A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
A Science teacher by trade, I've also been known to be found teaching Maths and PE! However, strange as it may seem, my real love is designing resources that can be used by other teachers to maximise the experience of the students. I am constantly thinking of new ways to engage a student with a topic and try to implement that in the design of the lessons.
This bundle of 10 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B1 (Cell-level systems) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Biology specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Plant and animal cells
Bacterial cells
Light microscopy
Electron microscopy
DNA
Transcription and translation
Enzymes
Enzyme actions
Aerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration
Photosynthesis
Limiting factors
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 9 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic B9 (Ecosystems and material cycles) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Levels of organisation in an ecosystem
Biotic and abiotic factors
Interdependence
Types of ecological relationships
Sampling techniques
Efficiency of biomass transfer
Human impacts on ecosystems
Maintaining and increasing biodiversity
The carbon cycle
The nitrogen cycle
Decomposition
The rate of decay
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This bundle of 7 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B8 (Exchange and transport in animals) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
The need to transport substances
Surface to volume ratio
Gas exchange at the alveoli
The structure of blood and its function
The structure of blood vessels
The structure of the heart
Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
An engaging lesson presentation (32 slides) and differentiated worksheets that look at the meaning of the substances termed monoclonal antibodies, explains how they are produced and explores their different applications. The lesson begins by breaking the term down into three parts so that students can understand that these substances are proteins that attach to antigens and come from a single clone of cells. Students will meet key terms such as lymphocytes, myelomas and hybridomas and will be able to link them to understand how these antibodies are produced. Moving forwards, time is taken to focus on the application of monoclonal antibodies in pregnancy tests. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding and a set homework is included as part of the lesson.
This lesson has been written for GCSE students but can be used with lower ability A-level students who are studying this topic
This is a detailed, engaging and fully-resourced REVISION LESSON which allows students of all abilities to assess their understanding of the content in module 2.1.3 (Nucleotides and nucleic acids) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. Considerable time has been taken to design the lesson to include a wide range of activities to motivate the students whilst they evaluate their knowledge of DNA, RNA and the roles of these nucleic acids in DNA replication and protein synthesis. Most of the tasks have been differentiated so that students of differing abilities can access the work and move forward as a result of the tasks at hand.
This lesson has been planned to cover as much of the specification as possible but the following sub-topics have received particular attention:
The structure of DNA
Phosphorylated nucleotides
DNA replication
Transcription and translation
Gene mutations and their affect on the primary structure of a polypeptide
The structure of RNA
In addition to a focus on the current topic, links are made throughout the lesson to other topics such as the journey of an extracellular protein following translation and the cell cycle.
If you like the quality of this revision lesson, please look at the other uploaded revision lessons for this module and for this specification
An engaging lesson presentation (54 slides) that uses a variety of exam questions, quick tasks and competitions to allow students to assess their understanding of the different topics within Module B5 of the Combined Science specification. All of the exam questions have displayed answers and some are differentiated to allow for the differing abilities. The students will enjoy the competitions which include "Take the HOTSEAT" and "This shouldn't be too TAXING" whilst recognising those areas which require further attention.
This engaging lesson presentation (48 slides) and associated worksheets uses exam questions with displayed mark schemes, quick tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the topics found within module B4 of the OCR Gateway A Combined Science specification. The topics which are specifically tested within the lesson include:
Ecosystems, Competition and interdependence, The carbon cycle and Decomposers
Students will enjoy the competitions such as "Number CRAZY" and "Take the HOTSEAT" whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need their further attention
A fully-resourced lesson which guides students through using genetic trees to work out the genotypes of unknown individuals and also how to work out whether a condition is caused by a dominant or a recessive allele. This lesson includes a detailed lesson presentation (24 slides) and a series of differentiated questions to allow the students to try to apply their new-found knowledge.
