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 ‘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 :)
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Homeostasis’ 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 is a lesson designed to meet specification points for the new Biology Trilogy 'Bioenergetics' scheme of work.
The lesson begins by focusing on the location of the main organs in the plant, students are then asked to match the name of the organs to their function. Once this work is self-assessed pupils will watch a video which will outline some of the adaptations a plant has that enables it to carry out photosynthesis.
Pupils are then introduced to the major tissues in the leaf of a plant and are given some information on the location, structure and function of these tissues. Using this information pupils are required to complete a worksheet labelling a cross-section of a leaf. Once finished, pupils can use the mark scheme within the PowerPoint presentation to check their work.
Students are then asked to consider why plants and the process of photosynthesis is so important. They are reminded of the fact that plants are needed to harness sunlight energy and synthesise organic molecules like glucose which not provides energy to the plant but to all organisms further up the food chain.
The final activity is a past-paper question worksheet that pupils should complete in silence, once finished they can either self-assess or peer-assess using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary is for students to summarise what they have learnt in the lesson by writing 3 facts, 2 key words and posing 1 question to their peers.
All resources are found at the end of the PowerPoint presentation. Thank you for purchasing :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA 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
This lesson begins with an introduction of the process of aerobic respiration including the word equations that pupils will need to learn. Next is a video, pupils will need to answer questions whilst watching the video, once it is finished they can self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
Pupils are then introduced to the idea that aerobic respiration is exothermic and look specifically at the ultra-structure of the cell and which parts are important for respiration, this activity is a match up activity that pupils can complete and then mark.
A mid-plenary is a true or false task and the final activity is a levelled worksheet pupils will complete using information cards on how animal and plant organisms use the energy released by respiration. Once finished they can self-assess using the mark scheme on the PowerPoint slides.
Pupils have a choice of two activities to complete for their plenary - either an anagram challenge or a summary sentence using a list of key words.
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 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 is a revision activity for the ‘Bioenergetics’ SoW, students can either have a card each and the task can be completed as a card loop activity with the whole class.
Alternatively, students could work in pairs and be given a set of the shuffled cards, they will then need to arrange the cards into the correct sequence so that the sentences make sense (like dominoes tiles). When students carry out this version of the activity I often have a prize for the students who complete the task in the fastest time!
The solution for this activity is included so you can check their answers.
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 Trilogy Physics GCSE, particularly the 'Molecules & Matter’ 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
This lesson begins with a ‘Think > Pair > Share’ activity which requires pupils to recall the properties of a solid, liquid and gas. Once students have discussed this amongst themselves and as a class, they will then complete a fill-in-the-blank task to summarise the properties and the arrangement of particles of a solids, liquids and gases. Once this task has been completed students can self-assess their work suing the mark scheme included.
Students will now be introduced to the idea of potential energy and internal energy, a video will then be shown and students will have to answer a set of questions. This work can then be self-assessed using the answers included in the PowerPoint. This then follows into a mid-lesson plenary, pupils will answer an exam question and then peer-assess their work.
Next, students will study the different levels of forces of attraction between particles found in solids, liquids and gases. Their knowledge of what they have learned so far this lesson can then be checked using a summary worksheet, students complete their own worksheet, the answers to this are included in the PowerPoint for students to mark their work once complete.
Lastly, students will carry out a ‘True or False’ task.
The plenary task requires pupils to complete a 3-3-1 summary: 3 facts, 3 key words and 1 question to test their peers.
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 task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Chemistry GCSE, particularly the 'Chemical Calculations’ 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 task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Chemistry GCSE, particularly the 'Rates of Reaction’ 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 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 task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Inheritance, variation & evolution’ 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 :)
his task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Inheritance, variation & evolution’ 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 task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Ecology’ 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 for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Inheritance, variation and evolution’ 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
This lesson begins with a video and a set of questions which pupils will need to answer about extinction and try and come up with a definition for this term. Once completed pupils can check their work against the answers provided on the PowerPoint.
The next activity is for pupils to think > pair > share ideas about the sorts of changes that might occur within an organisms environment to bring about extinction. Pupils can discuss with their partner and create a mind map of their ideas in their books. Once pupils have completed this you can reveal some of the reasons for environmental change on the PowerPoint slide and pupils can check what they have got against the answers, adding in any they didn’t manage to get.
