15.4 Evolution & speciation* 15.6 Fossils and extinction 15.7 More about extinction GCSE biology

GCSE biology Grade 1-9 AQA specification. This resource provides all the material you need to teach these three lessons. Resources are all contained within one file however for those that prefer to print from single files I have included the practise exam questions as a separate file too. It covers the following learning objectives (1-3) including speciation* and the activities associated with each objective are described. *Note speciation is for Triple Biology students only - Biology only.

1. Recall Wallace’s ideas and how they influenced Darwin (aiming for grade 4):
   Starter - Finish the sentences to recap lesson of fossils - mark scheme included for peer/self-assessment
   Discussion - Information slides on Darwin and Wallace
   Discussion - Information slides on what the fossil record shows
   Task - Identify the true and false statements about fossils
   Optional plenary task - Self-assessment questions

2. Explain how organisms become extinct and describe how mass extinction can occur (aiming for grade 6):
   Discussion - Information slides about organisms that cause extinction and how mass extinctions occur
   Activity - link to movie trailer for Deep Impact
   Discussion - information slides and animations on the effects of meteorite strike
   Summary Questions - Think, pair, share and summarise responses
   Exam Questions - mark scheme included
   Optional plenary task - Self-assessment questions

3. Explain how species arise and the importance of isolation* (aiming for grade 8) *Biology only:
   Video - link to trailer for Disney film Up
   Video - Discussion of table-top maintain and link to video on The history of Venezuela’s ancient Tepuis
   Discussion - information slides to describe and discuss the process of speciation and the importance of isolation
   Task - long answer QWC exam question - mark scheme included
   Optional plenary - link to clip from the Might Boosh ‘Isolation’ and task to adapt lyrics (included) to describe how a new species is generated.

Your feedback on this resource would be gratefully received.