The lesson begins by challenging students to recall the meaning of the key terms, genotype and phenotype. Time is taken initially to explain how genetic trees can be used in questions. Lots of useful hints are given throughout the lesson, such as filling in the genotypes for those that you already know like the affected in a recessive condition. Moving forwards, a worked example is used to talk the students through a question. Students are then given the opportunity to try a question and this has been differentiated so those who need extra assistance can still access the work. The remainder of the lesson shows the students how they can use the tree to work out whether the condition is caused by a dominant or recessive allele and again a progress check is used so students can assess their understanding.
This lesson has been designed for both GCSE and A-level students.
A concise, engaging lesson presentation (22 slides) which looks at the different responses of the body as a result of adrenaline release. In line with the actions of adrenaline, the lesson begins with a range of quiz competitions to introduce key terms and responses to the students. Once the students know that it causes both the breathing and heart rate to increase, they are challenged to complete a passage which brings this information together to explain how the increased respiration rate is related to the fight or flight tag line. Moving forwards, students will be introduced to the meaning of the term vasodilation and then asked to consider which organs will need extra blood flow during times of stress and conversely, which tissues can have blood directed away from them. The lesson finishes by looking at how a negative feedback loop is used as the final control to ensure that energy resources are not wasted during times when there is no stress.
An engaging lesson presentation (31 slides) and associated worksheet that looks at animal and plant cells as eukaryotic cells. The lesson focuses on the organelles which are found inside these two cells and ensures that students understand the difference between the cells as well as briefly looking at the difference to prokaryotic cells at the end of the lesson. There is a lot of key terminology involved in this topic, so a range of tasks including fun quiz competitions are used to introduce these terms in an engaging manner. The lesson is student based, with the emphasis on them to identify the functions of the different organelles as well as recognising which ones are found in both cells or just plant cells. Discussions are encouraged during the lesson with leading questions, such as questioning whether a red blood cell isn’t actually an eukaryotic cell because of the lack of nucleus. Progress checks have been written into the lesson at regular intervals during the lesson so that students can assess their understanding.
This lesson has been written for GCSE students but could be used with KS3 students who are looking to extend their knowledge beyond the basics that they will be taught at this level.
This bundle of 10 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic B5 (Health, disease and development of medicines) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Health
The difference between communicable and non-communicable diseases
Pathogens
Common infections
The spread of diseases and the prevention
The spread of STIs
Plant defences
Identification of plant diseases
The physical and chemical defences of the human body
The use of antibiotics
Developing new medicines
Monoclonal antibodies
Non-communicable diseases
Treating cardiovascular disease
All of these lesson presentations and accompanying resources are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks to allow the students to constantly assess their understanding.
This revision resource has been designed to cover the content in both topic 11 (Gas exchange) and topic 12 (Respiration) of the CIE IGCSE Biology specification for examination in June and November 2020 and 2021. The topics have been combined because of the huge crossover and the aim was to encourage students to see those connections and to make the Biological links. The resource contains an engaging and detailed PowerPoint (77 slides) and associated worksheets, some of which have been differentiated to provide assistance for those students who need it.
Included in the resource are exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions which try to cover as much content as possible with the following areas receiving particular attention:
The internal and external structure of the trachea
The structure of the alveoli to allow efficient gas exchange
The role of the ribs, intercostal muscles and diaphragm in ventilation
The differences in composition between inspired and expired air
Aerobic respiration in seeds
The uses of energy in the body of humans
Anaerobic respiration and the oxygen debt
This resource contains a large emphasis on the mathematical element of the Biology course. Students are guided through key skills such as percentage change and then challenged to apply
This concise, engaging revision lesson has been designed to include activities that will motivate the students whilst they assess their understanding of topic B3 (Biological molecules) of the CIE IGCSE Combined Science specification. An understanding of biological molecules is fundamental to the understanding of a lot other Biology topics and this lesson has attempted to make the links between the different areas.
