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 lesson is designed for the KS3 Year 8 Science course, specifically the B2 1.1 Health & Lifestyle.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This lesson begins with some facts and figures about the rates of smoking around the world, how many cigarettes are smoked daily and the different chemicals found in cigarette smoke and which of these are linked with disease.
Students will now watch a video on the chemicals found in cigarette smoke and the damage these chemicals can do to the body, whilst watching the video students will need to answer a couple of questions. The answers to these questions are then revealed using the PowerPoint, students can self-assess their work.
Students will now watch another video on smoking and the effect on your health, students will be given a set of questions that they will need to answer using the video. Once this task is complete, students will self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
The latter part of the lesson involves an activity whereby students will be given a worksheet of questions, there will be information posters placed around the room which students will need to use to answer questions on their worksheet. The mark scheme for this task is included in the PowerPoint presentation for students to peer-assess their work with their partners.
Students will then need to complete a ‘feedback quadrant’ of their partners work, this includes a positive comment, something they missed out which should have included and a question to test their understanding of the lesson content.
The very last task requires students to read a graph of information on the death rates due to different smoking-related illnesses. Students should answer the set of questions using the data, this task can then be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary requires students to write three sentences to summarise what they have learned this 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 :)
This lesson is designed for the KS3 Year 8 Science course, specifically the B2 1.1 Health & Lifestyle.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with an introduction into the role of bacteria in digestion. This then follows into a video on digestion, students should watch the video and whilst watching they will answer a set of questions. Once this task has been completed students can self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
Students will now be introduced to the idea of ‘enzymes’ - molecular scissors which break down larger molecules into smaller, soluble molecules which can then be absorbed by the small intestine. This idea is demonstrated with a diagram, students can take notes on this in their books - including a sketch of the enzymes at work.
For the next activity, students will each be given a different bit of information on a specific type of enzyme - lipase, carbohydrase and protease. Students will then need to share information, as they walk around the classroom, in order to complete questions and a summary table on their own worksheet. Once this task has been completed, students will then use the mark scheme provided on the PowerPoint to peer-assess their work.
The final activity is an exam-style question, to assess students knowledge of what they have learned so far this lesson. Students can mark their work using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task requires students to write a twitter message about what they have learned this lesson, including #keywords.
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 KS3 Year 8 Science course, specifically the B2 1.1 Health & Lifestyle.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with an introduction into what happens to your food during the process of digestion, students are shown a diagram which demonstrates how large, insoluble food molecules are broken down into small, soluble ones. This follows into the definition and role of the human digestive system, students now need to discuss their ideas of the names of organs present in the digestive system.
After a short class discussion, students will now complete a ‘Memory Test’ task. Students will need be shown a diagram of the human digestive system with organs labelled. They will have a few minutes to memorise the names of the organs of the digestive system, the labels will be taken away and then students need to try to remember as many of them as possible, by labelling their own digestive system worksheet. This task can be self-assessed once it is competed.
Next, students will be given an information sheet in pairs. Students will need to read the information sheet and using this write a description of the roles of a set of organs present in the digestive system. Once complete, students can mark and correct their work using the answers provided in the PowerPoint.
Lastly, students are shown a diagram of the villi which are present in the small intestine. Students will need to describe the adaptations of the villi which aid the role of absorption of small molecules into the bloodstream. The final activity requires students to find ten word, all related to the digestive system, in a word search.
The plenary activity is a set of answers, students will need to write the questions which match up 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 lesson is designed for the KS3 Year 8 Science course, specifically the B2 1.1 Health & Lifestyle.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This lesson begins with images of people who are obese, underweight or have a vitamin deficiency (e.g. rickets). Students are asked to ‘Think > Pair > Share’ their ideas about whether these people are malnourished or not? Students should have a few minutes to discuss their ideas, before sharing the class. The PowerPoint then moves on to identify that each of the individuals are malnourished, as they are either taking on too much/too little nutrients.
Students are now asked to consider how people might lose weight, students can create a mind map in their books. Once students have had a chance to discuss their ideas with the class, some ideas can be revealed so students can mark and correct their own work. This then follows into a ‘copy and complete’ task, where students should complete a set of sentences to summarise what they learned so far this lesson. This work can also be self-assessed using the mark scheme available.
