Big believer in the power of beautiful lesson plans to make learning easier. My resources cover the sciences and geography. My biochemistry degree and tuition work I do mean I create resources for a lot of courses as and when I need a resource-always feel free to comment and request something if you want something else or an adaptation. Oxford biochemistry graduate.
Big believer in the power of beautiful lesson plans to make learning easier. My resources cover the sciences and geography. My biochemistry degree and tuition work I do mean I create resources for a lot of courses as and when I need a resource-always feel free to comment and request something if you want something else or an adaptation. Oxford biochemistry graduate.
You get a much better response explaining cyclic AMP when you draw it as a hat that makes enzymes happy and working harder when they wear it! One-page revision notes on cAMP for the OCR specification, combining the different places it’s used on the course (adrenaline receptors, ADH in the kidney collecting duct, lac operon of bacteria). Also has links to YouTube videos of some of the processes discussed.
I’m thinking of expanding this into a larger resource covering this topic-contact me if that’s something you’d particularly want. It’s offered for free in the meantime.
You get a much better response explaining cyclic AMP when you draw it as a hat that makes enzymes happy when they wear it! One-page revision notes on cAMP for the AQA specification, with links to YouTube videos of some of the processes discussed.
I am thinking of expanding this into a more full set of notes including details of the adrenaline receptor and with more diagrams-please comment if that’s something you’d want. It’s offered for free in the meantime.
Two-page illustrated worksheet on Salmonella bacterial disease, covering infection, effects, epidemiology, treatment and vaccination against bacteria, for the AQA 9-1 GCSE biology specification (B5.7). Versions with images in colour and converted to black and white are included, as well as an in-depth mark scheme.
Worksheet for the AQA specification on two pages covering genetic definitions and genetic crosses. Dominant and recessive, alleles and genes and Punnet squares are all covered as questions.
Sensitivity note: the worksheet includes cystic fibrosis as a case study. Topic reference: B13.7, 13.8, 13.9. This pack is almost identical to my pack for Edexcel covering this topic, you could use either if you teach both courses.
Worksheet for the Edexcel 9-1 GCSE biology specification on genetic definitions and genetic crosses on two pages. Dominant and recessive, alleles and genes and Punnet squares are all covered.
Sensitivity note: the worksheet includes cystic fibrosis as a case study. This pack is almost identical to my AQA pack covering the same content, you could use either if you teach both courses. Specification reference: B3.12, B3.13, B3.14.
Two-page worksheet and mark scheme on the use of positron emission tomography scans in medical imaging of the brain and cancer, a topic on the current Edexcel biology GCSE, with a range of diagrams, pictures and links to recommended videos. The worksheet is also suitable for teaching in physics as a case study.
Worksheet assumes a bit of basic knowledge of radioactivity and gamma rays (safety precautions, hazards) so may be worth coordinating with physics that those topics have been covered, although it’s only at a common sense level of knowledge. A version of the worksheet converted to black and white is included too.
Specification reference: brain and spinal cord problems, B2.11B and B2.12B, higher tier.
Worksheet on two pages covering plant disease for the AQA 9-1 biology GCSE specification. Topics include tobacco mosaic virus, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and rose black spot, as well as one calculation practice. Level is fairly basic, without many complicated questions.
Versions of the worksheet are included for colour and black and white printing. Pictures, diagrams and mark scheme are included.
Worksheet on homeostasis and thyroid function, covering thyroxine, TSH and homeostasis and negative feedback generally. This two-page worksheet has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to help students remember the topic and case-study questions. There’s an in-depth mark scheme and versions for colour and black and white printing. Targets the OCR twenty-first Century Science 9-1 GCSE Biology course. I also have versions for AQA GCSE biology and Edexcel GCSE biology.
Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions.
For the AQA 9-1 biology GCSEs: based on collating past paper questions I’ve found the definitions of the terms are important for students to know, but suitable for other courses.
The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students.
Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions. For the OCR 9-1 biology twenty-first century science GCSE.
The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence with ecology. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students.
These worksheets are very similar to my set for AQA, if you tutor multiple courses you don’t really need the other version.
Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions. For the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSEs.
The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students.
These worksheets are very similar to my set for AQA, if you tutor both courses you don’t really need the other version.
