogens
Common infections
The spread of diseases and the prevention
The spread of STIs
Plant defences
Identification of plant diseases
The physical and chemical defences of the human body
The use of antibiotics
Developing new medicines
Monoclonal antibodies
Non-communicable diseases
Treating cardiovascular disease
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.
All 7 of the lessons in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 5.2 (Respiration) of the AQA A-Level Biology specification. The specification points that are covered within these lessons include:
Respiration produces ATP
Glycolysis as the first stage of aerobic and anaerobic respiration
The phosphorylation of glucose and the production and oxidation of triose phosphate
The production of lactate or ethanol in anaerobic conditions
The Link reaction
The oxidation-reduction reactions of the Krebs cycle
The synthesis of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation
The chemiosmotic theory
Lipids and proteins as respiratory substrates
The lessons have been written to include a wide range of activities and numerous understanding and prior knowledge checks so students can assess their progress against the current topic as well as be challenged to make links to other sub-topics within this topic and earlier topics
If you would like to see the quality of the lessons, download the anaerobic respiration and oxidative phosphorylation lessons as these have been uploaded for free
This fully-resourced lesson explains how genetic fingerprinting can be used to analyse DNA fragments and explores its applications in forensic science and medical diagnosis. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been written to cover all of point 8.4.3 of the AQA A-level Biology specification
Each step of the genetic fingerprinting process is covered and time is taken to ensure that key details are understood. Students will be introduced to VNTRs and will come to recognise their usefulness in human identification as a result of the variability between individuals. Moving forwards, the involvement of the PCR and restriction enzymes are discussed and students are challenged on their knowledge of this process and these substances as they were encountered in a previous sub-topic. The main section of the lesson focuses on the use of gel electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments (as well as proteins) and the key ideas of separation due to differences in base pair length or molecular mass are discussed and explained. As well as current understanding checks, an application question involving Huntington’s disease is used to challenge their ability to apply their knowledge of the process to an unfamiliar situation. The remainder of the lesson describes how the DNA is transferred to a membrane and hybridisation probes are used to create a pattern on the X-ray film.
Time has been taken to make continuous links to the previous lessons in topic 8 as well as those from topic 4 where DNA, RNA and protein synthesis were introduced.
This lesson bundle contains 17 detailed and fully-resourced lessons which cover the following specification points in topic 3 of the AQA A-level Biology specification:
Topic 3.1
The relationship between the size of an organism or structure and its surface area to volume ratio
The development of systems in larger organisms as adaptations that facilitate exchange as this ratio reduces
Topic 3.2
Adaptations of gas exchange surfaces as shown by gas exchange in single-celled organisms, insects, bony fish and the leaves of dicotyledonous plants
The gross structure of the human gas exchange system
The essential features of the alveolar epithelium as a surface over which gas exchange takes place
The mechanism of breathing to include the role of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles
Topic 3.3
During digestion, large molecules are hydrolysed to smaller molecules
Digestion in mammals by amylases, disaccharidases, lipase, endopeptidases, exopeptidases and dipeptidases
Mechanisms for the absorption of the products of digestion by cells lining the ileum of mammals
Topic 3.4.1
The structure and role of haemoglobin in the loading, transport and unloading of oxygen
The effects of carbon dioxide concentration on the dissociation of oxyhaemoglobin
The general pattern of blood circulation in a mammal
The gross structure of the human heart
Pressure and volume changes and valve movements during the cardiac cycle
The structure of the arteries, arterioles and veins
The formation of tissue fluid and its return to the circulatory system
Topic 3.4.2
Xylem as the tissue that transports water
The cohesion-tension theory of water transport
Phloem as the tissue that transports organic substances in plants
The mass flow hypothesis for the mechanism of translocation in plants
If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons included in this bundle, then download the following lessons which have been uploaded for free
Alveolar epithelium
Absorption in the ileum
Arteries, arterioles and veins
Formation of tissue fluid
Translocation
This lesson focuses on the key terms associated with ecosystems and describes how populations are affected by a range of factors. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources are part of the 1st lesson in a series of 4 lessons that cover the details of point 7.4 of the AQA A-level Biology specification
As shown in the cover image, a modified version of the quiz competition BLOCKBUSTERS runs throughout the lesson and this introduces new terms as well as challenging students to recall key terms that were encountered in previous topics. These include population, ecosystems, competition, niche, abiotic factors and carrying capacity. Each time a term is met, time is taken to describe its meaning and to explain its relevance and context in this topic of populations in ecosystems. Exam-style questions are also used to challenge the students to apply their understanding and displayed mark schemes allow them to assess their progress. Prior knowledge checks interspersed within the lesson which check on topics such as the nitrogen cycle, adaptations and the biological classification of a species
This lesson revisits the topic of random and systematic errors and also challenges students on other scientific skills such as identifying variables. Students tend to find this topic confusing, so the PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to support them to identify whether an error is random or systematic and then to understand what to do next.
