I am a secondary school & A-level Science teacher, specialising in Biology. I am also an experienced AQA GCSE Biology Examiner. My resources contain a mix of Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons aimed at meeting specification points for the new AQA Trilogy GCSE course and KS3 Activate course.
All of my lessons include at least one opportunity for self-assessment, a range of activities to suit students of all abilities, a set of differentiated starter questions and a plenary.
I am a secondary school & A-level Science teacher, specialising in Biology. I am also an experienced AQA GCSE Biology Examiner. My resources contain a mix of Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons aimed at meeting specification points for the new AQA Trilogy GCSE course and KS3 Activate course.
All of my lessons include at least one opportunity for self-assessment, a range of activities to suit students of all abilities, a set of differentiated starter questions and a plenary.
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Bioenergetics’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions worth 20 marks in total, it also includes additional extra challenge tasks for higher ability students to complete. This worksheet could be used as a homework or as an extension or revision activity in class.
I have included a comprehensive mark scheme for teacher or self-assessment of the work, there are also details of grade boundaries which I use to RAG pupils work against their target grades, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy GCSE Biology specification, particularly the ‘Organisation’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson begins by introducing the heart as an organ and it’s function in the body, pupils will have a few minutes to read through the information on the slide as a ‘memory test’. Then move the slide forward where pupils have to copy and complete the information about the heart, using key words to help them. Pupils can then self-assess their work.
For the next activity pupils are given an information sheet providing information about the structure of the heart and the job of the blood vessels supplying/taking blood away from the hear. Pupils will also be given a worksheet which they will need to complete using this information.
Pupils will then be introduced to the idea of valves, they can watch a short video an have a look at the position of the valves within the heart. They will need to Think > Pair > Share ideas about the function of the valves in the heart. After a short class discussion the answer can be provided for them.
The next activity will require pupils to sort information into a flow diagram to demonstrate the route the blood flows through from the right atrium onwards. The words they need to fill in the boxes will be provided, they can self-assess their work once it has been completed.
The next part of the lesson focuses on problems with blood flow through the heart, firstly pupils are introduced to the idea of coronary arteries being blocked due to cholesterol/fatty deposits. They will provided with some information on the board and will need to answer questions on this information, which can then be assessed once the answers are revealed.
Then they will shown the differences between different types of treatment - surgery, stents or statins - and will be asked some questions about the uses, advantages and disadvantages of these examples of treatment for people with cardiovascular disease.
Again, all answers are provided for pupils to check their work throughout the lesson.
Plenary is to write a twitter message about what the students have learnt this lesson, make sure to #keywords!
Any questions please comment on the resource to ask me, any feedback if you have purchased this resource would be much appreciated :) thanks!
This lesson is designed for the NEW OCR GCSE (Gateway Science) Biology B1 ‘Cell-level systems’ SoW.
This lesson begins with a review of magnification and resolving power, as well as defining the two main advantages of the electron microscope.
The following slides offer detailed notes on the parts of the electron microscope and their functions. Students will then fill in a table in their books using information notes which have been posted around the room. A self-assessment slide follows!
To consolidate the lesson, students will complete an exam-style question and self-assess to the following slide.
The plenary task is a series of answers for students to write the questions for.
All resources are included. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This bundle of resources contains 8 whole lessons, along with all additional resources, which meet all learning outcomes within the Year 8 B2 1.2 ‘Ecosystem Processes’ Unit.
Lessons include:
Leaves
Photosynthesis
Plant Minerals
Aerobic Respiration
Anaerobic Respiration
Food Chains & Webs
Disruption to Food Chains & Webs
Ecosystems
The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, videos & animations, progress checks and more than two opportunities, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks.
This bundle of resources contains 5 whole lessons, along with all additional resources, which meet all learning outcomes within the Year 7 B1 ‘Cells’ Unit.
