I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
8 A3 Revision mats to prepare students for the upcoming paper 2 exam.
These focus on
The kidney and excretion
Cloning, Micropropagation and Fish farming
Ecology and the Environment
Protein Synthesis
Menstrual Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Transpiration in plants
Immune system and vaccination
A 360 panoramic escape room. A great way to introduce the topic of pathogenic microorganisms.
Scenario: The World Health Organisation has released a warning about a new type of disease spreading rapidly over 3 continents. It is very contagious, and the death rate is rising. No one knows at this stage what type of pathogen is causing this illness.
The first task is to return to where the illness was first reported and determine what is causing this new disease. The mission begins in a nearby woodland where the first victims had been staying.
The escape room is designed to generate student interest in microbes. There are a range of resources to support learning including videos, puzzles, worksheets and mazes.
The missions should be played in numerical order as the information in the activities provide the answers to the clues.
The escape room itself contains a lot of information regarding:
• Types of microorganisms
• Lifecycles of microorganisms
• TB, HIV and Candida auris information sheets.
There are mini-quizzes and checkpoints along the way to check student understanding. The answers to these questions are found in videos and worksheets.
At the end of each set of activities there is a key with a locked question. This is the only question students need to get correct in the activities as these lead to the next clue.
This is a great introduction to A level Unit 4 Microorganisms unit.
An exciting 360 panoramic escape room.
The mission is set on Mars in the future. Earth is no longer inhabitable, and students want to know why.
The escape room is designed to generate student interest in an important topic. There are a range of resources to support learning including videos, puzzles, worksheets and mazes.
The missions should be played in numerical order as the information in the activities provide the answers to the clues.
The escape room itself contains a lot of information regarding:
• What is the greenhouse effect?
• What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
• What is global warming?
• What are the long-term effects?
• What can be done?
The answers to these questions are found in videos, worksheets and other websites, such as NASA.
There are mini-quizzes and checkpoints along the way.
At the end of each set of activities there is a key with a locked question. This is the only question students need to get correct in the activities as these lead to the next clue. A teacher answer sheet is included.
I have used this resource to introduce this topic to my year 13 biology class but it would be suitable for younger year groups as the answers are on the site.
This is an interactive lesson focusing on the different methods used by forensic scientists to determine the time of death.
This includes:
Algor mortis (body temperature)
Rigor mortis (muscle contraction)
Livor mortis (colour of skin after death)
Entomology (study of insects)
Decomposition
Students click on each link to gain information about each method. The information is in the form of text, diagrams and videos.
Students can summarise this information in their notes if the teacher wishes.
The students are then given information about 5 deceased people and the state of the body when found.
Working in pairs or groups, students use the information to predict and approximate the time of death (they are given a current time and work backwards).
A PDF worksheet with focused questions on determining the time of death of a body.
This focuses on factors that affect body temperature and the use of rigor mortis and entomology to determine the time of death.
I have included my answer sheet for guidance.
6 exam questions which focuses on the CORMS mark scheme. I have included a scaffold for students to refer to as they answer the question so they become familiar with each of the points in CORMS.
Mark scheme included
PDF worksheet focusing on the structure of the brain. Includes exam questions focusing on neurotoxins which can affect brain function.
Markscheme included.
This worksheet is perfect for checking understanding and student application of knowledge.
8 longer response exam questions and some multiple choice.
This document can be modified and the order of questions can be changed or removed.
The total time for this document is 65 minutes
Mark scheme is included.
I have used this document as a timed revision exercise but the document can be used as a summative exam.
Exam questions focus on the the periodic table and trends within the table.
14 longer response exam questions.
This document can be modified and the order of questions can be changed or removed.
The total time for this document is 130 minutes
Mark scheme is included.
I have used this document as a timed revision exercise but the document can be used as a summative exam.
Exam questions focus on the following areas
Describe the stages in the water cycle
Describe the stages in the carbon cycle
Describe the stages in the nitrogen cycle
38 longer response exam questions.
