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 covers part #1 of specification point 6.2.1 of the AQA A-level Biology specification which states that students should know the structure of a myelinated motor neurone and be able to explain why saltatory conduction enables a faster conduction along with the effect of axon diameter and temperature. A wide range of activities have been written into this resource to maintain the motivation of the students whilst ensuring that the detail is covered in real depth. Interspersed with the activities are understanding checks and prior knowledge checks to allow the students to not only assess their understanding of the current topic but also challenge themselves to make links to earlier topics such as the movement of ions across membranes and biological molecules. Time at the end of the lesson is also given to future knowledge such as the involvement of autonomic motor neurones in the stimulation of involuntary muscles.
Over the course of the lesson, students will learn and discover how the structure of a motor neurone is related to its function over conducting impulses from the CNS to the effector. There is a focus on the myelin sheath and specifically how the insulation is not complete all the way along which leaves gaps known as the nodes of Ranvier which allow the entry and exit of ions. Saltatory conduction is poorly explained by a lot of students so time is taken to look at the way that the action potential jumps between the nodes and this is explained further by reference to local currents. The rest of the lesson focuses on the other two factors which are axon diameter and temperature and students are challenged to discover these two by focusing on the vampire squid.
This lesson has been designed for students studying the AQA A-level Biology course
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Topic 2 (Cells) of the AQA A-level Biology specification.
The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include:
Structure of eukaryotic cells
Structure of prokaryotic cells and of viruses
All cells arise from other cells
Transport across cell membranes
Cell recognition and the immune response
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds such as “Make sure you are very SPECIFIC” and “Can I have a P please Bob” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which require their further attention during general revision or during the lead up to the actual A-level terminal exams
This fully-resourced lesson describes the relationship between the structure and the function of the heart, arteries, veins and capillaries. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 4.1 (i) as detailed in the Edexcel A-level Biology Bspecification.
The structure of the heart is a topic which was covered in part at GCSE so this lesson has been written to build on that prior knowledge. The main task of the first half of the lesson involves students labelling the different structures as they are recalled. Time is taken at appropriate points to look at some of the structures and concepts in further detail. For example, students will learn that humans have a double circulatory system, which will prepare them for the next lesson, and are challenged to explain why a hole in the septum would cause health issues for an affected individual
By the end of the first part of the lesson, the students will be able to identify the following structures and describe their individual functions:
• right and left atria
• right and left ventricles
• septum
• tricuspid and bicuspid valve
• semi-lunar valves
• pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein
• vena cava
• aorta
Moving forwards, the lesson focuses on the link between the structure of a particular type of blood vessel and its function. Students will be able to make the connection between the narrow lumen and elastic tissue in the walls of arteries and the need to maintain the high pressure of the blood. A quick version of the GUESS WHO game is used to introduce smooth muscle and collagen in the tunica media and externa and again the reason for their presence is explored and explained. Moving forwards, the lesson considers the structure of the veins and students are challenged to explain how the differences to those observed in arteries is due to the lower blood pressure found in these vessels. The final part of the lesson looks at the role of the capillaries in exchange. Links are made to diffusion to ensure that students can explain how the red blood cells pressing against the endothelium results in a short diffusion distance.
It is estimated that it will take in excess of 2 hours of allocated A-level Biology teaching time to cover the detail included in this lesson
This REVISION resource has been designed to motivate and engage students whilst they are challenged on their knowledge of the content in topics C1-C3 of the OCR GCSE Chemistry specification which can be assessed on PAPER 1. This is fully-resourced and contains a detailed PowerPoint (184 slides) and accompanying worksheets, some of which have been differentiated.