Students should now complete the mid-lesson progress check, which is a ‘true or false’ activity. Students are given a set of statements, they should indicate using mini whiteboards/write down their answers in their books, the answers can then be revealed for students to check their answers.
Next, students are given a task which allows them to work out how much fat they are eating each week. Students can consider a list of statements, identify how many apply to them and add them up to give a rating out of 5, the higher the rating the more unhealthy their diet is.
Lastly, students are asked to write a letter to a person who is overweight/obese to give them some information about the health problems which are associated with being overweight and explain some methods which they could employ to help them to lose weight.
The plenary task is an anagram challenge, students are given a set of anagrams which are words associated with what they have learned this 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 :)
This lesson is designed for the KS3 Year 8 Science course, specifically the B2 1.1 Health & Lifestyle.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This lesson begins with an introduction to the idea of a ‘food pyramid’, students will be given a selection of different foods and will need to consider how often they should be eaten, and so where on the food pyramid they should be placed. Once students have had chance to discuss and arrange their foods on the food pyramid, the answers can be revealed so students can check their work.
Next, students are introduced to the idea of different food/drink groups: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, water and fibre. Students will each be given a card of information about one of these groups, they will need to walk around the room to share information with their peers in order to complete the summary table in their books. This task can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided once it is complete.
Next, students will consider how much energy different people require. Firstly, some examples will be talked through as a class - e.g. males generally need more energy than women, older people need less energy than younger people etc. Students will then complete a task to assess their knowledge on this topic, which can be marked and corrected using the answers provided once complete.
Lastly, students will be introduced to the idea of a food test, they will be asked to consider which types of nutrients are present in a set of food which include: lemonade, crisps, margarine, bread & meat. After students have made predictions, they can then complete the food test investigation (equipment list and method is included).
The plenary task requires students to spend a minute or two talking about what they have learned this 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 :)
This resource contains 19 whole lessons, along with all additional resources, which meet all learning outcomes within the Year 7 Biology Units:
B1.1 Cells
B1.2 Structure & Function of the Body Systems
B1.3 Reproduction
The resources were designed with the Year 7 Activate course in mind, it contains 6-8 weeks worth of lesson content!! You can find more lesson bundles aimed at the KS3 and KS4 Science curriculum at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, videos & animations, progress checks and more than two opportunities, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks.
This homework activity is designed for the KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions, 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/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, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know @swift_science_education or swift.education.uk@gmail.com, any feedback would be appreciated :)
This homework activity is designed for the KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.2 Module on ‘Structure & Function of Body Systems’
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions, 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/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, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know @swift_science_education or swift.education.uk@gmail.com and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This homework activity is designed for the KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.1 Module on ‘Cells’
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions, 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/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, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know @swift_science_education or swift.education.uk@gmail.com, any feedback would be appreciated :)
This bundle of resources contains 8 whole lessons, along with all additional resources, which meet all learning outcomes within the Year 7 B3 ‘Reproduction’ Unit.
Lessons include:
Adolescence
Reproductive Systems
Fertilisation & Implantation
Development of a Fetus
The Menstrual Cycle
Flowers & Pollination
Fertilisation & Germination
Seed Dispersal
The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, videos & animations, progress checks and more than two opportunities, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks
This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This lesson begins with a recap on the stages involved in fertilisation, students will be asked to rearrange a set of sentences into the correct order to correctly describe the process of fertilisation.
Seed dispersal is now introduced, firstly students are asked to consider two questions - why the parent plant wants to disperse seeds away from itself and what are the main methods of seed dispersal that we already know of. Students can discuss the answers to these questions in pairs before feeding back into a class discussion, the answers to these questions can then be revealed.
Next, students will be given a worksheet of questions and will then watch a video on various methods of seed dispersal. Students will need to answer the questions whilst watching the video, the mark scheme for this task is included in the PowerPoint for students to self-assess their work once it is complete.
The last task is a progress check, whereby students will need to copy and complete a paragraph which describes the importance of seed dispersal. Students can either peer-assess or self-assess their work using the answers provided once this is complete.
The plenary requires students to create three quiz questions to test their peers knowledge of what they have learned so far this 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 :)
This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This lesson begins with a recap on pollination, students are asked to complete a ‘fill-in-the-blank’ task which outlines the roles of the male and female reproductive parts of the flower. This work can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.