This document can be modified and the order of questions can be changed or removed.
The total time for this document is 8 hours.
Mark scheme is included.
I have used this document as a timed revision exercise but the document can be used as a summative exam.
Topics included:
Alkanes and Alkenes
Cycloalkanes
Alkanes: homologous series, isomerism and reactions
Alkanes: formulae, isomers and reactions
Analyse the properties of ethane, polymers and biodegradation
Comparing methods for making ethanol
Compounds from oil and fractional distillation
Demonstrate understanding of molecular formula
Experiment for the cracking of hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons: formulae, reactions and isomers
Producing ethanol and methanol
The questions test both knowledge and application of knowledge.
18 longer response exam questions.
This document can be modified and the order of questions can be changed or removed.
The total time for this document is 155 minutes.
Mark scheme is included.
I have used this document as a timed revision exercise but the document can be used as a summative exam.
Topics included:
Heart structure and function
Blood vessels
Circulatory system
Blood components including the role of the blood cells
The questions test both knowledge and application of knowledge.
12 longer response exam questions on a word document.
This document can be modified and the order of questions can be changed or removed.
The total time for this document is 105 minutes.
Mark scheme is included.
I have used this document as a timed revision exercise but the document can be used as a summative exam.
Topics included:
Food chains and webs
Trophic levels
Biomass and energy transfer
Pyramids of numbers and biomass
The questions test both knowledge and application of knowledge.
Focused questions for the article in June 2023 (unit 5).
There are over 7 pages of questions which includes a mark scheme.
Topic questions include:
Bacterial growth
Coordination of the nervous system
Control of heart rate
Protein synthesis and transport
Transciption factors
Immune Response
Inflammation
Brain function and scans
Epigenetic Factors
Microarray, PCR and Gel electrophoresis
The questions help support revision of many topics found throughout the A level course.
60 common exam questions found in the paper 1 examination. Print the pages back to back so the students write the answer on the back of the cards.
Bullet point the main points.
Students can use this resource to learn the key points for each topic area.
60 flash cards with exam-style questions for students to prepare. The questions cover all of the topics in unit 5 and give students a chance to prepare model answers for each of these in preparation for the A level exam.
Once completed, my students check their responses with the model answers and then laminate and use as a revision tool.
This activity can be used by students to learn about selective breeding or as a retrieval practice activity. The student pair are given a PDF island with a footprint trail. Each image the footprints lead to involves a question they must complete in their note books until they move on to the next image. They can choose one of the counters to move along the island to show their progression.
The tasks are exam-style questions on the topic.
The teacher can go through the answers with the class at the end of the task.
I also showed a brief video on selective breeding to introduce the activity.
National Geographic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDN-QeVhQTc
A formative assessment which can be completed in class or as homework.
This is an independent task where students can use their own knowledge and resources for guidance, to complete an assessment which focuses on part of the GCSE specification for transport in humans.
The assessment focuses on:
Blood vessel structure and function
Heart disease and effect.
Students can peer assess the work and there is a worksheet to help them complete this task.
A level Biology topic focusing on gene technology.
This unit includes:
the principles of genetic technology
the tools and techniques available to the genetic engineer
explaining the use of microarrays
outline the use of bioinformatics in sequencing genomes
describe examples of the uses of genetic technology in medicine and agriculture
Pros and Cons of GMO
In this unit includes powerpoint lessons, worksheets, videos and discussion/debate tasks.
The unit contains 4 lessons but this can be increased if you would like more time on a particular aspect e.g. debate.
A PDF worksheet which focuses on the 3 types of neurones and Schwann cell structure. Students label the cells and complete a cloze exercise. There is also a vocabulary enhancer for students to define keywords.
Answer sheet included.
A PDF worksheet with exam-style questions to check students understanding of the wave of depolarisation which spreads across the heart. Students link this to the stages of the cardiac cycle.
Answer sheet included.