The resource was written with the aim of covering as many of the sub-topics in C1-C5 as possible, but the following ones have been given a particular focus:
The organisation of the Periodic Table
The structure of atoms and ions
Isotopes
The properties of ionic compounds
Drawing dot and cross diagrams to represent ionic compounds
Electrolysis of molten salts and solutions
Writing half equations for the cathode and anode
Neutralisation reactions
Writing balanced chemical symbol equations
Ionic equations
Simple and giant covalent structures
Diamond and graphite
Calculating the relative formula mass
Moles and Avogadro’s constant
Calculating the mass in reactions
Due to the extensiveness of this resource, it is likely to be used over the course of a number of lessons with a particular class and this allows the teacher to focus in on any sub-topics which are identified as needing more time.
This clear and concise lesson explains how the inheritance of two or more genes that have loci on the same chromosome demonstrates autosomal linkage. The engaging PowerPoint and associated resource have been designed to cover the part of point 16.2 (b) of the CIE International A-level Biology specification which states that students should be able to use genetic diagrams to solve problems that involve autosomal linkage.
This is a topic which can cause confusion for students so time was taken in the design to split the concept into small chunks. There is a clear focus on how the number of original phenotypes and recombinants can be used to determine linkage and suggest how the loci of the two genes compare. Important links to other topics such as crossing over in meiosis are made to enable students to understand how the random formation of the chiasma determines whether new phenotypes will be seen in the offspring or not. Linkage is an important cause of variation and the difference between observed and expected results and this is emphasised on a number of occasions. The main task of the lesson acts as an understanding check where students are challenged to analyse a set of results involving the inheritance of the ABO blood group gene and the nail-patella syndrome gene to determine whether they have loci on the same chromosome and if so, how close their loci would appear to be.
This is an engaging REVISION lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 5 (Forces) of the AQA GCSE Physics (8463) specification.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Scalar and vector quantities
Contact and non-contact forces
Gravity
Work done and energy transfer
Forces and elasticity
Moments
Speed
Velocity
Acceleration
Newton’s laws
Stopping distance
Momentum
Conservation of momentum
Changes in momentum
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “Fill the VOID” where they have to compete to be the 1st to complete one of the recall equations whilst all the time evaluating and assessing which areas of this topic will need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams
This lesson describes how the expression of a gene mutation impairs the functioning of the gaseous and digestive systems in people with cystic fibrosis. The detailed PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets have primarily been designed to cover points 2.12 (ii) and 2.14 of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification but also challenges the students on their knowledge of previously-covered topics including monohybrid inheritance, protein synthesis, genetic code and blood clotting as well as making links to the upcoming topics of loci, organisation of multicellular organisms and post-transcriptional changes.
The main focus of the lesson is the CFTR gene and the functions of the ion channel that is synthesised when this gene is expressed. As well as explaining that this channel allows chloride ions to flow across the apical membrane of the epithelial cells, time is taken to emphasise the importance of its inhibition on the ENaC, which prevents the flow of sodium ions back into the cells. A step by step guide is then used to describe the sequence of events that result in mucus which is motile and can be moved by the wafting action of the cilia in healthy individuals. This leads into the section of the lesson which considers the inheritance of cystic fibrosis in an autosomal recessive manner and then focuses on the change in the primary structure of the channel which results from one of over 1500 different gene mutations. Again, the students are guided through the events that lead to the depletion of the apical surface liquid and the cilia being unable to move the viscous mucus. Although the majority of the lesson is described with reference to the gaseous exchange system, the impaired functioning of the digestive system in terms of the blockage of the pancreas and liver secretions is considered and discussed and the students are challenged on their understanding through a range of exam-style questions.
All of the questions included in the lesson have mark schemes which are embedded into the PowerPoint and this allows the students to assess their progress.