The next activity is for pupils to read some cards of information about the causes of extinction, pupils can work in pairs or groups to read through these causes and summarise each one in their books.
To put thees causes into context, the next activity is for pupils to look at examples of organisms which are at the brink of extinction and the reasons why. Pupils will be given a set of cards with information about a range of animal and plant organisms which are at different stages on the IUCN red list. Pupils will need to complete a table of information to describe the habitat and reasons why four of these organisms are endangered.
The last part of the lesson will focus on mass extinctions, pupils will watch a video and answer questions about the causes and repercussion of mass extinction events. Once completed pupils can mark their work against the assessment criteria.
The plenary activity is for pupils to pretend they are a conservationist campaigning to protect an organism of their choice, they need to write a twitter message to their followers to raise awareness of the factors which may be critically affecting the organism.
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 is a resource designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA GCSE Physics module on ‘Energy’.
Other lessons of this series can be found in my TES Shop:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
It begins with a discussion on what power is a measurements of, there are hints that can be put on the board for lower ability students. You can then provide students with a definition of power which they can write down in their books.
Pupils then consider the units of power, they can copy and complete sentences on the board which compare watts to joules/second and the difference between watts and kilowatts, joules and kilo joules.
Next is the completion of a formula triangle in their books, higher ability students can figure out how to write this on their own but for lower ability students you may want to guide them through it. The concept of power is then put into context using Mo Farah/Usain Bolt as examples (videos provided).
The next task is a table that students will need to copy off the board, it outlines different appliances and pupils will have to perform calculations to fill in the blanks. Pupils can self-assess their work using red pens, answers are provided on the PowerPoint slide.
The final activity is a worksheet pupils can complete on power, again the answers to this worksheet is provided within the PowerPoint slide for pupils to self-assess the work.
Plenary activity requires pupils to state three key facts from the lesson, 2 key words and pose a question to their peers on the topic of power.
All resources are included in the PowerPoint slide. Thanks & enjoy :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Inheritance, variation and evolution’ SoW for the higher tier, biology only specification.
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
Pupils will firstly be given, in pairs, information about Lamarck’s and Darwin’s theories of evolution. In pairs students will need to explain each theory to each other and discuss the merits and downfalls of each. The next task required pupils to summarise the main points of each of the scientists theories in a table, this work can be self-assessed against the answers provided.
Pupils will then be asked to consider the flaws in Lamarck’s theory, pupils will be asked to come up with a question to ask Lamarck about his theory and to discuss in pairs what they think the potential flaws of this theory could be. Once you have gone through pupils’ ideas as a class you can reveal some of the problems with this theory of evolution.
The next part of the lesson focuses on Darwin, firstly pupils will be asked to copy and complete sentences to summarise the main ideas from Darwin’s theory of evolution. Once this task is completed and marked, pupils will go on to look at why Darwin’s ideas were not published or accepted straight away. Pupils will be provided with some information but they will also need to use their own knowledge to answer a set of questions provided on a worksheet. Once this task is complete, a detailed mark scheme has been provided for pupils to either self or peer assess their work.
The very last task is an exam-style question, pupils will need to complete this in their books (at the back of books without notes for a stretch and challenge) and self or peer-assess using the mark scheme once they have finished.
The plenary task is for pupils to summarise what they have learnt in the lesson using the key words provided.
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 Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Inheritance, variation and evolution’ SoW, for the higher tier, biology only specification.
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
This lesson with a think > share > pair task on the definition of a species, pupils ca try and come up with their own definitions before you reveal the true answer.
The next part of the lesson focuses on Alfred Russel Wallace and his work on the theory of speciation. Pupils will need to watch the video on Wallace and using the video come up with a timeline or notes on the life events and work produced by Wallace in his lifetime. Once this task is complete pupils can compare what they have written against success criteria provided, pupils can mark, correct and add any important notes using the criteria.
The next part of the lesson focuses on the process of speciation, firstly pupils will need to watch a video about organisms which are separated and the develop certain characteristics depending on the environment they are living in. The second video provides a more detailed description of how speciation occurs, pupils will need to answer questions whilst watching this video. Pupils can mark their work using the mark scheme provided once they have completed this task.