For the Edexcel iGCSE, I intend to do a version of this worksheet specific to that course in future, but for now this worksheet is fine to use; a few questions (10 and 11 on the written worksheet, 3 on the link-the-boxes worksheet) aren’t things students need to memorise but those questions would still be fine for students to do as “suggest” questions.
Worksheet for AQA A-level biology plant tropism on two pages, covering IAA, phototropism, gravitotropism, the acid growth hypothesis and an experiment design question. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a detailed mark scheme. Written for the new 2015 specification.
Doing a different specification? I have versions for AQA GCSE current specification, Edexcel GCSE and Cambridge iGCSE in a similar style.
2024 update: edited to give students more space for writing answers.
Worksheet for Cambridge iGCSE biology plant hormones on two pages, covering IAA, phototropism, gravitotropism, the effects of auxin and an experiment design question. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a detailed mark scheme.
October 2024 update: added more space for writing answers.
Teaching AQA 9-1 GCSE photosynthesis is difficult: with its emphasis on the inverse square law and light intensity data, it’s different to other courses and standard worksheets that haven’t been targeted don’t cover these points. Two-page worksheet with answers targeted at AQA specifically, covering a range of common questions and problems.
Questions consulted for research include 8464B1H 2018 Q3 and 2021 Q1 and 84652H 2021 Q7, which would make great follow-ups.
Two-page worksheet on plant hormones for the AQA 9-1 GCSE. Covers phototropism, geotropism, gibberellins and their industrial uses, ethene and an experiment design question. Versions in colour and for black and white printing. There’s an in-depth mark scheme.
Doing a different course? I have similar worksheets for AQA biology A-level, Edexcel GCSE and Cambridge iGCSE.
This two-page resource lists pathogens, transmission routes, disease effects, treatment methods and other facts for the human diseases on the Eduqas A-level biology course. The large number of disease case studies on the course is something students need a lot of help with. A blank worksheet version is also included for students to fill in themselves.
To help students build up a common sense knowledge of the kind of issues surrounding these diseases that could be important in future and likely topics of exam questions, there’s a section on “other things to know” explaining issues like malaria potentially being spread by global warming. That should make this set of notes particularly useful for students aiming high and looking to study medicine, nursing and biosciences degrees in future or getting ready for interviews. It wasn’t possible to fit every topic onto two pages (e.g. flu recombination is skipped) but this worksheet gives a good concise summary of the key ideas of the topic.
This worksheet should also be suitable for WJEC A-level biology students, although I don’t teach people for that course currently.
I’ve had positive feedback from students who found it interesting and felt that it gave them a sense of issues in modern medicine-one student studying history A-level said it helped put studying AIDS in history in context.
Two-page worksheet on plant hormones for the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSE. Covers phototropism, geotropism, gibberellins and their industrial uses, ethene and an experiment design questions. Versions in colour and for black and white printing. There’s an in-depth mark scheme.
Doing AQA GCSE? I have a separate version. Doing Edexcel iGCSE? This pack isn’t needed, the course doesn’t go into so much detail.
Worksheet on homeostasis and thyroid function, covering thyroxine, TSH and nutrient deficiencies as well as revising homeostasis and negative feedback generally.
This two-page worksheet has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to help students remember the topic. Targets the AQA 9-1 biology GCSE. There’s versions of the worksheet for colour and black and white printing and an in-depth mark scheme.
Doing Edexcel GCSE? I have a separate version targeting that course specifically.
2024 update: fixed a glitch with question numbering and following feedback from students, added more space for writing down some answers.
Worksheet on homeostasis and thyroid function, covering thyroxine, TSH and nutrient deficiencies as well as revising homeostasis and negative feedback generally. This two-page worksheet has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to help students remember the topic. Targets the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSE. There’s an in-depth mark scheme and versions for colour and black and white printing.
Doing AQA? I have a separate version of the worksheet for the AQA course.
Doing the Edexcel iGCSE? This worksheet isn’t needed, that course doesn’t go into so much depth on the topic.
2024 update: following feedback from students, added more space for answers.
Two-page worksheet for students to fill in covering reflex actions, case studies, synapses and drop tests, targeting the AQA 9-1 biology GCSE but suitable for other courses like Edexcel. An in-depth mark scheme is included.
Questions consulted include the 84612H specimen paper and the 2018 paper.
Update, December 2023: based on student feedback, added more hints and re-ordered some questions to make the pack flow more naturally.