Due to the detailed content of this lesson, it is estimated that it will take in excess of 3 hours of allocated A-level teaching time to cover
An engaging lesson presentation (67 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 Topic 1 (Key concepts in Biology) of the EDEXCEL GCSE Combined Science specification
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
Microscopes
The relationship between quantitative units
Enzyme activity
The effect of temperature on enzyme activity
Digestive enzymes as biological catalysts
Transporting substances in and out of cells
Calculating gain and loss of mass in osmosis
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “Eukaryotic vs Prokaryotic" and “ORDER, ORDER” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
A fun, engaging and detailed lesson presentation (29 slides) on the properties of metals and non-metals. This lesson focuses on the key properties and their key terms such as malleable and ductile. A number of quick competitions are used to introduce these terms to the students and once provided with the definitions, the students are expected to put these properties correctly with the metals (or non-metals). Progress checks occur throughout the lesson so that the understanding of the students can be checked.
This lesson is designed for both KS3 and GCSE students.
This bundle contains 17 fully-resourced and detailed lessons that have been designed to cover the content of topic 7 of the AQA A-level Biology specification which concerns genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems. The wide range of activities included in each lesson will engage the students whilst the detailed content is covered and the understanding and previous knowledge checks allow them to assess their progress on the current topic as well as challenging them to make links to other related topics. Most of the tasks are differentiated to allow differing abilities to access the work and be challenged.
The following sub-topics are covered in this bundle of lessons:
The use of genetic terminology
The inheritance of one or two genes in monohybrid and dihybrid crosses
Codominant and multiple alleles
The inheritance of sex-linked characteristics
Autosomal linkage
Epistasis as a gene interaction
The use of the chi-squared test
Species exist as one or more populations
The concepts of gene pool and allele frequency
Calculating allele frequencies using the Hardy-Weinberg principle
Causes of phenotypic variation
Stabilising, directional and disruptive selection
Genetic drift
Allopatric and sympatric speciation
Species, populations, communities and ecosystems
Factors affecting the populations in ecosystems
Estimating the size of a population using randomly placed quadrats, transects and the mark-release-recapture method
Primary succession, from colonisation by pioneer species to climax community
Conservation of habitats frequently involves the management of succession
This is one of the 8 topics which have to be covered over the length of the 2 year course and therefore it is expected that the teaching time for this bundle will be in excess of 2 months
If you want to see the quality of the lessons before purchasing then the lessons on codominant and multiple alleles, epistasis and phenotypic variation are free resources to download
This fully-resourced lesson explores the inheritance of sex-linked diseases in humans and then challenges the students to apply their knowledge to examples in other animals. The detailed PowerPoint and associated differentiated resources have been designed to cover the part of point 7.1 of the AQA A-level specification which states that students should be able to use fully-labelled genetic diagrams to predict the results of crosses involving sex-linkage.
Key genetic terminology is used throughout and the lesson begins with a check on their ability to identify the definition of homologous chromosomes. Students will recall that the sex chromosomes are not fully homologous and that the smaller Y chromosome lacks some of the genes that are found on the X. This leads into one of the numerous discussion points, where students are encouraged to consider whether females or males are more likely to suffer from sex-linked diseases. In terms of humans, the lesson focuses on haemophilia and red-green colour blindness and a step-by-step guide is used to demonstrate how these specific genetic diagrams should be constructed and how the phenotypes should then be interpreted. The final tasks of the lesson challenge the students to carry out a dihybrid cross that involves a sex-linked disease and an autosomal disease before applying their knowledge to a question about chickens and how the rate of feather production in chicks can be used to determine gender.