Next, students will need to watch a video on fertilisation, during which they will answer a set of questions. Once this task has been completed, students should self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
Students will now study the structure and function of a seed, the first task is a memory test. Students will have a few minutes to study a diagram of a seed with the labels included, the labels will then be taken away and students will have a few minutes to recreate the diagram - including the correct labels. Students can check their work against the answers provided once this is complete.
Next, students will be asked to ‘Think > Pair > Share’ their ideas on the conditions required for a seed to germinate. Students can firstly discuss their ideas in pairs, then they will need to note their ideas down on a mind map. The answers will then be revealed on the PowerPoint for students to check their work and make corrections.
Lastly, students are given a set of sentences which contain true and false statements about what they have learned so far on pollination and fertilisation. Students will need to mark and correct the work, this task can also be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary requires students to write a twitter message demonstrating what they have learned this lesson, making sure to #keywords.
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 Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with a ‘Think > Pair > Share’ task, asking students to consider why flowers are so important, they can discuss their ideas in pairs before feeding back to the class.
The next activity involves students learning about the anatomy of a flower. Information sheets are firstly placed around the room, using these studenst will need to complete a worksheet which included labelling a cross-sectional diagram of a flower and completing a table to outline the functions of each of the structural features. The mark scheme for this task is included in the PowerPoint so students can assess their own work once they have completed the task.
The latter part of the lesson focuses on pollination, students will firsty watch a video and during this they should come up with a definition of ‘pollination’. Their answers can be checked against the definition provided on the PowerPoint, any corrections can be made.
Students are introduced to the idea of cross-pollination and self-pollination, as well as the idea that plants can either be cross-pollinated by wind or by insects. Students are then shown two plants - Himalayan Balsam and a Dandelion - and are asked to consider which may be pollinated by wind and which by insects, try to encourage them to use a description of the flowers structure in their answers.
Lastly, students will need to use a set of statements to complete a table outlining the structural features of insect-pollinated plants vs. wind-pollinated plants. The answers to this task are included in the PowerPoint so students can self-assess their work once it is complete.
The plenary requires students to finish off one of the sentence starters provided, summarising what they have learned this 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 :)
This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with an introduction to the definition for ‘gestation’ - students are then asked to match the mammal to the correct gestation period length, from the selection provided. This task can be marked once it is complete.
Students are then asked to consider the advice that a midwife might give to a pregnant woman, regarding her health and her baby’s health. After a few minutes of partner discussion, students can feed back to a class discussion where hopefully factors such as diet, alcohol consumption and smoking are mentioned.
During the next part of the lesson, students will need to walk around the room reading posters of information on the development of a fetus inside the uterus. Students will need to complete a worksheet using this information, the mark scheme for this task is included in the PowerPoint so students can self-assess their work or peer-assess their work once the task is complete.
The last activity is a ‘Human Bingo’ task, each student is given the same grid - each box of the grid contains a different question. Students need to walk around the room and get a different student to answer each of the different questions on the grid - once complete they can sit down and shout ‘Bingo!’.
The plenary task requires students to come up with five questions for the five answers that are provided on the PowerPoint.
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 Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with an introduction to the menstrual cycle and the definition of a period. This leads into a video on the menstrual cycle, students will be given a worksheet of questions which they will need to answer whilst watching the video. This work can be self-assessed using the answers provided on the PowerPoint.
Next, students need to understand what is happening on different days of the menstrual cycle. They will watch another video, using this they need to outline the events which occur on Day 1, Day 14, Days 7-28 of the menstrual cycle. Once complete, students can mark and correct their work using the mark scheme provided.
The next part of the lesson focuses on contraception, firstly students will be given a card of information about contraception - condoms and the contraceptive pill. Students will need to read the information and answer a set of questions, this work can be assessed using the mark scheme provided once complete.
The last task is an assessment task, to check students understanding of key terms learned over the last few lessons on reproduction. Students will need to match the correct term to the correct definition, this work can assessed using the answers provided.
The plenary task requires students to write a Whatsapp message to their friend, explaining what they have learned this 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 :)
This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with an introduction to the definition for ‘gametes’, students will learn the role of the gametes in fertilisation and the specific structural features that sperm and egg cells possess which help them to carry out their function. Once students have learned about this, they will then complete on gametes structure to function. Once this task has been completed, students can self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
Students are now introduced to the idea of fertilisation, a description of the process is provided, which students could take notes on in their book. This is followed by a task whereby students are given three terms - fertilisation, sperm cell and egg cell - using a bank of key words they will be required to write a definition for each.
