This lesson describes the structure and function of sensory and motor neurones as well as the role of intermediate neurones. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been planned to cover the content of point (3) of topic 15.1 of the CIE A-level Biology specification (for assessment in 2025 - 27) and also focuses on the organisation of the nervous system to support students with their understanding of upcoming content in this topic. The PowerPoint has been designed to contain a wide range of activities that are interspersed between understanding and prior knowledge checks that allow the students to assess their progress on the current topics as well as challenge their ability to make links to topics from earlier in the modules. Quiz competitions like SAY WHAT YOU SEE are used to introduce key terms in a fun and memorable way. The students will be able to compare these neurones based on their function but also distinguish between them based on their structural features. Time is taken to introduce the importance of the myelin sheath that is present in both neurones to allow saltatory conduction to occur.

This is a fully-resourced revision lesson that uses a combination of exam questions, understanding checks, quick differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content found within Topic 3 (Voice of the Genome) of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A specification. The sub-topics and specification points that are tested within the lesson include: Know the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells Understand the role of the rER and the Golgi apparatus in protein transport within cells Know the ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells Be able to recognise the organelles of eukaryotic cells from EM images Know that a locus is the location of a gene on a chromosome Understand the linkage of genes on a chromosome and sex linkage Understand the role of meiosis in ensuring genetic variation Understand the role of mitosis and the cell cycle in producing identical daughter cells Understand how gene expression is controlled Understand how phenotype is the result of an interaction between genotype and the environment Know how some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles as well as the environment and how this shows continuous variation Students will be engaged through the numerous quiz rounds such as “Is your knowledge of the Lac Operon LACKING” 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 lesson describes the nature of the genetic code as near universal, non-overlapping and degenerate and relates this to the triplet code. The engaging lesson PowerPoint has been designed to cover point 2.11 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification and clear links are made to protein synthesis and gene mutations which students will meet in the next lot of lessons. At the start of the lesson, the students are challenged to use their knowledge of the bases in DNA and RNA to complete a definition which describes the genetic code as being near universal, non-overlapping and degenerate. Time is taken to explain how three bases on DNA (a triplet) and three bases on mRNA (a codon) encode for a single amino acid or a stop codon and this is the triplet code. A quick quiz competition is used to generate the number 20 so that the students can learn that there are 20 proteinogenic amino acids in the genetic code. This leads into a challenge, where they have to use their prior knowledge of DNA to calculate the number of different DNA triplets (64) and the mismatch in number is then discussed and related back to the lesson topic. Moving forwards, base substitutions and base deletions are briefly introduced so that they can see how although one substitution can change the primary structure, another will change the codon but not the encoded amino acid. The lesson concludes with a brief look at the non-overlapping nature of the code so that the impact of a base deletion (or insertion) can be understood when covered in greater detail in the lesson covering point 2.14

This lesson describes the mechanisms of ventilation and gas exchange in insects. The PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets are the part of the second lesson in a series of 2 lessons which have been designed to cover the details that are set out in point 3.1.1 (f) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The first lesson in this series describes ventilation and gas exchange in bony fish In the previous lesson, the students were introduced to the different circulatory systems of mammals and bony fish and this knowledge is checked upon at the start of this lesson. This is relevant because the open circulatory system of an insect explains how oxygen is not transported in the blood but instead is absorbed from the body fluid that bathes the tissues. The next part of the lesson describes the structure of the spiracles, tracheae and tracheoles in the tracheal system and explains how this system is responsible for the delivery of oxygen to the open end of the tracheole for gas exchange with this fluid. As the tracheae are supported by chitin, which is similar in structure and function to cellulose and keratin respectively, a series of exam-style questions are used to challenge the students on their knowledge of those polymers from module 2.1.2 (biological molecules). As always, the mark scheme is embedded in the powerpoint so students can assess their understanding and progress. The final part of the lesson describes how squeezing of the tracheoles by the flight muscles and the changes in the volume of the thorax as a result of the movement of the wings are similar to mechanisms observed in mammals.