All of the tasks are differentiated so that students of differing abilities can access the work and all exam questions have fully-explained, visual markschemes to allow them to assess their progress and address any misconceptions
This fully-resourced lesson looks at the blood circulation in a mammal and considers how the pulmonary circulation differs from the systemic circulation. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the third part of point 3.4.1 of the AQA A-level Biology specification
The lesson begins with a focus on the double circulatory system and checks that students are clear in the understanding that the blood passes through the heart twice per cycle of the body. Beginning with the pulmonary circulation, students will recall that the pulmonary artery carries the blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. An opportunity is taken at this point to check on their knowledge of inhalation and the respiratory system as well as the gas exchange between the alveoli and the capillary bed. A quick quiz is used to introduce arterioles and students will learn that these blood vessels play a crucial role in the changes in blood pressure that prevent the capillaries from damage. When looking at the systemic circulation, time is taken to look at the coronary arteries and renal artery as students have to be aware of these vessels in addition to the ones associated with the heart. In the final part of the lesson, students are challenged to explain how the structure of the heart generates a higher pressure in the systemic circulation and then to explain why the differing pressures are necessary.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the other uploaded lessons from topic 3.4.1 (mass transport in animals)
An engaging lesson presentation (35 slides) that looks at the different physical and chemical defences that plants use to prevent infection by pathogens. There are clear links made between this topic and earlier plant topics, such as structure of plant cells and leaves, to check that knowledge is sound. Students will learn some examples of the chemical defences and be introduced to specific examples in plants. This lesson has been designed for GCSE students and includes a set homework as part of the lesson.
A considerable amount of time and thought has been put into the design of this extensive resource with the aim of motivating students to evaluate their understanding of the content in modules 1, 2, 4 and 6 of the OCR A-level Biology A specification which can be assessed in PAPER 2 (Biological diversity). The resource includes a detailed and engaging Powerpoint (226 slides) and is fully-resourced with differentiated worksheets that challenge the students on a wide range of topics.
The resource has been written to include different types of activities such as exam questions with explained answers, understanding checks and quiz competitions. The aim was to cover as much of the specification content as possible but the following topics have been given particular attention:
Genetic terminology
Monogenic and dihybrid inheritance
Hardy-Weinberg principle
Sex-linked diseases
Blood clotting
The properties of water
Codominance and multiple alleles
Types of variation
Communicable diseases
Genetically engineering bacteria to produce insulin
Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance
Vaccinations
Ecological terminology
Classification hierachy
The genetic code and gene mutations
Chi-squared test
Epistasis
Sampling
Selection pressures and types of selection
The Carbon cycle
Due to the size of the resource and the range of topics that are covered, this is likely to be used over the course of a number of lessons and will enable teachers to pinpoint specific areas to spend more time on. The mathematical element of the course is challenged throughout the lesson and helpful hints are provided to support students in structuring their answers.
This resource can be used in the lead up to the actual Paper 2 exam or earlier in the course when a particular area of modules 1, 2, 4 or 6 is being studied. I truly hope that this resource helps your students in their aims to achieve their potential grades.
A fully resourced lesson presentation (53 slides) and associated worksheet that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick tasks and a quiz competition to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within TOPIC 10 (Using resources) of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification (specification point C4.10). The lesson includes useful hints and tips to encourage success in assessments.
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Potable water
Waste water treatment
Alternative methods of extracting metals
Using materials
The Haber process
Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds including one called “It’s time for acTION” which requires students to work out a process (ending in -tion) from the provided definition
This is an engaging and fully resourced REVISION lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 1 (Energy) of the AQA GCSE Physics (8463) specification.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Students should be able to describe all the changes involved in the way energy is stored when a system changes, for common situations.
Students should be able to calculate the changes in energy involved when a system
Students should be able to calculate the amount of energy associated with a moving object, a stretched spring and an object raised above ground level
Students should be able to apply the equation to calculate the amount of energy stored in or released from a system as its temperature changes
Students should know that the specific heat capacity of a substance is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of the substance by one degree Celsius
Students should be able to define power as the rate at which energy is transferred or the rate at which work is done
Students should know that energy can be transferred usefully, stored or dissipated, but cannot be created or destroyed
Students should be able to describe, with examples, how in all system changes energy is dissipated, so that it is stored in less useful ways. This energy is often described as being ‘wasted’
Students should be able to explain ways of reducing unwanted energy transfers, for example through lubrication and the use of thermal insulation.
