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.
Edexcel Specification 6.17 - 6.19
Two lessons which takes students through the process of how the polymerase chain reaction works and how gel electrophoresis can produces banding patterns.
There are opportunities for class discussion and tasks for the students to complete. I have also included a video which discusses DNA fingerprinting.
A series of lessons which focus on homeostasis and muscles.
Students will study
the structure of skeletal muscle
Fast and slow twitch muscle fibres
The sliding filament theory
The role of actin, myosin and ATP
The myogenic nature of the heart
ECGs
Homeostasis and negative feedback
Control of heart and breathing rate
Edexcel Topic 1 spec points:1.10, 1.11, 1.15 and 1.17
2 power point lessons with lots of information and independent tasks to allow students to develop their knowledge.
A complete lesson which introduces the terminology used in Ecology lessons. We also explore how abiotic and biotic factors can affect a habitat. There are questions to check understanding of knowledge learnt plus independent learning activities.
Learning outcomes
Recall what is meant by the terms population, community, habitat and ecosystem
Understand that the numbers and distribution of organisms in a habitat are controlled by biotic and abiotic factors
Understand how the concept of a niche accounts for the distribution and abundance of organisms in a habitat
5 complete lessons with a variety of tasks which explores the structure of cells.
Lesson 1 - Observing cells explores different microscopes available to observe cells and discusses the terms resolution and magnification. It also focuses on staining of cells.
Lesson 2 - Eukaryotic cells - discover the organelles inside eukaryotic cells and their function within the cell
Lesson 3 - Protein transport and the role of RER and Golgi apparatus
Lesson 4 - Prokaryotic cells and the organelles present. Gram staining is also looked at.
Lesson 5 - organisation of cells, tissues and organs.
Lesson 6 - Core Practical 5 Using a graticule
The lessons have a range of activities including video resources. Would make a useful tool for home study.
2 complete lessons focusing on understanding the role meiosis plays in creating gametes. It focuses on independent assortment and crossing-over.
Students have an opportunity to study each phase to compare meiosis to mitosis.
The second lesson studies the adaptation of gametes in both plants and animals. This will lead onto sexual reproduction in subsequent lessons.
Marine Science AS (exams in 2022)
Water: Particle Theory and Bonding
An understanding of particle theory, including the structure of atoms and ions, and how they bond together to form compounds, helps to explain the properties of water and other substances important to marine life.
A series of 3 complete powerpoints (approximately 5 lessons worth of material).
Includes explanations and students tasks.
A level Formative Assessment Tasks
The assessment tasks have been created to support the Edexcel A level and International A level courses but can be adapted to support other examination boards.
Each assessment starts with a brief introduction to engage the student. Students use their knowledge of the topic to complete the task.
The task includes a guidance of what should be included and an indication to the grade associated with the knowledge, based on level of complexity.
The resources are great to summarise a topic and can be completed in class or as a homework.
Students can use their notes and books for support but the tasks should be answered in their own words to show understanding.
I have found that these tasks:
• Engage students and promote active learning.
• They help students develop their course notes and prepare their revision.
• Enables students of all abilities to progress and gives the teacher a way to access knowledge and understanding.
• Enables misconceptions to be addressed.
• Promotes the use of key scientific vocabulary to support answering examination questions.
How to assess the task:
Teacher assessed
If the teacher is grading, I suggest taking a general approach. If students have attempted each section and the science is correct, I award the higher mark from the section. If not all the information is present or if not all of it is correct, award the lower grade from the section.
Student assessed
Students gain a lot from marking their own assessment or their peer´s. They should be able to justify the grade awarded. This can help develop appropriate feedback.
A useful revision tool for students preparing for the Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry exam Summer 2022.
The 12 paged booklet includes the specification points for students to plan their revision plus details of core practicals they could be tested on.
There are also a large range of revision questions to test student knowledge.
Great for class revision or homework.
Supports students with revision on specific topics.
Focused questions for the article in June 2022 (unit 5).
There are over 10 pages of questions which include the answer sheet.
Topic questions include:
Coordination of the nervous system
Control of breathing and heart rate
Protein synthesis and transcription factors
Protein Transport
Immune Response
Ion Transport
The questions help support revision of many topics found thoughout the A level course.
Photosynthesis Topic with complete PowerPoint lessons and worksheets including lab activities. Each lesson involves a range of activities to promote interest and learning of the material.
The content covers the following points:
The word equation and the balanced chemical symbol equation for photosynthesis
Understand how varying carbon dioxide concentration, light intensity and temperature affect the rate of photosynthesis
Describe the structure of the leaf and explain how it is adapted for photosynthesis
Understand that plants require mineral ions for growth, and that magnesium ions are needed for chlorophyll and nitrate ions are needed for amino acids
Practical: investigate photosynthesis, showing the evolution of oxygen from a water plant, the production of starch and the requirements of light, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll
A pdf worksheet focusing on the experiment with water plants with and without light. Also contains respiring organisms. The experiment uses bicarbonate indicator which changes colour in the presence of low and high concentrations of carbon dioxide.
The experiment is explained and there are exam-style questions to promote understanding.
Answer sheet included.
Suggested uses: in class activity; homework task; revision task
A pdf worksheet which focuses on the need for nitrate and magnesium ions by a plant. Students should know how both water and mineral ions pass into the plant (osmosis and active transport).
The worksheet contains exam-style questions with an answer sheet.
Suitable for in class activity; homework; research task.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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