This is a fully-resourced revision lesson which covers the content detailed in topic 10 (electricity and circuits) of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics specification. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities which include exam-style questions with clearly explained answers, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to allow students to assess their understanding and ultimately recognise those areas which need further consideration. The following specification points have been given particular attention in this lesson: The electrical symbols that represent the electrical components Describe the differences between series and parallel circuits Recall that a voltmeter is connected in parallel One volt is equal to one joule per coulomb Recall and use the equations that calculate energy transferred, charge, potential difference, power and electrical power Recall that an ammeter is connected in series Calculate the currents, potential differences and resistances in series and parallel circuits Explain how current varies with potential difference in resistors Know the functions of the wires in a plug and the safety features This lesson has been designed to fall in line with the heavy mathematical content of the Physics specification with a number of calculation tasks and students are guided through the range of skills that they will have to employ

This revision lesson has been designed to challenge the students on their use of a range of mathematical skills that could be assessed on the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science papers. The mathematical element of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course has increased significantly since the specification change and therefore success in those questions which involve the use of maths can prove to be the difference between one grade and another or possibly even more. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities that include exam-style questions with displayed mark schemes and explanations so that students can assess their progress. Other activities include differentiated tasks, class discussion points and quick quiz competitions such as “It doesn’t HURT to CONVERT”, “YOU DO THE MATH” and “FILL THE VOID”. The following mathematical skills (in a scientific context) are covered in this lesson: The use of Avogadro’s constant Rearranging the formula of an equation Calculating the amount in moles using mass and relative formula mass Calculating the relative formula mass for formulae with brackets Calculating the relative atomic mass using the mass and abundance of isotopes Using the Periodic Table to calculate the number of sub-atomic particles in atoms Changes to electrons in ions Balancing chemical symbol equations Empirical formula Converting between units Calculating concentration in grams per dm cubed and volumes of solutions Calculating size using the magnification equation Using the mean to estimate the population of a sessile species Calculating percentages to prove the importance of biodiversity Calculating percentage change The BMI equation Calculating the acceleration from a velocity-time graph Recalling and applying the Physics equations Understanding prefixes that determine size Leaving answers to significant figures and using standard form Helpful hints and step-by-step guides are used throughout the lesson to support the students and some of the worksheets are differentiated two ways to provide extra assistance. Due to the detail of this lesson, it is estimated that it will take in excess of 3 hours of GCSE teaching time to cover the tasks and for this reason it can be used over a number of lessons as well as during different times of the year for revision.

This fully-resourced lesson has been designed to cover the higher tier content of specification points 7.13 & 7.14 (Control of blood glucose concentration) as found in topic 7 of the Edexcel GCSE Biology & Combined Science specifications. This resource contains an engaging PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets, some of which have been differentiated so that students of different abilities can access the work. The resource is filled with a wide range of activities, each of which has been designed to engage and motivate the students whilst ensuring that the key Biological content is covered in detail. The students will learn how blood glucose concentration is controlled by insulin and glucagon secretion and some time is taken to look at diabetes type I and II to make the link. Understanding checks are included throughout so that the students can assess their grasp of the content. In addition, previous knowledge checks make links to content from earlier topics such as the endocrine system and literacy checks ensure that the students can spell and recognise the key words, which is extremely important considering how many terms begin with the letter g in this homeostatic control system. As stated at the top, this lesson has been designed for GCSE-aged students who are studying the Edexcel GCSE Biology or Combined Science courses, but it can be used with A-level students who need to go back over the key points before looking at the homeostatic control in more detail

This fully-resourced lesson explains how a combination of hydrostatic pressure and oncotic pressure results in the formation of tissue fluid in animals. The detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the final part of point 3.4.1 of the AQA A-level Biology specification The lesson begins with an introduction to the arteriole and venule end of a capillary as these will need to be considered as separate entities when describing the formation of tissue fluid. A quick quiz competition introduces a value for the hydrostatic pressure at the arteriole end and students are challenged to first predict some parts of the blood will move out of the capillary as a result of the push from the hydrostatic pressure and this allows oncotic pressure to be initially explored. The main part of the lesson uses a step by step guide to describe how the net movement is outwards at the arteriole end before students will use this guidance to describe what happens at the venule end. In the concluding part of the lesson, students will come to recognise oedema as a condition where tissue fluid accumulates and they again are challenged to explain how this occurs before they finally learn how the fluid is returned to the circulatory system as lymph.