Lessons include:
Observing Cells Using A Microscope
Plant & Animal Cells
Specialised Cells
Movement of Substances
Unicellular Organisms
The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, progress checks, practical investigations and more than two opportunities, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Combined Science:Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Bioenergetics' SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson begins by students thinking about the raw materials needed for plants to photosynthesise and which factors might limit the rate. The three factors which students will need to learn about are then revealed - carbon dioxide, light intensity and temperature. Three limiting factor graphs are then shown for each of these factors and students need to have a go at explaining what the graphs are showing, as a class discussion. Pupils will then need to complete a fill-in-the-blank task and self- their assess their work using the answers provided.
Next pupils are shown a green leaf and a variegated leaf and are asked to think>pair>share which leaf they believe will have a higher rate of photosynthesis, and why. This then leads to pupils learning that less chlorophyll means less photosynthesis will take place, which could lead to stunted growth.
The next part of the lesson focuses on pupils being able to use practical equipment to set up an investigation which measure the effect of light intensity on rate of photosynthesis. Pupils will firstly be given some images of equipment they could use and are asked to come up with a potential method for this investigation. After this pupils are then shown a video where they have to answers questions about the variables in this investigation and finally they are given a set of results to plot data and analyse it.
The plenary is a silent 5 task where pupils need to answer questions about what they learnt this lesson on their own in their books.
All resources are included either at the end of the presentation or as a separate file.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology specification, particularly the ‘Organisation’ SoW.
For more resources designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This lesson begins with a video on breathing and the organs of the respiratory system, pupils are provided with a list of questions which they will need to answer using the information in the video. Once the video is finished they can then self-assess their work using the answers provided.
Pupils are then provided with an information on breathing and gas exchange, they are also given a worksheet that they will to complete using the information. For lower ability classes it would be best to read through the information as a class, tag-reading, so that they are more familiar with certain words before starting the worksheet.
Once completed the answers provided on the PowerPoint slide mean pupils can either self-assess or peer-assess their work.
The next task is a mid-plenary, pupils will need to copy and complete the sentences and then mark their work.
The next part of the lesson is on adaptations of alveoli, pupils will copy a table off the board and will each be given a card of information. Either discussing on tables or walking around the room pupils will need to complete their table on the four main features of alveoli which make them efficient gas exchange surfaces.
The final activity is an exam-style question worth 6 marks, pupils can close their books and sit in silence to complete this task. Once finished they should mark their work.
Plenary task is to write a twitter message about what they have learnt this lesson, including #keywords.
All resources are included in the lesson, some are found at the end of the PowerPoint.
Please leave a comment if you have any questions, any feedback would be appreciated :)! Thanks!
This is a bundle of whole lessons and resources which meets all specification points for the NEW AQA GCSE Biology Combined Science Trilogy course for the ‘Homeostasis’, ‘Inheritance, variation & evolution’ and ‘Ecology’ SoW, including all higher material.
This bundle includes 58 lessons, which is around 14 weeks worth of work, with all additional resources included. The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, mid-lesson progress checks, extra challenge tasks, exam-style questions and more than one opportunity, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks as answers/mark schemes have been provided within the PowerPoint slides.
For reviews of any of the lessons or lessons bundles included in this bigger bundle please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
Thank you for looking, please ask any questions via the comments section if you need to :)
This is a lesson aimed at meeting specification points within the new AQA GCSE (2016) Biology 'Cells' SoW.
For more resources aimed for the new AQA GCSE specification please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
Pupils will start by looking at the differences between unicellular and multicellular oganisms and what it means for a cell to be 'specialised'.
Pupils will then focus on the difference between stem cells in animal and plant cells, they will read a bit of information on this topic and answer questions in their books. Pupils can then peer-assess their work using the answers in the PowerPoint.
In the next task Pupils can either use posters places around the room or they each get given a different card with a different specialised cell and they need to complete a table of information on the structure and function of various specialised cells. These include: palisade cell, white blood cell, nerve cell, red blood cell, ciliated epithelial cell, sperm and egg cell.
The last activity pupils will need to complete a past-paper question to assess their knowledge. Pupils can then self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
All resources are included, please review with any feedback :)
This resource meets specification points for the new AQA Trilogy GCSE Biology ‘Cells’ SoW.
For other resources designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This lesson begins by getting pupils to think about what diffusion is and then giving them the scientific definition for the process. Pupils will then need to read statements about the stages of diffusion, look at diagrams demonstrating these stages and match them together in their books. This activity will be self-assessed using the answers in the PowerPoint presentation.