The next task is a card/statement sort, pupils will need to place the statements provided (can cut out as a card sort) into the correct order to describe the process of speciation, once pupils have completed this task they can mark their work.
The final activity is an exam-style question on speciation, pupils will need to complete the exam question in their books (at the back without notes as an extra challenge). Once pupils have completed the exam question they can self or peer assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task is for pupils to write a twitter message by Alfred Wallace about his work on the theory of speciation.
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 Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Inheritance, variation and evolution’ 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
This lesson begins with a focus on mutations and how they contribute towards genetic variation within a population. Pupils can tag read some information provided in the board and then answer questions in their books, this work can be self-assessed against the mark scheme provided.
The next activity involves pupils watching a video about natural selection, using the video they will need to answer questions which again can be self-assessed using the success criteria provided.
Pupils will then be shown a slide which demonstrates, with the example of giraffes, how natural selection can ensue within a population of organisms over time. Pupils will then be given a cartoon strip to show how natural selection occurs, they can draw diagrams of any organism they wish to choose and will need to fill in the blanks for the captions below each stage in the process. This work can be self-assessed one complete.
The next task pupils need to complete is a card sort describing the steps involved with how head lice become resistant to head lice shampoos, pupils can discuss in pairs to complete this task. Once complete the answers will be revealed, for higher ability pupils they can draw this as a flow diagram in their books as an extension.
The final activity is a past-paper question, pupils can complete this in their books. For higher ability pupils you could demand silence and ask for it to be completed at the back of their books as a revision activity, for lower ability pupils you may allow discussion with a partner.
The plenary activity involves pupils being provided with the answers to 5 questions, pupils need to think of 5 questions which may link to these answers.
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 is a lesson which meets specification points within the AQA Biology Trilogy - Cells SoW.
The lesson begins by pupils using posters around the room to complete a levelled worksheet on the structure and function of animal and plant cells. Pupils will then peer-assess their work, providing feedback of the grade each pupil achieved and ways to improve their work.
Pupils will then complete a 'revision' task in the back of their books, they will need to stick in a sheet and match the structure to the function. Pupils can self-assess their work.
The final task, an assessment task, involves pupils answering a past-paper questions. They should try and do this with their book closed to test their knowledge of what they have learnt this lesson.
Pupil can then either peer-assess or self-assess their work.
All resources are included, please review with any feedback :)
This is lesson is designed to meet specification points for the new AQA Trilogy Biology specification, specifically the 'Cells' SoW.
Please find more resources for the NEW Trilogy GCSE Biology, Physics and Chemistry specifications in my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson begins by identifying the differences between osmosis, diffusion and active transport. Pupils will then watch a video and answer questions about the process of active transport whilst watching. Once finished pupils can self-assess their work using the answers provided.
Pupils will then sort statements about the three types of movement - diffusion, osmosis, active transport - into three columns, pupils will then self-assess their work.
The next part of the lesson focuses on the importance of active transport to living organisms, pupils will be introduced to two examples - mineral ion uptake in plants and absorption of glucose in humans. Pupils will then need to answer questions on this topic.
The plenary is a exam-style question on active transport, pupils can again self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
This lesson is designed to meet specification points for the new AQA GCSE Trilogy Biology ‘Cells’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the new AQA GCSE Trilogy Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This lesson begins by pupils being introduced to the idea of stem cells, what they are and why they are important. Pupils will then watch a video about stem cells, the difference between adult and embryonic stem cells and their importance in medical research and treatments. Pupils will answer questions whilst watching the video and can self-assess their work using the answers provided once it has finished.
Pupils will then need to summarise what they have learnt so far by completing a fill-in-the-blank task, this can be copied off the board or summarised in their book.
The next activity is on stem cells in plants, pupils will be given some information on the board and will then need to answer questions about this information.
The next activity will focus on the social, moral and ethical implications of using stem cells for medical research purposes. Pupils will need to read opinion/fact cards about the use of stem cells and firstly will need to discuss the pros and cons of using stem cells for medical research. The second task is for pupils to sort the information cards into ‘fact’ or ‘opinion’ columns - this can be self-assessed using the answers provided.
The final plenary task is an exam-style question about use of stem cells, pupils can then self-assess their work.