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 contains 17 fully-resourced lessons which have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 7 (Run for your life) of the Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification. The specification points that are covered within these lessons include:
The interaction of muscles, tendons, ligaments and the skeleton in movement
The contraction of skeletal muscle by the sliding filament theory
The overall reaction of aerobic respiration
The enzymes involved in the multi-stepped process of respiration
The roles of glycolysis in aerobic and anaerobic respiration
The role of the link reaction and the Krebs cycle in the complete oxidation of glucose
Understand how ATP is synthesised by oxidative phosphorylation
The fate of lactate after a period of anaerobic respiration
The myogenic nature of cardiac muscle
The coordination of the heart beat
The use of ECGs to aid diagnosis
Calculating cardiac output
The control of heart rate by the medulla oblongata
The control of ventilation rate
The structure of a muscle fibre
The structural and physiological differences between fast and slow twitch muscle fibres
The meaning of negative and positive feedback control
The principle of negative feedback in maintaining systems within narrow limits
The importance of homeostasis to maintain the body in a state of dynamic equilibrium during exercise
DNA transcription factors, including hormones
The lessons have been planned so that they contain a wide range of activities and numerous understanding and prior knowledge checks so students can assess their progress against the current topic as well as be challenged to make links to other topics within topic 7 and earlier topics
If you would like to see the quality of the lessons, download the link reaction and Krebs cycle, the fate of lactate,the using ECGs and transcription factors lessons as these have been uploaded for free
This detailed lesson looks at each of the stages of aerobic respiration and explains how this reaction is a multi-stepped process where each step is controlled by an enzyme. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover points 7.3 (i) and (ii) of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification.
The lesson begins with an introduction to glycolysis and students will learn how this first stage of aerobic respiration is also the first stage when oxygen is not present. This stage involves 10 reactions and an opportunity is taken to explain how each of these reactions is catalysed by a different, specific intracellular enzyme. A version of “GUESS WHO” challenges students to use a series of structural clues to whittle the 6 organelles down to just the mitochondrion so that they can learn how the other three stages take place inside this organelle. Moving forwards, the key components of the organelle are identified on a diagram. Students are introduced to the stages of respiration so that they can make a link to the parts of the cell and the mitochondria where each stage occurs. Students will learn that the presence of decarboxylase and dehydrogenase enzymes in the matrix along with coenzymes and oxaloacetate allows the link reaction and the Krebs cycle to run and that these stages produce the waste product of carbon dioxide. Finally, time is taken to introduce the electron transport chain and the enzyme, ATP synthase, so that students can begin to understand how the flow of protons across the inner membrane results in the production of ATP and the atmospheric oxygen being reunited with hydrogen.
This fully-resourced lesson explores how the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries relates to their functions. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 1.3 of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification.
This lesson has been written to build on any prior knowledge from GCSE or earlier in this topic to enable students to fully understand why a particular type of blood vessel has particular features. Students will be able to make the connection between the narrow lumen and elastic tissue in the walls of arteries and the need to maintain the high pressure of the blood. A quick version of the GUESS WHO game is used to introduce smooth muscle and collagen in the tunica media and externa and again the reason for their presence is explored and explained. Moving forwards, the lesson considers the structure of the veins and students are challenged to explain how the differences to those observed in arteries is due to the lower blood pressure found in these vessels. The final part of the lesson looks at the role of the capillaries in exchange. Links are made to diffusion to ensure that students can explain how the red blood cells pressing against the endothelium results in a short diffusion distance.
It is estimated that it will take about 2 hours of allocated A-level Biology teaching time to cover the detail included in this lesson
This fully-resourced lesson looks at the internal and external structure of the mammalian heart and uses the human heart to represent this anatomy. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 3.1.2 (e) (i) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification
As this topic was covered at GCSE, the lesson has been planned to build on this prior knowledge whilst adding the key details which will enable students to provide A-level standard answers. The primary focus is the identification of the different structures of the heart but it also challenges their ability to recognise the important relationship to function. For example, time is taken to ensure that students can explain why the atrial walls are thinner than the ventricular walls and why the right ventricle has a thinner wall than the left ventricle. Opportunities are taken throughout the lesson to link this topic to the others found in topic 3.1.2 including those which have already been covered like circulatory systems as well as those which are upcoming such as the initiation of heart action. There is also an application question where students have to explain why a hole in the ventricular septum would need to be repaired if it doesn’t naturally close over time.
This detailed lesson describes and explains the pressure and volume changes and associated valve movements that occur during the cardiac cycle to maintain the unidirectional flow of blood. The PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover the 5th part of point 3.4.1 of the AQA A-level Biology specification.