Pupils will then need to think > pair > share about the factors they think will affect the rate of diffusion. Once they have come up with their own ideas and shared them as a class you can show them the animation provided to demonstrate how concentration of particles and size affects the rate of diffusion. Pupils are then asked to consider how temperature might affect the rate, you can demonstrate this affect using the link to another animation which demonstrates this effect.
Pupils will then complete a fill-in-the-blank task to demonstrate their knowledge of how these different factors affect the rate of diffusion, which can be self-assessed using the answers provided.
Pupils will then look at the importance of diffusion in living organisms and specifically the types of adaptation organism might have to speed up the rate of diffusion. The final activity is a past-paper questions, when completed pupils will self-asses using the mark scheme.
The plenary activity is quick past-paper question to complete and mark.
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA AS-level Biology course, particularly the ‘Cells’ module.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA A-level Biology course please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
A-Level lesson format: I teach in more of a lecture style compared to GCSE. In the majority of my A-level lessons the beginning portion of the lesson is mainly teacher-led, where students are expected to take notes onto a handout/in their books. This is then mixed in with student-led activities, as well as questions and exam prep.
You will find some of my slides have blank spaces for you to add more detail/descriptions/explanations. If you look at the ‘Notes’ section underneath each of these slides, you will find additional content which you can add in as you teach!
This lesson on mitosis begins with a review of cells, viruses, and a discussion about the differences between mitosis and meiosis.
To begin discussing mitosis, students will watch a short video describing the cell cycle and make notes on a worksheet. They can self-assess with the following slide and discuss any missing information.
The next few slides are lecture style, they teach chromosome structure and define mitosis. Students should answer the discussion question “why is mitosis such an important process in organisms?” To check their discussion, points to note can be found in the ‘notes’ section under the slide.
The lesson then defines each phase of mitosis before asking students to complete a jumbled sentence activity to synthesise their notes on the phases. The worksheet features jumbled sentences, and diagrams of the phases of mitosis for matching. The un-jumbled sentences are in the following slide so students may self-assess their worksheets.
The next section defines cytokinesis in plant and animal cells then asks students to identify the stages of mitosis by microscopic images. They should give reasons for their choices and the answers can be found in the ‘notes’ part of the slideshow. This activity is built on through a mini-whiteboard activity in which students should identify the stages of the cell cycle and explain what is happening during this stage.
The lesson ends with an exam style question which asks students to explain how mitosis leads to two identical cells. A mark scheme for this question is on the following slide.
The plenary task is to complete a sentence in their book reflecting on their learning throughout the lesson.
All resources are included. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the KS3 Year 8 Science course, specifically the B2 1.3 unit on Adaptation & Inheritance.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with a ‘Think > Pair > Share’ activity which requires students to consider the definition for the term ‘evolution’. After students have had some time to talk about this, their ideas can be shared with the class and the answer can be revealed for students to check and correct their work.
This leads into an introduction to the fossil record as means of evidence for evolution, students will then need watch a video on the formation of fossils - during which they will answer a set of questions. Students can now mark and assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
Students will now be introduced to the idea of ‘Natural Selection’, they will be told the mechanism by which this works by using the example of girraffes with longer and shorter necks. Students will now be asked to complete a cartoon strip to summarise this process, once this task has been completed students will be able to mark and assess their work using the answers provided in the PowerPoint presentation.
The last part of the lesson students will be shown a video on examples of natural selection in action. Whilst watching this video, students will need to answer a set of questions, once this has been completed students can self-assess their work using the answers provided.
The plenary task requires students to write three quiz questions to test their peers on what they have learned this lesson.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.1 Module on ‘Cells’
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with an introduction to the substances that move in and out of cells via a process called diffusion. Students are then asked to summarise this information by sketching and labelling a diagram of a cell.
The idea of diffusion is further explained using an image of a deodrant bottle spraying smelly particles into the air and showing how they spread from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. A definition of this process is shown to students, before they are asked to complete a fill-in-the-blank task to summarise the process, this work can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.