Students should be able to calculate the energy efficiency for any energy transfer using the recalled equation
Students should know the main energy resources available for use on Earth including fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas), nuclear fuel, biofuel, wind, hydro-electricity, geothermal, the tides, the Sun and water waves.
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “It’s time for ACTION” where they have to compete to be the 1st to recognise a process ending in -tion from its description whilst all the time evaluating and assessing which areas of this topic will need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams
This REVISION resource has been designed to motivate and engage students whilst they are challenged on their knowledge of the content in topics C6-C10 of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification which can be assessed on PAPER 2. This is fully-resourced and contains a detailed PowerPoint (146 slides) and accompanying worksheets, some of which have been differentiated.
The resource was written with the aim of covering as many of the sub-topics in C6-C10 as possible, but the following ones have been given a particular focus:
The general formulae of the alkanes, alkenes, alcohols and carboxylic acids
Reversible reactions and equilibrium
Changing conditions and the position of equilibrium
The factors affecting the rate of reaction
Complete combustion of the alkanes and climate change
The changes in carbon dioxide levels over time
Addition and condensation polymers
Fractional distillation and the properties of the fractions
Analysis and interpreting chromatograms
Detecting cations
This lesson can be used in combination with the PAPER 1 REVISION resource that I have uploaded.
This is an extensive and fully-resourced lesson that guides students through drawing genetic diagrams to show the inheritance of one or two genes in order to calculate the phenotypic ratio. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets have been designed to cover the part of module 6.1.2 (b[i]) which states that students should be able to demonstrate and apply an understanding of the patterns for both monogenic and dihybrid inheritance
As you can see from the cover image, this lesson uses a step by step guide to go through each important stage of drawing the genetic cross. Extra time is taken over step 2 which involves writing out the different possible gametes that a parent can produce. This is the step where students most commonly make mistakes so it is critical that the method is understood. Helpful hints are also given throughout, such as only writing out the different possible gametes in order to avoid creating unnecessary work. Students are shown how to answer an example question so that they can visualise how to set out their work before they are challenged to try two further questions. This first of these is differentiated so that even those students who find this very difficult are able to access the learning. The final question will enable the students to come up with the ratio 9:3:3:1 and they will be shown how they can recognise when this should be the expected ratio as this links to the chi-squared test.
This revision lesson contains an engaging and detailed powerpoint (58 slides) which is reinforced with a series of differentiated worksheets that are used throughout the lesson to challenge and consolidate the learning. The lesson has been designed to contain a wide range of activities so that students remain motivated and engaged whilst they assess their understanding of the content found in topic 3 (Infection and response) of the AQA GCSE Biology specification and will be covered in Paper 1 in the terminal GCSE exams.
The exam questions, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions found within the lesson challenge the following specification topics:
Communicable (infectious) diseases
Viral diseases
Bacterial diseases
Fungal diseases
Protist diseases
Physical defences of the Human defence system
Vaccinations
Antibiotics
Producing monoclonal antibodies
Uses of monoclonal antibodies
Identification of plant diseases
Plant defence responses
Students will be able to use the lesson to identify the areas of the specification that require further attention and this lesson can be used at the end of the topic, in the lead up to the mocks or in the lead up to the actual GCSE exams.
This detailed and engaging lesson describes how the roles of hydrogen, iron, sodium and phosphate ions are based on their properties. The PowerPoint and accompanying worksheet have been designed to cover point 1.8 of the AQA A-level Biology specification.
The lesson begins with a made-up round of POINTLESS where students have to use their prior knowledge of topic 1 to identify four biological molecules. All four of these molecules are connected by a phosphate group and this acts to remind students that phosphate ions are a component of both DNA and ATP. Moving forwards, the rest of the lesson explores the role of hydrogen ions in pH, iron in haemoglobin and sodium in the co-transport of glucose and amino acids. The lesson has been written so that links can be made to upcoming topics including the regulation of heart rate, transport of oxygen and selective reabsorption in the nephron of the kidney.