The lesson guides the students through a series of real life examples and shows them how to spot each type of error. There is a considerable mathematical element to this lesson, including the calculation of means or missing values in a table.
The lesson concludes with a series of exam-style questions where the students have to apply their understanding of identifying errors, variables and calculating means.
All 3 lessons included in this bundle are detailed and engaging and have been planned at length to cover the content of topic 5.3 of the AQA A-level biology specification, which is titled energy and ecosystems. The lessons contain a variety of tasks which introduce the biological content and then provide the students with opportunities to assess their understanding. There are also prior knowledge checks to make links to content from earlier in topic 5 and in topics 1 - 4. All the answers to the checks are embedded in the PowerPoint.
If you would like to check the quality of these lessons, download the lesson titled “GPP, NPP & N” as this has been shared for free.
This detailed and engaging lesson supports students with their revision in the build up to their UNIT 1 mocks or final assessment. The wide range of tasks and activities will challenge them on their knowledge of Molecules, Diet, Transport and Health (topics 1 and 2) of the Edexcel International A-level biology specification, allowing them to identify any areas which require further attention before the examinations.
Included in the range of tasks are exam-style questions and understanding checks and all answers are embedded into the PowerPoint. There are quiz rounds to maintain engagement and to encourage healthy competition, as well as guided discussion periods to provide opportunities for students to support each other.
The following content is directly covered by this revision lesson:
The nature of the genetic code
Globular and fibrous proteins
Protein structure
Haemoglobin and the affinity for oxygen
The role of the heart valves in the cardiac cycle
The course of events that lead to atherosclerosis
Passive and active transport
DNA replication
The structure and function of starch
Genetic terminology
Codominance
Sex-linked diseases
Many of the tasks have been differentiated to maintain challenge whilst providing access to all.
This is an extensive lesson with many tasks so it is estimated that it will take over 3 hours of teaching time if covered in full, but teachers may choose to use sections to focus on a specific topic.
This lesson describes the uses and implications of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. The lesson PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets have been primarily designed to cover point 2.17 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification but there are regular checks of their knowledge of the content of topic 2, where topics including monohybrid inheritance and cystic fibrosis are tested.
The lesson begins by challenging them to use this prior knowledge of topic 2 to identify the letters in the abbreviations PGD and CVS. The involvement of IVF to obtain the embryos (or oocytes) is then discussed and a series of exam-style questions are used to get them to understand how this method screens embryos prior to implantation, so that those identified as having genetic diseases or being carriers are not inserted into the female’s uterus. Mark schemes for all of the questions included in this lesson are embedded into the PowerPoint so students can constantly assess their progress.
Moving forwards, Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is used as an example of a chromosomal abnormality that can be tested for using CVS or amniocentesis. Time is taken to describe the key details of both of these procedures so students have a clear understanding of the implications and the invasiveness to the female being tested. The link between amniocentesis and an increased risk of miscarriage is considered and the results of a 2006 study are used to challenge them on their data skills.
This lesson describes the biological meaning of species, populations, gene pool and allele frequency and explains how these terms are linked. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources are part of the 1st lesson in a series of 2 lessons that cover the detail of specification point 7.2 (Populations) of the AQA A-level biology.
The two living species of the African elephant, the forest and bush elephant, are used as examples to demonstrate the meaning of species and to show how they exist as one or more populations. A quick quiz introduces the term gene pool in an engaging way and then the allele frequency of three versions of the GBA gene demonstrates how these frequencies can change in small populations. In doing so, students are briefly introduced to genetic drift which they will encounter in an upcoming topic.