Next, students will need to sketch diagrams demonstrating the various stages of diffusion, and will need to match the correct statements to the correct diagrams. This work can be then be self or peer assessed using the mark scheme provided.
The next part of the lesson looks at factors that affect diffusion, students are firstly asked to ‘Think > Pair > Share’ their ideas on the factors which might affect the rate of diffusion. After students have fed back into class discussion, the answers are revealed for students to note down in their books. They will then look more closely at the effect of temperature on the rate of diffusion by watching a video and then summarising what they have learned by completing a fill-in-the-blank task.
Lastly, students are shown diagrams of plant cells of healthy plants vs. wilted planted to demonstrate the effect of having too much/too little water in the vacuole of plant cells.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.1 Module on ‘Cells’
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This lesson begins with an introduction to two unicellular organisms - euglena and amoeba. Students can also watch a video to demontrate the motion of an amoeba cell.
The main task involves students completing a set of tasks using information sheets on amoeba and euglena cell structure, function and reproduction. Students should work their way through the tasks, once this is complete they can self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
Next, students should summarise what they have learned during the lesson by completing the fill-in-the-blank task, the answers to this task are included in the PowerPoint so students can self-assess their work once it is complete.
Lastly, students will need complete a ‘Key Word Bingo’ activity, they will need to choose 6 words from the list provided. The teacher then reads out a definition, if this definition matches one of the words written down then it can be crossed out. First student to cross all 6 words from their books/grids shouts bingo!
The plenary task is a 3-3-1 reduction - students will write down 3 facts, 3 key words and reduce this to 1 key word from the lesson today.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA AS-level Biology course, particularly the ‘Cells’ module.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA A-level Biology course please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
A-Level lesson format: I teach in more of a lecture style compared to GCSE. In the majority of my A-level lessons the beginning portion of the lesson is mainly teacher-led, where students are expected to take notes onto a handout/in their books. This is then mixed in with student-led activities, as well as questions and exam prep.
You will find some of my slides have blank spaces for you to add more detail/descriptions/explanations. If you look at the ‘Notes’ section underneath each of these slides, you will find additional content which you can add in as you teach!
This lesson begins with a starter discussion to review materials from the ‘biological molecules’ module.
Students are then asked to begin thinking about types of cell by having a ‘think > pair > share’ discussion to define eukaryotic cells and their features. They can compare their answers to the diagram on the next slide which outlines of the main features of eukaryotic cells.
The first task of this lesson is for students to fill in their worksheet using information cards about each organelle. Students should synthesise the information, not just copy it into their worksheet. The worksheet and information cards are available at the end of the slideshow.
Using their mini whiteboards students are then guided to identify some photomicrographs from scanning and transmission electron microscopes. They should identify if the photomicrograph was taken by a scanning or transmission electron microscope, and bonus points if they can name the organelle!
Students are then given another worksheet task to fill in the blanks and can self-assess using the following slide.
The plenary task is to write a tweet about what they’ve learned!
All resources are included. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This is a lesson from the NEW AQA specification on defence mechanisms of the body, from the ‘Infection and Response’ module.
This lesson is part of a 12 lesson bundle for the NEW ‘Infection & Response’ Unit, found in my TES shop - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson begins by recapping on what a communicable disease is and what risk factors can increase the likelihood of a communicable disease spreading from person to person.
Students are then given an outline of a human body, they will need to label it with the various different ways pathogens can enter the body. Pupils can then mark and check their work against the examples on the PowerPoint slide. Students then discuss how your body may stop pathogens entering via these various different entry routes and you can use the information on the PowerPoint slide to highlight these various defence mechanisms. Pupils can spend time annotating their diagram to display these defences and peer-assess their work - R/A/G.
Next, is the introduction of white blood cells, you can explain their different roles using the diagrams on the PowerPoint slide and by use of the video/animation links. Pupils should then fill in a table of information using as many key words as possible, pupils should self-assess their work to check for the correct use of the key terms.
Plenary - past-paper question which I get pupils to complete in silence and hand to me as they leave (exit card). I will then mark and grade it for the next lesson, but equally they could complete and mark within the lesson.