The range of activities which include exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions have been written to cover as much of the content as possible but the following topics have received particular attention:
The chemical elements in carbohydrates
The formation of starch and glycogen from glucose
The iodine test for starch
Lipids are formed of fatty acids and glycerol
Investigational skills
The ethanol emulsion test for lipids
This resource includes a PowerPoint (27 slides) and a worksheet with a task about the digestion of milk fat so students can recognise the components of lipids
This fully-resourced lesson has been designed to cover the content found in specification point 5.2.3 (The eye) of topic 5 of the AQA GCSE Biology specification. This resource contains an engaging and detailed PowerPoint (46 slides) and accompanying worksheets, some of which have been differentiated to help students of different abilities to take on the task.
The lesson begins with a game of IMPOSSIBLE (shown in the picture) where students are challenged to pick out the names of the 7 structures of the eye which the specification states they have to be able to identify on a diagram. Students are given the functions of the cornea and the sclera to guide them at the start of the labelling task before they have to use their previous knowledge of the nervous system to write a function for the optic nerve. Literacy and numeracy skills are tested throughout the lesson and the next round of the quiz challenges them to use synonyms to recognise the key terms of adaptation and accommodation. Time is taken to focus on the process of accommodation so that students can see how the ciliary muscles and suspensory ligaments interact to change the shape of the lens and allow both near and distant objects to be seen clearly. This takes the lesson nicely into the next section where the conditions of myopia and hyperopia are considered. Again, the students are challenged on their recognition of Biology terminology to spot that these are the medical names for short and long-sightedness. Students are guided through the correction of myopia before being challenged to write a letter to the mother of a girl who suffers from hyperopia, explaining how the lens is used to correct the defect.
As stated at the top, this lesson has been designed for GCSE-aged students who are studying the AQA GCSE Biology course, but can be used with younger students who are keen to learn about the eye or with A-level students who need to go back over the key points.
This resource contains a concise, engaging PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets which together cover the content of specification point 7.3 (Thyroxine and the control of metabolic rate as an example of negative feedback) as found on the Edexcel GCSE Biology & Combined Science higher tier specifications. Over the course of the lesson, students will learn about the effects of the release of thyroxine, how this release is regulated by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus and also will understand how this control is an example of negative feedback. Due to the obvious connection to the previously learned endocrine system topic, regular opportunities are taken to check on this prior knowledge and these work well with the understanding checks which allow the students to assess their progress. A quiz competition called FROM NUMBERS 2 LETTERS is used to introduce the key abbreviations in a fun and memorable way, whilst the key details of the content is always at the forefront of the design of the lesson.
This lesson has been written for students studying the higher tier of the Edexcel GCSE Biology or Combined Science courses but it is also suitable for use with A-level students who need to recall the key details of these two hormones
This lesson resource contains a engaging PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets, all of which have been designed to cover the content of specification point 2.5 (d) on the WJEC GCSE Biology specification. This specification point states that students should know the components of a reflex arc. This lesson builds on the knowledge from the previous lesson on the structure and function of the nervous system (2.5b).
The lesson begins by challenging the students to come up with the word reflex having been presented with 5 other synonyms of the word automatic. This leads into a section of discovery and discussion where students are encouraged to consider how a reflex arc can be automatic and rapid despite the fact that the impulse is conducted into the CNS like any other reaction. Students will be introduced to the relay neurone and will learn how this provides a communication between the sensory neurone and the motor neurone and therefore means that these arcs do not involve processing by the brain. Moving forwards, the main task of the lesson challenges the students to write a detailed description of a reflex arc. Assistance is given on the critical section which involves the relay neurone in the spinal cord before they have to use their knowledge of nervous reactions to write a paragraph before and after to complete the description. As a final task, students will have to compare the structure and functions of sensory, motor and relay neurones.
Although this lesson has been designed for students studying on WJEC GCSE Biology course, it is also suitable for older students who are studying reflex reactions at A-level and need to recall the main details.
This concise lesson presentation and accompanying worksheet have been designed to cover the content of point 2.5 (h) of the WJEC GCSE Biology specification which states that students should understand the need to keep blood glucose levels within a constant range. Homeostasis is a running theme throughout the 2.5 topic so this lesson builds on knowledge from earlier topics to ensure that there is a deep understanding.
