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 lesson discusses how biodiversity may be considered at different levels and describes how to calculate Simpson’s Index of diversity. The PowerPoint and accompanying worksheets have primarily been designed to cover points 4.2.1 (a, c and d) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification but also make links to the upcoming topics of classification, natural selection and adaptations
A quiz competition called BIOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY SNAP runs over the course of the lesson and this will engage the students whilst challenging them to recognise species, population, biodiversity, community and natural selection from their respective definitions. Once biodiversity as the variety of living organisms in a habitat is revealed, the students will learn that this can relate to a range of habitats, from those in the local area to the Earth. Moving forwards, the students will begin to understand that biodiversity can be considered at a range of levels which include within a habitat, within a species and within different habitats so that they can be compared. Species richness as a measure of the number of different species in a community is met and a biological example in the rainforests of Madagascar is used to increase its relevance. However, students will also be introduced to species evenness and will learn that in order for a habitat to be deemed to be biodiverse, it must be both species rich and even. The students are introduced to an unfamiliar formula that calculates the heterozygosity index and are challenged to apply their knowledge to this situation, as well as linking a low H value to natural selection. The rest of the lesson focuses on the calculation of Simpson’s Index of diversity and a 4-step guide is used to walk students through each part of the calculation. This is done in combination with a worked example to allow students to visualise how the formula should be applied to actual figures. Using the method, they will then calculate a value of D for a comparable habitat to allow the two values to be considered and the significance of a higher value is explained. All of the exam-style questions have mark schemes embedded in the PowerPoint to allow students to continuously assess their progress and understanding.
This lesson evaluates the methods used by zoos and seed banks in the conservation of endangered species and their genetic diversity. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been primarily designed to cover point 4.21 of the Edexcel International A-level Biology specification but as this is potentially the last lesson in this topic, lots of questions and activities have been included that will challenge the students on their knowledge and understanding of topic 4 (Plant structure and function, Biodiversity and Conservation).
Hours of research went into the planning of this lesson to source interesting examples and although the main focus of the lesson is the zoo and seed banks as ex situ conservation methods, the lesson begins with a consideration of the importance of the in situ methods that are used in the Lake Télé Community reserve in the Republic of Congo and the marine conservation zone in the waters surrounding Tristan da Cunha. Students will learn how this form of active management conserves habitats and species in their natural environment, with the aim of minimising human impact whilst maintaining biodiversity.
To enrich their understanding of ex situ conservation, the well-known examples of ZSL London zoo, Kew Gardens and the Millennium Seed Bank Project in Wakehurst are used. Students will understand how conserving animal species outside of their natural habitat allows for human intervention that ensures the animals are fed and given medical assistance when needed as well as reproductive assistance to increase the likelihood of the successful breeding of endangered species. An emphasis is placed on the desire to reintroduce the species into the wild and the example of some initial successes with the mountain chicken frog in Dominica and Montserrat is discussed. As stated in the specification point, these methods must be evaluated and therefore the issues are also considered and there is a focus on the susceptibility of captive populations to diseases as a result of their limited genetic diversity. The final part of the lesson considers how seed banks can be used to ensure that plant species, which may contain the molecules for medicine development, avoid extinction, and how the plants can be bred asexually to increase plant populations quickly.
Due to the extensiveness of this lesson, it is estimated that it will take in excess of 2/3 hours of allocated A-level teaching time to cover the tasks and content included in the lesson and as explained above, it can also be used as revision of topic 4 content
This revision lesson provides students with the opportunity to assess their understanding of topic 7 and identify those areas which need revisiting. Included in the lesson is a multiple-choice assessment consisting of 20 questions and a PowerPoint revealing the answers, along with explanations and workings for the more difficult questions, and key points which relate to the AQA A-level biology specification.
The title of topic 7 is genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems and content from all four of the sub-topics in this topic is challenged within this assessment. The PowerPoint also contains further questions on topic 7 to challenge knowledge not directly covered in the 20 questions and prior knowledge checks when the content links to work covered in one of the previous 6 topics.
This lesson has been designed to be used at the end of the topic and/or in the build up to the final A-level assessments.
This bundle of 8 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B2 (Organisation) of the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Enzymes
Enzyme reactions
The Heart
The Blood vessels
The Blood
Cardiovascular disease
Health and disease
Risk factors for non-communicable diseases
Transport in plants through the xylem and phloem
Transpiration (and stomata)
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 B7 (Ecology) of the AQA Trilogy GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Competition
Abiotic and biotic factors
Food chains
Using quadrats and transects
The Carbon cycle
Biodiversity
Deforestation and land use
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 3 lessons covers all of the content in the sub-topic B1.1 (Cell structures) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Animal and plant cells
Bacterial cells
Light microscopy
Electron microscopy
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 4 lessons covers the majority of the content in the sub-topic B3.3 (Maintaining internal environments) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Biology specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Controlling body temperature
Controlling blood sugar
Diabetes type I and II
Inside the kidney
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 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 6 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic B3 (Genetics) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction
Advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction
The role of meiosis
The structure of DNA
Understanding and using genetic terminology
Monohybrid inheritance
Sex determination
The causes of variation
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 a lot of the content in Topic B9 (Ecosystems and material cycles) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science 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
Human impacts on ecosystems
Maintaining and increasing biodiversity
The carbon cycle
The nitrogen cycle
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.