The students are challenged throughout the lesson with understanding checks and prior knowledge checks as well as exam-based questions where they have to comment on the validity of a scientist’s conclusion.
The other lesson in topic 7.2 is the Hardy-Weinberg principle.
All 5 lessons included in this bundle have been filled with a variety of tasks to engage the students whilst covering the content of topic 6.1 of the AQA A-level biology specification, titled “Stimuli, both internal and external, are detected and lead to a response”. These tasks include understanding and prior knowledge checks to allow the students to assess their progress against the current topic, as well as making links to relevant topics from earlier in the course.
The “responses in flowering plants” lesson has been shared for free, so you might choose to download this first to give an indication of the quality of the lessons in this bundle.
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)
An engaging lesson presentation (61 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 B5 (Genes, inheritance and selection) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Biology specification
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Sexual and asexual reproduction
Meiosis
Dominant and recessive alleles
Genetic crosses
The history of genetics
Natural selection
Classification systems
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “Number CRAZY" and “Which Scientist is hidden?” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
An informative lesson presentation (20 slides) and associated worksheet that looks at how negative feedback loops act as a final control in homeostatic mechanisms. This is a topic which is poorly understood by students at both GCSE and even A-level, so whilst designing this lesson, the focus was on a few key points and applying it to a range of actual examples. Students will see how a negative feedback loop is used in the control of adrenaline release and temperature regulation and they will also be shown what would happen if this loop didn’t exist. Students are then challenged to apply their knowledge by putting the order of the regulation of metabolic rate into the correct order. The final part of the lesson briefly looks at how positive feedback loops also exist by using the example of the release of oxytocin during birth.
This lesson has primarily been designed for GCSE students but is suitable for A-level Biology students too.
This fully-resourced lesson has been designed to cover the content in point 3.17 (Inheritance of ABO blood groups) as detailed in the Edexcel GCSE Biology specification. As specified in this point, students will learn how this inheritance demonstrates both codominance and multiple alleles. A potentially difficult topic, time has been taken to include guidance sections where students are walked through the interpretation of the different genotypes to find out the phenotypes as well as constructing genetic diagrams and calculating blood groups from pedigree trees. There is a real focus on genetic terminology such as allele, locus, genotype and phenotype so that the understanding is deep and students can use this if they choose to further their studies at A-level.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE-aged students studying the Edexcel GCSE Biology course but is also suitable for older students who are learning about codominance and multiple alleles at A-level
This fully-resourced lesson describes how rod cells in the mammalian retina detect stimuli to allow vision in low light intensity. The detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the second part of point 8.5 of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification and includes reference to the roles of rhodopsin, opsin, retinal, sodium ions, cation channels and hyperpolarisation in the formation of action potentials in the optic neurones.
It is likely that students will be aware that the human retina contains rod and cone cells, so this lesson builds on that knowledge and adds the detail needed at this level. Students will discover that the optical pigment in rod cells is rhodopsin and that the bleaching of this into retinal and opsin results in a cascade of events that allows an action potential to be initiated along the optic nerve. Time is taken to go through the events that occur in the dark and then the students are challenged to use this as a guide when explaining how the events differ in the light. Key terms like depolarisation and hyperpolarisation, that were met earlier in topic 8, are used to explain the changes in membrane potential and the resulting effect on the connection with the bipolar and ganglion cells is then described.
This lesson bundle contains 8 detailed lesson PowerPoints and their accompanying resources and all of them have been planned at length to engage and motivate the students whilst covering the biological content of module 4.1.1 of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The wide range of tasks which are contained with each of these lessons cover the following specification points:
The different types of pathogen that can cause communicable diseases in plants and animals
The means of transmission of animal and plant communicable pathogens
The primary non-specific defences against pathogens in animals
The structure and mode of action of phagocytes
The structure, different roles and modes of action of B and T lymphocytes in the specific immune response
The primary and secondary immune responses
The structure and general functions of antibodies
An outline of the action of opsonins, agglutinins and anti-toxins
The difference between active and passive immunity, and between natural and artificial immunity
Autoimmune diseases
The principles of vaccination and the role of vaccination programmes in the prevention of epidemics
If you would like to sample the quality of the lessons in this bundle, then download the “Transmission of animal and plant pathogens” and “immunity & vaccinations” lessons as these have been uploaded for free
