Biology lesson on theme of Conservation
Starter: images printed on the tables.Students to link these to previous learning (human impact on the environment, population) and try to decipher the topic of the lesson.
True/false activity - students write 1-6 in the back of their books and decide whether each statement is true or false. At the end of the session, revisit this task and allow them to change answers. Then go through altogether and see who has improved their understanding since they first did this.Amazing way to show progress!
Main: group activity, each group given information pack on a species, and they work to answer the questions in the presentation and design a conservation program.
Comprehension activity to consolidate learning.
Plenary: conservation loop game to be completed in small groups, good competition!
This lesson was graded as OUTSTANDING.
Lesson designed for KS3 to creatively approach the topic of the tilt of Earth's axis and the seasons. Using hibernation and migration to explore these concepts.
Students start by watching short clip (John Lewis Bear and the Hare)
Research activity on the seasons and hibernation
Choice of task: produce a documentary on the tilt of the axis OR to imagine a world without seasons (choose how to present this). Lower ability could make a model to demonstrate how the tilt affects the seasons.
Taboo plenary
For use over several lessons to enable students to explore this area fully. Fun and interactive!!! (and highlighting the hedgehog which is in huge decline in this country)
Used with high ability year 10 class.
Links to nervous disorder charity websites which all contain interesting videos which can be watched with the class.
Used with a high ability year 10 class, in a lesson about the structure and function of the brain.
To get them used to interpreting and analysing information, and to link NS structure to nature of the condition.
- high ability year 10 class.
- began with Chinese whispers to mimic the Nervous System (seventy seven benevolent elephants). Class were then able to guess the topic we were learning about, through the game.
- discussed 'brainbow' (google this, mapping of neural pathways)
- labelled diagrams of neurones and discussed their structure.
Taught to a higher ability year 10 class over several lessons.
Lesson 1 - The structure of the Heart
Lesson 2 - Blood vessels
Lesson 3 - Components of the blood (station activity, students collect info from around the room on the 4 components, and then apply their knowledge to answer exam-style questions).
Short intro with PowerPoint presentation.
Students given SOLO sheet to work through, with support from new AQA textbook. Enables pupils to develop their understanding at their appropriate level of learning, meaning some will progress through the sheet further than others.
Used with high ability year 10 class.
Eye diagram unlabelled (blown up to A3) given to each group, with a set of label cards. First use prior knowledge to label the diagram - assessing prior knowledge.
Then move around the room collecting information on the structures of the eye, filling in the worksheet. Return to group, and use this information to have another go at labelling the diagram. Excellent means of showing progress.
Move on to each label their own diagram, and discuss rods/cones - linking back to previous lesson on the Nervous system.
Used with high ability year 10 class.
Work through SOLO levels of understanding. Accompanied by AQA textbook, but any would do/could be shown in lesson with students later demonstrating their understanding.