All resources are included within the PowerPoint presentation.
Enjoy :)
This is a lesson designed to meet specification points for the new OCR GCSE (Gateway) Biology 'Scaling up’ scheme of work.
This lesson begins with a definition for osmosis and defining the difference between solvent and solutes. Pupils are then asked to think > pair > share about what they think a partially permeable membrane might be.
In the next activity, pupils are given a definition for concentrated and dilute solutions and are shown three different diagrams, they need to decide whether they are showing pure water, a concentrated or a dilute solution.
Now pupils are introduced to isotonic, hypertonic and hypotonic solutions. They are firstly shown what happens to animals cells in each of these solutions using an animation. Pupils will then need to match the type of solution to it’s description and also complete a cartoon strip to explain what happens to animal cells in each of these solutions, a list of key words is provided.
Students will then think about the importance of osmosis to plants and will need to match diagrams of plant cells in isotonic/hypertonic/hypotonic solutions to the correct description.
The last activity is an exam-style question on osmosis, pupils can self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task is for pupils to write 5 summary sentences about what they have learnt so far using the list of key words provided.
All resources are included in the PowerPoint presentation, thank you for purchasing :)
This resources is designed for the OCR Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘B3 - Organism-Level Systems’ scheme of work.
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Homeostasis’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson starts by recapping on the role of negative feedback systems in homoeostasis, pupils will need to complete a flow diagram to demonstrate how a negative feedback system works. This can be completed in their books and marked using the answers provided.
The next part of the lesson focuses on thyroxine and adrenaline, pupils are reminded of the roles of each of these hormones and they will then be given some extra information (provided) using which they will need to answers some questions on the topic. Detailed answers are provided for these questions so that pupils can check their work by either peer or self-assessment.
The next activity is a ‘who am I?’ task, pupils will have covered a range of hormones by this point and will now be given a set of descriptions about different hormones, they can discuss with their partners and try to identify the names of each of them. Once completed this work can be assessed.
The final task is an exam question about hormones, with the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task is for pupils to write a text message to a friend describing what they have learnt in the lesson today!
This is a lesson designed to meet specification points for the new OCR GCSE (Gateway) Biology ‘Scaling up’ scheme of work.
The lesson begins by introducing the heart as an organ and it’s function in the body, pupils will have a few minutes to read through the information on the slide as a ‘memory test’. Then move the slide forward where pupils have to copy and complete the information about the heart, using key words to help them. Pupils can then self-assess their work.
For the next activity pupils are given an information sheet providing information about the structure of the heart and the job of the blood vessels supplying/taking blood away from the hear. Pupils will also be given a worksheet which they will need to complete using this information.
Pupils will then be introduced to the idea of valves, they can watch a short video an have a look at the position of the valves within the heart. They will need to Think > Pair > Share ideas about the function of the valves in the heart. After a short class discussion the answer can be provided for them.
The next activity will require pupils to sort information into a flow diagram to demonstrate the route the blood flows through from the right atrium onwards. The words they need to fill in the boxes will be provided, they can self-assess their work once it has been completed.
Next, pupils will be given a place mat worksheet which has questions about each of the four components of the blood. Each student will then be given a slip of information about these four components, the students will need to share information to complete their place mat. Once complete, the answers which will be provided on the PowerPoint slide can be used for pupils to either self-assess or peer-assess their work.
Pupils will now look at how red blood cells transport of oxygen around the body, once this has been explained using diagrams on the PowerPoint slide pupils will then need to arrange sentences into an order to show how this process occurs. Once completed pupils will self-assess their work using the answers provided.
The next activity is a True or False activity about what the students have learnt so far, this could be extended by asking students to re-writing the incorrect sentences so that they make sense.
The final activity is a past-paper question on the components of blood, which pupils can then peer or self-assess.
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Infection & Response’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions worth 20 marks in total, it also includes additional extra challenge tasks for higher ability students to complete. This worksheet could be used as a homework or as an extension or revision activity in class.
I have included a comprehensive mark scheme for teacher or self-assessment of the work, there are also details of grade boundaries which I use to RAG pupils work against their target grades, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)