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 4 lessons covers a lot of the content in Topic B6 (Plant structures and their functions) of the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
The photosynthesis reaction
The limiting factors of photosynthesis
The structure and function of the xylem and phloem
Transporting water and minerals by transpiration
Factors affecting the rate of transpiration
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 lesson explains the principles of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PowerPoint has been designed to cover point 6.1.3 (d) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification
A quick quiz competition is used to introduce the PCR abbreviation before students are encouraged to discuss the possible identity of the enzyme involved and to recall the action of this enzyme. Students will learn that this reaction involves cyclical heating and cooling to a range of temperatures so the next part of this lesson focuses on each temperature and specifically the reasons behind the choice. Time is taken to examine the key points in detail, such as why Taq polymerase has to be used as it is not denatured at the high temperature as well as the involvement of the primers. This process is closely linked to other techniques like electrophoresis which is covered in a later lesson and ties are continuously made throughout the lesson
This process is mentioned in other uploaded lessons in this module such as electrophoresis and genetic engineering to allow students to understand how it is critical for DNA analysis
This bundle of 8 lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B11 (Inheritance) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics covered within these lessons include:
Inheritance as the transmission of genetic information
Chromosomes, genes and alleles
Inheritance of sex in humans (XX and XY)
The haploid and diploid nucleus
Mitosis and the production of genetically identical cells
Meiosis and the production of gametes
Understanding genetic terminology (e.g. genotypes)
Using Punnett crosses to interpret the results of monohybrid crosses
Interpret pedigree diagrams
Phenotypic and genetic variation
Continuous and discontinuous variation
Natural selection
Selective breeding
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 5 lessons covers all of the content in Topic B2 (Cells) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
Living organisms are made of cells
Structure of a plant cell and an animal cell
Functions of the organelles in animal and plant cells
Structure and function of specialised cells
Calculating magnification and size
Defining diffusion
The factors that influence the rate of diffusion
Movement through the cell membrane by diffusion
The movement of water by osmosis
The effects on plant tissues by solutions with different water potential
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 6lessons covers the majority of the content in Topic B7 (Transport) of the core and supplement sections of the Cambridge iGCSE Science Double Award specification. The topics and specification points covered within these lessons include:
The functions of the xylem and phloem
The transport of water through the xylem vessels
Transpiration as the loss of water vapour
Factors affecting transpiration rate
Name and identify the structures of the mammalian heart
The transport of blood in arteries and veins
The blood vessels associated with the heart and lungs
Coronary heart disease
The structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries
The function of red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma
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 is an engaging revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quick differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to allow students to assess their knowledge of the topic of cells and related topics as covered in the GCSE Biology and GCSE Combined Science courses. As cells are the building blocks of living organisms, a strong understanding of this topic is critical for the success of a student on these two courses.
The following topics are covered in this revision lesson:
The key differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
The structure of a bacterial cell
Specialised cells
The individual functions of the organelles
Calculating size
Students will be engaged through the range of activities which includes quiz competitions such as “CELL, CELL, CELL” where students have to compete to identify specialised cells from descriptions. This lesson can be used at any time during the year as a revision material, in the lead up to mocks or as a final revision lesson before the GCSE terminal exams.
This is an engaging and fully-resourced revision lesson which uses a range of exam questions, understanding checks, quiz tasks and quiz competitions to enable students to assess their understanding of the content within topic 1 (Key concepts in Biology) of the Edexcel GCSE Biology 9-1 specification.
The specification points that are covered in this revision lesson include:
Explain how the sub-cellular structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells are related to their functions
Describe how specialised cells are adapted to their function
Know that changes in microscope technology, including electron microscopy, have enabled us to see cell structures and organelles with more clarity and detail than in the past
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between quantitative units in relation to cells
Explain how substances are transported into and out of cells, including by diffusion, osmosis and active transport
Core Practical: Investigate osmosis in potatoes
Calculate percentage gain and loss of mass in osmosis
The students will thoroughly enjoy the range of activities, which include quiz competitions such as “CELL, CELL, CELL” where they have to compete to quickly identify specialised cells from their descriptions whilst crucially being able to recognise the areas of this topic which need their further attention. This lesson can be used as revision resource at the end of the topic or in the lead up to mocks or the actual GCSE exams.
This bundle of 5 revision lessons covers the specification content in topics 1 - 4 of the AQA GCSE Biology specification that can be assessed in the Paper 1 exam.
The following topics are covered by these lessons:
Topic 1: Cell Biology
Topic 2: Organisation
Topic 3: Infection and response
Topic 4: Bioenergetics
In addition, there is a Paper 1 revision lesson which covers content from all of the 4 topics in one highly detailed resource
The students will be motivated and engaged by the range of activities that are found in the lessons whilst crucially being able to assess their knowledge of the different topics and recognise those areas which will need their further attention.