This revision resource contains an engaging PowerPoint (44 slides) and associated worksheets, all of which have been differentiated two ways to allow students of differing abilities to access the work. The range of activities cover the content of Topic C11 (Air and water) of the CIE IGCSE Combined Science specification, for examination in June and November 2020 and 2021. The aim was to cover as much of the content as possible but the following topics have received particular attention: The composition of clean air Changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels The formation of carbon dioxide Common air pollutants and their effects on health and structures The treatment of water to make it safe The chemical tests for water A number of quiz competitions are included in the lesson such as “POLLUTE the air…with the answer” where students compete to be the first to identify a common pollutant from the clues. These competitions act to engage them whilst the exam questions and quick tasks will enable them to assess their understanding of the content.

This fully-resourced revision lesson has been designed to motivate and engage the students whilst they assess their understanding of the content detailed in topics 12 & 13 (Magnetism and the motor effect and electromagnetic induction) of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics specification. These two topics tend to be poorly understood so time has been taken to plan activities that challenge the key details of the specification and provide clear explanations so students can progress. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources were written to cover as much of the content in both topics as possible, but the following points have received particular attention: Attraction and repulsion between unlike and like poles respectively Electromagnetic induction The application of Fleming’s left-hand rule Application of the equation involving magnetic flux density Microphones and loudspeakers and the opposite conversions of a changing current to sound waves The ability of transformers to change the size of alternating voltage The advantage of power transmission in high voltage cables The application of the transformer equations involving potential difference and turns and for transformers with 100% efficiency Due to the heavy mathematical element of the specification, the required skills are tested throughout the lesson and guidance is given to allow differing abilities to access the work

This lesson explains the law of conservation of mass and applies this law to a closed system and a non-enclosed system. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 1.48 of the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry specification and also covers that point in the Chemistry section of the Combined Science course. The lesson begins by introducing the law of the conservation of mass. Students will learn that they can expect questions which challenge them to prove that mass is conserved through the use of the relative formula mass. Therefore, the next section of the lesson focuses on the skills associated with this calculation and looks at more different formulae such as those with brackets. Students are given an opportunity to check their skills before trying to prove mass is conserved in three chemical reactions. All questions have displayed mark schemes so that students can assess their understanding. The rest of the lesson looks at instances of when the mass of the reactants does not equal the mass of the products. A practical method for the decomposition of copper carbonate is provided if the teacher wants to use it, so that students can collect results which show this difference in mass. Discussions are encouraged in order to get students to offer explanations as to why the mass of the products is lower. Once the gas has been identified, students are further challenged to consider apparatus that could be used to collect and record the results to again prove conservation

This engaging and fully-resourced lesson looks at the myogenic nature of cardiac muscle and explores the roles of the SAN, AVN and Purkyne tissue (bundle of His) in the initiation and control of heart action. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 3.1.2 (g) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The lesson begins with the introduction of the SAN as the natural pacemaker and then time is given to study each step of the conduction of the impulse as it spreads away from the myogenic tissue in a wave of excitation. The lesson has been written to make clear links to the cardiac cycle and the structure of the heart and students are challenged on their knowledge of this system from topic 3.1.2. Moving forwards, students are encouraged to consider why a delay would occur at the AVN and then they will learn that the impulse is conducted along the Bundle of His to the apex so that the contraction of the ventricles can happen from the bottom upwards. The structure of the cardiac muscle cells is discussed and the final task of the lesson challenges the students to describe the conducting tissue, with an emphasis on the use of key terminology Due to the detailed nature of this lesson, it is estimated that it will take about 2 hours of A-level teaching time to cover the detail