Next, students are shown a labelled diagram depicting sexual intercourse as well as an explanation of the process. The explanation should be read through as a class, answering any questions where necessary, before students are asked to complete a ‘progress check’ of questions on sexual intercourse. This work can then be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.
Lastly, students are shown a video of the journey a sperm cell has to make to reach an egg cell. Whilst watching the video, students will need to fill in the blanks on a cartoon strip depicting these events. Again, the mark scheme for this task is included in the PowerPoint for students to either self-assess or peer-assess their work.
The plenary task is a 3-3-1 reduction, students need to write down 3 facts and 3 key words from the lesson today, as well as 1 question to test their peers knowledge of what was learned.
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 Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson starts with an introduction to the main functions of the female and male reproductive systems. This then leads into a task whereby students will firstly watch a video on the structure of the female reproductive system, during which they will need to label a diagram. After this, students will watch a video on the structure of the male reproductive system, again students will need to label a diagram whilst watching this video. Students can then mark their work using the mark scheme provided.
Next, students will each be given a card of information which describes the function of one part of either the male/female reproductive system. Students will need to walk around the room and share information with each other to complete their own table to summarise each of these functions. The mark scheme for this task is also included so students can either self assess or peer assess their work.
The next activity is a progress check task, students will answer a set of levelled questions based upon what they have learned so far this topic. Once this task has been completed, students can mark and correct their own work.
Lastly, students will complete an activity whereby they will be required to match the correct reproductive structure with it’s function, students can self-assess their work once complete, using the answers provided.
The plenary task is an anagram challenge - students should try to unscramble the words to reveal 6 key words learned over the last two lessons on adolescence and reproductive systems.
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 Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.3 Module on ‘Reproduction’.
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
This lesson begins with an introduction to adolescence and puberty, students will be given a card of information which will read as a class before students answer a set of questions. Once this task is complete, students can self-assess their work using the answers provided.
Next, students should discuss with their partner the physical changes that could occur to a boy and girl during puberty, their ideas should be noted down as a mind map in their books. Their work can then be checked and corrected using the mark scheme provided.
Students will now be given a set of cards describing physical changes which occur in either boys or girls or both, students will need to cut the cards out and stick them into a table in their books. The mark scheme for this task is included for students to self-assess their work.
Lastly, students are introduced to the idea of sex hormones which are what cause the changes that occur in boys and girls during puberty. After this, students will be given a set of levelled questions which they should either complete at the back of their books (higher ability) or use their notes from the lesson (lower/middle ability).
The plenary task requires students to summarise what they have learned this lesson in three sentences, using as many key words as possible.
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 bundle of resources contains 6 whole lessons, along with all additional resources, which meet all learning outcomes within the Year 7 B1 ‘Structure & Function of Body Systems’ Unit.
Lessons include:
Levels of Organisation
Gas Exchange
Breathing
The Skeleton
Movement: Joints
Movement: Muscles
The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, progress checks, practical investigations and more than two opportunities, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks
This lesson is designed for the Activate KS3 Science Course, specifically Year 7 B1.2 Module on ‘Structure & Function of Body Systems’
For more lessons designed for KS3 and KS4 please visit my shop at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience.
The lesson begins with a recap of the key terms learned over the last few lessons on the topics of the skeleton and joints, students need to match the structure to the correct function. This work can then be self-assessed using the answers provided.
Next, students will need to discuss the body muscle groups they already know of with their partner and then create a mind map of their ideas in their books. Students can then check their work against the answers revealed on the PowerPoint.
The next activity requires students to correctly label the diagram of the human body with the muscle groups and then identify the function of each muscle group from a list provided. The mark scheme for this task is included for students to mark and correct their work.
The next part of the lesson focuses on the antagonistic pairs of muscle. Students are shown a diagram of how biceps and triceps work together to either move the forearm upwards to downwards. After viewing the diagram and the explanation, students are asked to complete a fill-in-the-blank task to summarise this process. Their answers can be self-assessed using the PowerPoint presentation.
Lastly, students will complete a progress check in their books - this is a set of questions based upon what they have learned this lesson. This task can be self or peer assessed using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task requires students to write three quiz questions to test their peers on what they have learned this 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 :)