The lesson begins by introducing glucose and a quiz competition will lead to the range 4 - 7, so that students can recognise that this is the set range within which this molecule’s concentration must be kept. Time is taken to look at some of the health problems that are associated with an increase in concentration above this upper limit and the general Biological knowledge of the students is tested with some questions. Moving forwards, the main task of the lesson involves a step by step guide through the stages in the response to a high blood glucose concentration and shows the students how the release of insulin leads to the uptake of glucose from the blood and a conversion to glycogen by the liver and muscle cells. The summary task at the end challenges the students to bring all of the information together to write a detailed description of this response and this activity is differentiated to aid those students who need extra assistance.
This lesson has been designed for students studying the WJEC GCSE Biology course but could be used with A-level students who are beginning this topic and need to recall the key details.
Each of the 8 lessons in this bundle have been written to include a wide range of activities that will engage and motivate the students whilst giving them regular oppotunities to assess their understanding of the current topic as well as checking on their knowledge of any previously linked topics.
Each lesson has been written for students studying the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science course and the following specification points are covered by the lessons in this bundle:
7.1: Endocrine glands and the hormones they secrete
7.3: The control of metabolic rate by thyroxine as an example of negative feedback
7.4 & 7.5: The stages and the interactions of the hormones in the menstrual cycle
7.6 & 7.7: Barrier and hormonal contraception, the menstrual cycle and preventing pregnancy
7.8: The use of hormones in Assisted Reproductive Technology
7.9: The importance of homeostasis
7.13 & 7.14: The control of blood glucose concentration by the release of insulin and glucagon
7.15 & 7.16: The causes and control of diabetes type I and II
Each lesson contains a detailed and engaging PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets, most of which are differentiated to enable students of different abilities to access the work.
This is a fully-resourced lesson which covers the detail of point 5.1.3 (b) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification which states that students should be able to apply their understanding of the structures and functions of sensory, relay and motor neurones as well as the differences between myelinated and unmyelinated neurones. The PowerPoint has been designed to contain a wide range of activities that are interspersed between understanding and prior knowledge checks that allow the students to assess their progress on the current topics as well as challenge their ability to make links to topics from earlier in the modules. Quiz competitions like SAY WHAT YOU SEE are used to introduce key terms in a fun and memorable way.
The students will be able to compare these neurones based on their function but also distinguish between them based on their structural features. Time is taken to look at the importance of the myelin sheath for the sensory and motor neurones. Students will be introduced to the need for the entry of ions to cause depolarisation and will learn that this is only possible at the nodes of Ranvier when there is a myelin sheath. Key terminology such as saltatory conduction is introduced and explained. The final task involves a comparison between the three neurones to check that the students have understood the structures and functions of the neurones.
Throughout the lesson, links are made to the upcoming topic of the organisation of the nervous system (5.1.5) and students will be given additional knowledge such as the differences between somatic and autonomic motor neurones.
This lesson has been designed for students studying on the OCR A-level Biology A course.
This lesson has been designed to cover the content of the 1st part of specification point 6.1.2 of the AQA A-level Biology specification which states that students should know the basic structure of a Pacinian corpuscle and be able to use its function as a representation of sensory receptors. By the end of the lesson students will understand that sensory receptors respond to specific stimuli and how a generator potential is established.
The lesson begins by using a quiz to get the students to recognise the range of stimuli which can be detected by receptors. This leads into a task where the students have to form 4 sentences to detail the stimuli which are detected by certain receptors and the energy conversion that happen as a result. Students will be introduced to the idea of a transducer and learn that receptors always convert to electrical energy which is the generator potential. The remainder of the lesson focuses on the Pacinian corpuscle and how this responds to pressure on the skin. The involvement of sodium and potassium ions is introduced so discussions on how the membrane potential changes from resting potential in the establishment of a generator potential are encouraged.
This lesson has been written for students studying on the AQA A-level Biology course and ties in nicely with other uploaded lessons which cover the content of topic 6