The start of the lesson introduces the cardiac cycle as well as the key term systole, so that students can immediately recognise that the three stages of the cycle are atrial and ventricular systole followed by diastole. Students are challenged on their prior knowledge of the structure of the heart as they have to name and state the function of an atrioventricular and semi-lunar valve from an internal diagram. This leads into the key point that pressure changes in the chambers and the major arteries results in the opening and closing of these sets of valves. Students are given a description of the pressure change that results in the opening of the AV valves and shown where this would be found on the graph detailing the pressure changes of the cardiac cycle. They then have to use this as a guide to write descriptions for the closing of the AV valve and the opening and closing of the semi-lunar valves and to locate these on the graph. By providing the students with this graph, the rest of the lesson can focus on explaining how these changes come about. Students have to use their current and prior knowledge of the chambers and blood vessels to write 4 descriptions that cover the cardiac cycle. The final part of the lesson covers the changes in the volume of the ventricle.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the other uploaded lessons on the circulatory system as detailed in topic 3.4.1 (Mass transport in animals)
Each of the 7 lessons in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 3.4.1 (Mass transport in animals) of the AQA A-Level Biology specification. The specification points that are covered within these lessons include:
Haemoglobin and the role in the transport of oxygen
The effects of carbon dioxide concentration on the dissociation of oxyhaemoglobin
The general pattern of blood circulation in a mammal
The gross structure of the human heart
The calculation of cardiac output
Pressure and volume changes and valve movements during the cardiac cycle
The structure and function of arteries, arterioles and veins
The formation of tissue fluid
The lessons have been written to include a wide range of activities and numerous understanding and prior knowledge checks so students can assess their progress against the current topic as well as be challenged to make links to other topics within this topic and earlier topics
If you would like to see the quality of the lessons, download the blood vessels and the formation of tissue fluid lessons as these are free
Each of the 3 lessons in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 8.2 (The heart) of the CIE International A-Level Biology specification. The specification points that are covered within these lessons include:
The external and internal structure of the mammalian heart
The differences in the thickness of the walls of the chambers
The cardiac cycle and the blood pressure changes during systole and diastole
The initiation and control of heart action
The lessons have been written to include a wide range of activities and numerous understanding and prior knowledge checks so students can assess their progress against the current topic as well as be challenged to make links to other topics within this topic and earlier topics
Each of the 7 lessons in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to cover the content as detailed in topic 8 (Transport in mammals) of the CIE International A-Level Biology specification. The specification points that are covered within these lessons include:
The double, closed circulatory system of a mammal
The relationship between the structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries
The role of haemoglobin in carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide
The significance of the oxygen dissociation curve at different carbon dioxide concentrations (Bohr effect)
The external and internal structure of the mammalian heart
The cardiac cycle, including the blood pressure changes during systole and diastole
The initiation and control of heart action
The lessons have been written to include a wide range of activities and numerous understanding and prior knowledge checks so students can assess their progress against the current topic as well as be challenged to make links to other topics within this topic and earlier topics
If you would like to see the quality of the lessons, download the arteries, veins and capillaries lesson as this is free
This fully-resourced lesson looks at the cardiac cycle and relates the structure and operation of the mammalian heart to its function. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 1.4 (i) of the Pearson Edexcel A-level Biology A (Salters Nuffield) specification
As the structure of the heart was covered at GCSE, the lesson has been planned to build on this prior knowledge whilst adding the key details which will enable students to provide A-level standard answers. The primary focus is the identification of the different structures of the heart but it also challenges their ability to recognise the important relationship to function. For example, time is taken to ensure that students can explain why the atrial walls are thinner than the ventricular walls and why the right ventricle has a thinner wall than the left ventricle. Opportunities are taken throughout the lesson to link this topic to the others found in topic 1 including those which have already been covered like circulatory systems as well as those which are upcoming such as the initiation of heart action. There is also an application question where students have to explain why a hole in the ventricular septum would need to be repaired if it doesn’t naturally close over time.
The next part of the lesson introduces the cardiac cycle as well as the key term systole, so that students can immediately recognise that the three stages of the cycle are atrial and ventricular systole followed by cardiac diastole. Students are challenged to name and state the function of an atrioventricular and semi-lunar valve from an internal diagram. This leads into the key point that pressure changes in the chambers and the major arteries results in the opening and closing of these sets of valves. Students are given a description of the pressure change that results in the opening of the AV valves and shown where this would be found on the graph detailing the pressure changes of the cardiac cycle. They then have to use this as a guide to write descriptions for the closing of the AV valve and the opening and closing of the semi-lunar valves and to locate these on the graph. By providing the students with this graph, the rest of the lesson can focus on explaining how these changes come about. Students have to use their current and prior knowledge of the chambers and blood vessels to write 4 descriptions that cover the cardiac cycle. The final part of the lesson covers the changes in the volume of the ventricle.
