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.
A PDF worksheet which focuses on the changes in an embryo from totipotent cells to cell differentiation. There are questions to challenge students understanding of these terms plus DNA methylation and acetylation. Answer sheet included.
This resource is great for:
In-class worksheet
Pre/post-test
Homework assignment
Support work
Practical activity - Investigating the changes in the population of a plant species along an environmental gradient. Transect samples are taken systematically in a linear pattern. In this investigation, you will use an interrupted belt transect to investigate the effect of the increase in height (altitude on a hill).
Students record their results in the table and plot a scatter graph. A conclusion can then be drawn using their results.
2 worksheets focusing on the role of carbohydrates in biological organisms including how they are formed and the different structures they form.
Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.
Exam-style questions and answers included.
Exam-style questions focusing on the structure of proteins.
Answer sheet included.
Suitable for checking understanding in class or as a revision activity.
Can your students identify reasons they underperformed in exams?
Maybe their target is to “revise more” for the next test.
There are different types of mistakes that can cause students to drop marks in an exam:
Not reading the questions
Incorrect wording or not topic specific
Understanding the main ideas of this topic but not knowing they had to apply the knowledge to this question.
Timing
These are just a few types of mistakes.
The printable worksheet allows students time to really reflect on their overall exam performance. Analysis of each question marked incorrectly can lead to a pattern in the type of mistake being made again and again. Once the types of mistakes being made are acknowledged, students can use the smart targets to focus on avoiding this type of mistake.
We have been using this technique for 4 years and have seen a marked improvement in our external exam results.
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, with answers, focusing on the limiting factors of photosynthesis. The experiment involves a student changing the light wavelength and investigating the rate of the reaction. Questions are similar to those found on exam papers relating to the topic.
This resource is great for:
In-class worksheet
Pre/post-test
Homework assignment
Support work
8 lessons with powerpoints and worksheets covering the topic Gas Exchange in both plants and humans. This covers:
The breathing system of humans including diagrams of the system to label
Gas exchange and the alveolus. Students discover how alveoli are adapted to gas echange.
Ventilation
Core practical - breathing rate and exercise
Smoking and how the lungs are damaged
Gas exchange in the leaf
Gas exchange mission - students are given access to the powerpoint to complete a spy mission linked to gas exchange (optional lesson)
Core practical - investigating the effect of light on photosynthesis/respiration
Each lesson contains a series of tasks to aid students learning including videos, discussion, labelling diagrams and exam questions.
A complete topic including 8 full lesson powerpoints and 7 worksheets.
Each lesson includes bell ringer activities (starter activities) and plenary activities plus lots of retrieval practice. Each lesson takes approximately 50 - 60 minutes. The PowerPoint can be modified to suit your lesson. There is also a recommend practical activity that involves an eye dissection (worksheet included). There are also many exam-style questions to ensure students understand the material.
I have included a range of different resources and tasks including pair and individual work.
Students should be able to complete the following after the lessons:
Describe the geotropic and phototropic responses of roots and stems and understand the role of auxin in the phototropic response of stems.
State that the central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord andis linked to sense organs by nerves.
Understand that stimulation of receptors in the sense organs sends electrical impulses along nerves into and out of the central nervous system, resulting in rapid responses
Understand the role of neurotransmitters at synapses
Understand the role of neurotransmitters at synapses
Describe the structure and functioning of a simple reflex arc illustrated by the withdrawal of a finger from a hot object
Describe the structure and function of the eye as a receptor
Understand the function of the eye in focusing on near and distant objects, and in responding to changes in light intensity
Describe the role of the skin in temperature regulation, with reference to sweating, vasoconstriction and vasodilation
An A3 PDF worksheet which summarises each of the core practical methods to gain 5 marks in the first question on unit 3. It also supports the experimental design question in unit 1 and unit 2
I have also included the biotic and abiotic factors to control, where appropriate, and the effect of not controlling this on the experiment.
I have produced a website for year 12 students to support their studies as they prepare for the unit 3 exam. The website will be supplied on a word document and can be shared with allof your students. Any updates to the course over time will be updated on the website.
The website includes video support for each experiment
Exam-style questions for each core practical
A summary of previous core practicals examined from 2019-2022
A PDF worksheet of a dichotomous key to identify invertebrates. This can be used as an independent learning task where students can work through the clues in the key.
Answer sheet included.
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.
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.
A useful revision tool for students preparing for the Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry exam Summer 2022.
The 14 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.
A useful revision tool for students preparing for the Edexcel IGCSE Biology exam Summer 2022.
The 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.
A fun revision revision resource focusing on the topic Human Transport. Great to be used in the class or as a homework.
Just print the sheets back to back and fold down the dotted line.
The document consists of the specification points students should be aware of.
The activity has 5 pages of tasks focusing on:
the composition of the blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma
adaptations of red blood cells make them suitable for the transport of oxygen
how the immune system responds to disease using white blood cells,
describe the structure of the heart and how it functions
explain how the heart rate changes during exercise and under the influence of adrenaline
the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries and how this relates to their function
the general structure of the circulation system
the factors may increase the risk of developing coronary heart disease
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.