This fully-resourced lesson describes the roles of enzymes in catalysing both intracellular and extracellular reactions and the mechanism of enzyme action. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover points 2.1.4 (a, b & c) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification and includes descriptions of Fischer’s lock and key hypothesis and Koshland’s induced-fit model as well as a focus on catalase and the digestive enzymes as intracellular and extracellular enzymes respectively. The lesson has been specifically planned to tie in with module 2.1.2 where protein structure and globular proteins were covered. This prior knowledge is tested through a series of exam-style questions along with current understanding and mark schemes are included in the PowerPoint so that students can assess their answers. Students will learn that enzymes are large globular proteins which contain an active site that consists of a small number of amino acids. Emil Fischer’s lock and key hypothesis is introduced to enable students to recognise that their specificity is the result of an active site that is complementary in shape to a single type of substrate. Time is taken to discuss key details such as the control of the shape of the active site by the tertiary structure of the protein. The induced-fit model is described so students can understand how the enzyme-susbtrate complex is stabilised and then students are challenged to order the sequence of events in an enzyme-controlled reaction. The final part of the lesson focuses on intracellular and extracellular enzymes. The students are challenged on their recall of the roles of DNA helicase and polymerase in DNA replication before they are challenged on their ability to apply their knowledge and understanding to an unfamiliar situation with questions about catalase and its role in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The lesson concludes with one further set of exam-style questions that challenge their knowledge of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins from module 2.1.3 as they have to recognise some extracellular digestive enzymes from descriptions of their substrates.

This fully-resourced REVISION LESSON is detailed and engaging and covers the content of topic 18 (Biodiversity, classification and conservation) of the CIE International A-level Biology specification. This topic is often viewed as less interesting than other topics by the students but is well represented in the exams in terms of questions and so a lot of time has gone into the design to include a wide range of activities which will allow them to assess their knowledge whilst remaining motivated. All of the exam questions have full answers so students can identify any missed marks and most of the tasks are differentiated to allow students of differing abilities to access the work and remain challenged. The lesson was planned to cover as much of the specification as possible but the following sub-topics have received particular attention: The biological classification of a species Using Simpsons Index of diversity to calculate the biodiversity of the habitat The reasons to maintain biodiversity Methods of protecting endangered species The use of assisted reproduction in conservation Different methods of sampling The taxonomic hierarchy The characteristic features of the domains and kingdoms Links to the other topics of the specification are made throughout the lesson and there is also a mathematical focus to ensure that the students are comfortable when presented with the numerical challenges Due to the extensiveness of this resource, it is likely to take at least 2 lessons to cover all of the activities

This engaging lesson uses the example of resistant bacteria to describe the principles of natural selection in the evolution of populations. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the second part of specification point 4.4 of the AQA A-level Biology specification and also introduces adaptations so that students are prepared for this topic in the upcoming lessons. President Trump’s error ridden speech about antibiotics is used at the beginning of the lesson to remind students that this is a treatment for bacterial infections and not viruses as he stated. Moving forwards, 2 quick quiz competitions are used to introduce MRSA and then to get the students to recognise that they can use this abbreviation to remind them to use mutation, reproduce, selection (and survive) and allele in their descriptions of evolution through natural selection. The main task of the lesson challenges the students to form a description that explains how this strain of bacteria developed resistance to methicillin to enable them to see the principles of natural selection. This can then be used when describing how the anatomy of the modern-day giraffe has evolved over time. The final part of the lesson introduces adaptations and convergent evolution and also links to the need for modern classification techniques.

This lesson describes how phosphate ions are cycled through rocks, water, soil and organisms, including the roles of saprobionts and mycorrhizae. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources are part of the 2nd lesson in a series of 3 lessons which have been designed to cover the content of topic 5.4 (nutrient cycles) of the AQA A-level biology specification. The lesson begins by challenging the students to use a single similarity and difference to recognise that DNA and ATP are being compared. A series of prior knowledge checks are then used to get them to recall that phosphate ions are found in the structure of these biological molecules, as well as in phospholipids. A selection of multiple-choice questions will challenge their knowledge of these molecules further. All answers are embedded into the PowerPoint to allow the students to assess their progress. Moving forwards, the rest of the lesson focuses on the recycling of phosphorus, and includes details of weathering, assimilation, feeding, and decomposition. A quick quiz round is used to reveal the term, guano, and students will learn that this waste product of seabirds contains a high proportion of phosphate ions, and therefore can be used as a natural fertiliser, which links to the final lesson in this series. The other two lessons in this series covering topic 5.4 are the nitrogen cycle and leaching and eutrophication.