It is estimated that it will take in excess of 2 hours of allocated A-level teaching time to cover the detail included in this lesson as required by this specification point
This fully-resourced REVISION lesson has been written to challenge the students on their knowledge of the content of topic 8 (Transport in mammals) of the CIE International A-level Biology specification. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources will motivate the students whilst they assess their understanding of the content and identify any areas which may require further attention.
The wide range of activities have been written to cover as much of the topic as possible but the following specification points have been given particular focus:
The significance of the oxygen dissociation curves at different concentrations of carbon dioxide (The Bohr effect)
The role of haemoglobin in carrying oxygen
The role of haemoglobin in carrying carbon dioxide
Draw the structures of red blood cells, neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes
The relationship between the structure and function of a capillary
The internal structure of the heart and its associated blood vessels
Explain how heart action is initiated and controlled
The pressure changes of the cardiac cycle
The relationship between the structure and function of arteries and veins
The double, closed circulatory system of a mammal
Quiz rounds such as “Does this FLOW correctly” and “YOU DO THE MATH” are used to test the students on the finer details of their knowledge of the blood vessels and numerical facts
This bundle of 4 fully-resourced lessons have been designed to engage and motivate the students whilst they assess their understanding of the content in topics 1 - 4 of the OCR GCSE Physics specification which will be tested in PAPER 1. The detailed PowerPoints and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities which include exam-style questions with clearly explained answers, differentiated tasks and quick quiz rounds to bring in a competitive edge.
The topics covered are:
Topic 1: Matter
Topic 2: Forces
Topic 3: Electricity
Topic 4: Magnetism and magnetic fields
Due to the high mathematical content of this specification, the PowerPoints contain step-by-step guides to carrying out calculations.
If you want to sample the quality of the lessons, download the topic 3 revision lesson which has been shared for free
This fully-resourced revision lesson has been written to cover the major details of the electricity and circuits topic that can be assessed in the GCSE Physics and Combined Science (HT) exams. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities which include exam-style questions with clearly explained answers, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to allow students to assess their understanding and to ultimately recognise those areas which need further consideration.
The following points are covered in this revision lesson:
The electrical symbols that represent the electrical components
Describe the differences between series and parallel circuits
Recall that a voltmeter is connected in parallel
One volt is equal to one joule per coulomb
Recall and use the equations that calculate energy transferred, charge, potential difference, power and electrical power
Recall that an ammeter is connected in series
Calculate the currents, potential differences and resistances in series and parallel circuits
Explain how current varies with potential difference in resistors
Know the functions of the wires in a plug and the safety features
The main task of the lesson, which challenges the students to calculate the currents, potential differences and resistances in series and parallel circuits, is differentiated to allow students of differing abilities to access the work
All of the lessons in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to challenge the students on their knowledge of the topics which can be assessed in PAPER 1 of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics specification.
All 7 topics that can be assessed in paper 1 are covered by these lessons:
Topic 1: Key concepts in Physics
Topic 2: Motion and forces
Topic 3: Conservation of energy
Topic 4: Waves
Topic 5: Light and the EM spectrum
Topic 6: Radioactivity
Topic 7: Astronomy
The PowerPoints and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities which include exam-style questions with clear explanations of the answer, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions. There is also a big emphasis on the mathematical element of the specification and students are guided through the use of a range of skills which include the conversion of units and the rearrange of formulae to change the subject.
If you would like to see the quality of the lessons, download the topics 4 & 5 and 7 lessons which have been shared for free
This lesson has been written to act as a revision tool for students at the completion of topic 2 of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics specification or in the lead up to mock or terminal exams. This motion and forces topic is extensive and the engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to include a wide range of activities to allow the students to assess their understanding and to recognise any areas which need extra attention. This specification is heavy in mathematical content and so a lot of opportunities are presented for a range of skills to be tested and the PowerPoint guides students through the application of these requirements such as rearranging the formula and converting between units.
The following specification points have received a particular focus in this lesson:
Factors affecting thinking and braking distance
Calculating the distance travelled from the area under the velocity-time graph
Recalling and using the equations to calculate acceleration, force, speed, weight and momentum
Calculating uniform acceleration from a velocity-time graph
Resultant force and constant velocity
Forces and velocity as vector quantities
Circular motion
The difference between mass and weight
The law of the conservation of momentum
A number of quick quiz rounds, such as FILL THE VOID and WEIGHT A MINUTE, are used to maintain engagement and motivation and to challenge the students on their recall of important points.
