NEW AQA Trilogy GCSE Biology (2016) - Principles of Homeostasis

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

This lesson begins with a definition of homeostasis and pupils will then need to discuss in pairs the conditions that they think need to be controlled by the body. This leads on to revealing these factors and looking specifically at the way in which water can be lost and gained by the body. Pupils the complete a couple of questions on the topic.

Next is a focus on temperature control in the body, pupils need to consider what might happen if the temperature rises too high or falls too low and come up with ideas about how this might affect the body. Having already covered enzymes hopefully they might have some clue about what might happen. You can reveal the answer and pupils then need to complete a small worksheet to summarise these ideas.

Next pupils are challenged to think about what parts of our body control our reactions, pupils are asked to complete a challenge which gets them thinking about coordination and they will then write down any organs they think were involved with this process. The nervous and endocrine system are then introduced, pupils will need to copy and complete summary sentences to describe the main structures and functions of these two systems in controlling the body.

Pupils will then complete an exam question on the differences between nervous and endocrine control, the mark scheme is provided for pupils to mark their work.

Finally pupils look at the role of negative feedback in the body and how this works with the example of temperature control. Pupils will need to sketch a simple graph into their books and use labels provided to demonstrate how this process occurs. Again, the finished diagram is included so pupils can assess their own work.

A plenary activity is to complete an exit card listing key words, facts and to pose a question about the work covered in the 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 :)