This lesson describes the detailed structure of a skeletal muscle fibre and the structural and physiological differences between fast and slow twitch fibres. The engaging PowerPoint and acccompanying resources have been designed to cover points 7.10 (i) & (ii) of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification. The start of the lesson uses an identification key to emphasise that skeletal muscle differs from cardiac and smooth muscle due to its voluntary nature. It is important that key terminology is recognised so once myology has been revealed as the study of muscles, key structural terms like myofibril, myofilament and myosin can be introduced. Moving forwards, students will be shown the striated appearance of this muscle so they can recognise that some areas appear dark where both myofilaments are found and others as light as they only contain actin or myosin. A quiz competition is used to introduce the A band, I band and H zone and students then have to use the information given to label a diagram of the myofibril. This part of the lesson has been specifically planned to prepare the students for the upcoming lesson which describes the contraction of skeletal muscles by the sliding filament mechanism The rest of the lesson focuses on the structural and physiological differences between fast and slow twitch fibres and the following characteristics are covered: Reliance on the aerobic or anaerobic pathways to generate ATP Resistance to fatigue mitochondrial density capillary density myoglobin content (and colour) fibre diameter phosphocreatine content glycogen content A wide variety of tasks are used to cover this content and include knowledge recall and application of knowledge exam-style questions with fully-displayed mark schemes as well as quick quiz competitions to maintain motivation and engagement.

This fully-resourced lesson describes the differences between resolution and magnification, with reference to light and electron microscopy and the engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the content of point 1.1 (d) of the CIE A-level Biology specification. To promote engagement and focus throughout these 3 lessons in topic 1.1 (The microscope in cell studies), the PowerPoint includes an ongoing quiz competition and a score sheet is found within the resources to keep track of the cumulative scores. The quiz rounds found in this lesson will introduce the objective lens powers, the names of the parts of a light microscope and emphasise some of the other key terms such as resolution. The final round checks on their understanding of the different numbers that were mentioned in the lesson, namely the differing maximum magnifications and resolutions. Time is taken to explain the meaning of both of these microscopic terms so that students will understand their importance when looking at the cell structures in topic 1.2. By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to explain how a light microscope uses light to form an image and will understand how electrons transmitted through a specimen or across the surface will form an image with a TEM or a SEM respectively. As detailed above, this lesson has been written to tie in with the previous lesson on measuring cells and units as well as the next lesson on calculating actual size.

This fully-resourced lesson describes how DNA is replicated during interphase and explains why it is semi-conservative replication. Both the detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover the details of point 6.1 © of the CIE International A-level Biology specification The main focus of this lesson is the roles of DNA helicase in breaking the hydrogen bonds between nucleotide bases and DNA polymerase incorporating the phosphorylated nucleotides into the sequence. Students are also introduced to DNA ligase to enable them to understand how this enzyme functions to join the nucleic acid fragments. Time is taken to explain key details such as the assembly of strands in the 5’-to-3’ direction so that the continuous manner in which the leading strand is synthesised can be compared against that of the lagging strand. The students are constantly challenged to make links to previous topics such as DNA structure, phosphorylated nucleotides and hydrolysis reactions through a range of exam questions and answers are displayed so any misconceptions are quickly addressed. The main task of the lesson asks the students to use the information provided in the lesson to order the sequence of events in DNA replication before discussing how the presence of a conserved strand and a newly built strand in each new DNA molecule shows that it is semi-conservative.

This revision lesson uses a 20 question multiple-choice assessment to challenge the students on their knowledge and understanding of biological molecules. The answers to the 20 questions are embedded into the accompanying PowerPoint and this resource also contains summative KEY POINTS as well as additional questions (and answers) to challenge topic 1 content that wasn’t directly covered by the multiple-choice questions. At the bottom of each answer slide, the relevant specification code is displayed to allow students to identify the exact parts of the specification which need further attention. The lesson has been designed to be used with students once they finish topic 1, or in the lead up to mock or final A-level biology examinations.