It is estimated that it will take in excess of 2 hours of GCSE teaching time to cover the detail included in this lesson
This lesson has been written to act as a revision tool for students at the completion of topic 2.1 of the WJEC GCSE Physics specification or in the lead up to mock or terminal exams. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to include a wide range of activities to allow the students to assess their understanding and to recognise any areas which need extra attention. This specification is heavy in mathematical content and so a lot of opportunities are presented for a range of skills to be tested and the PowerPoint guides students through the application of these requirements such as rearranging the formula and converting between units.
The following specification points have received a particular focus in this lesson:
Motion using speed, velocity and acceleration
Speed-time graphs
Application of the equations to calculate speed and acceleration
Using velocity-time graphs to calculate uniform acceleration and distance travelled
Knowledge of the terms reaction time, thinking distance, braking distance and stopping distance
The factors which affect these distances
A number of quick quiz rounds, such as THE WHOLE DISTANCE, are used to maintain engagement and motivation and to challenge the students on their recall of important points.
This is a fully-resourced revision lesson which covers the content detailed in the CORE & SUPPLEMENT sections of topics P5 & P6 (Electrical quantities and electric circuits) of the CIE IGCSE Combined Science specification. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities which include exam-style questions with clearly explained answers, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions to allow students to assess their understanding and to ultimately recognise those areas which need further consideration.
The following specification points have been given particular attention in this lesson:
The electrical symbols that represent the electrical components
Describe the differences between series and parallel circuits
Recall that a voltmeter is connected in parallel
One volt is equal to one joule per coulomb
Recall and use the equations that calculate charge, potential difference and power
Recall that an ammeter is connected in series
Calculate the currents, potential differences and resistances in series and parallel circuits
Know the safety function of the fuse
Understand that like charges repel and unlike charges attract
This lesson has been designed to fall in line with the heavy mathematical content of the Physics specification with a number of calculation tasks and students are guided through the range of skills that they will have to employ
This revision lesson is fully-resourced and differentiated to allow students of differing abilities to assess their understanding of topic 2.4 (Further motion concepts) of the WJEC GCSE Physics specification. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resources contain exam-style questions, quick tasks, discussion points and a quiz competition which check on the following specification points:
The qualitative relationship between mass and velocity in the calculation of momentum
Application of the law of the conservation of momentum to perform calculations involving collisions
Applying the kinetic energy equation to compare the size of this energy store before and after an interaction
Newton’s second law in the form force = change in momentum over time
Using equations to model the motion of an object
The principle of moments
To fall in line with the specification, there is a big emphasis on mathematical skills in this lesson and students are given guidance and assistance to ensure that they can access the work
All of the lessons in this bundle are fully-resourced and have been designed to challenge the students on their knowledge of the Physics topics of the CIE IGCSE Combined Science specification. The lessons cover both the CORE and SUPPLEMENT sections.
The following 5 topics are covered by these lessons:
Topic P1: Motion
Topic P2: Work, energy and power
Topic P4: Properties of waves, including light and sound
Topic P5: Electrical quantities
Topic P6: Electric circuits
The PowerPoints and accompanying resources contain a wide range of activities which include exam-style questions with clear explanations of the answers, differentiated tasks and quiz competitions. There is also a big emphasis on the mathematical element of the specification and students are guided through the use of a range of skills which include the conversion of units and the rearranging of formulae to change the subject.
If you would like to see the quality of the lessons, download the topic P1 lesson which has been shared for free
The AQA specification states that a minimum of 10% of the marks across the 3 assessment papers will require the use of mathematical skills. This revision lesson has been designed to include a wide range of activities that challenge the students on these exact skills because success in the maths in biology questions can prove the difference between one grade and the next!
Step-by-step guides are used to walk students through the application of a number of the formulae and then exam-style questions with clear mark schemes (which are included in the PowerPoint) will allow them to assess their progress. Other activities include differentiated tasks, group discussions and quick quiz competitions such as “FROM NUMBERS 2 LETTERS” and “YOU DO THE MATH”.
The lesson has been written to cover as much of the mathematical requirements section of the specification as possible but the following have been given particular attention:
Hardy-Weinberg equation
Chi-squared test
Calculating size
Converting between quantitative units
Standard deviation
Estimating populations of sessile and motile species
Percentages and percentage change
Cardiac output
Geometry
Due to the detail and extensiveness of this lesson, it is estimated that it will take in excess of 2/3 hours of A-level teaching time to work through the activities and it can be used throughout the duration of the course