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.
An engaging lesson presentation (30 slides) that looks at the different methods that are used to treat cardiovascular diseases. The lesson begins by looking at the surgical procedure of heart bypass before exploring the use of stents to widen a partially blocked artery. Links are made back to previous knowledge when discussing valves and students are challenged to explain why a faulty valve must be replaced. The rest of the lesson focusses on treating CVD with medicines such as statins and antiplatelets and students will learn the side-effects associated with these drugs.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students but is suitable for all ages
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 fully-resourced lesson looks at the type of circulatory system found in a mammal (double, closed) and considers how the pulmonary circulation differs from the systemic circulation. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resources have been designed to cover point 3.1.2 (b) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification
The lesson begins with a focus on the meaning of a double circulatory system and checks that students are clear in the understanding that the blood passes through the heart twice per cycle of the body. Beginning with the pulmonary circulation, students will recall that the pulmonary artery carries the blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. An opportunity is taken at this point to check on their knowledge of inhalation and the respiratory system as well as the gas exchange between the alveoli and the capillary bed. A quick quiz is used to introduce arterioles and students will learn that these blood vessels play a crucial role in the changes in blood pressure that prevent the capillaries from damage. When looking at the systemic circulation, time is taken to look at the coronary arteries and renal artery as students have to be aware of these vessels in addition to the ones associated with the heart. In the final part of the lesson, students are challenged to explain how the structure of the heart generates a higher pressure in the systemic circulation and then to explain why the differing pressures are necessary.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the other uploaded lessons from topic 3.1.2 (transport in animals)
This clear and detailed lesson describes the process of oxidative phosphorylation, including the roles of the electron carriers, oxygen and the mitochondrial cristae and explains the role of chemiosmosis. The PowerPoint has been designed to cover points 5.2.2 (g) and (h) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification and includes details of the electron transport chain, proton gradients and ATP synthase.
The lesson begins with a discussion about the starting point of the reaction. In the previous stages, the starting molecule was the final product of the last stage but in this stage, it is the reduced coenzymes which release their hydrogen atoms. Moving forwards, the process of oxidative phosphorylation is covered in 7 detailed steps and at each point, key facts are discussed and explored in further detail to enable a deep understanding to be developed. Students will see how the proton gradient across the inner membrane is created and that the flow of protons down the channel associated with ATP synthase results in a conformational change and the addition of phosphate groups to ADP by oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding checks are included throughout the lesson to enable the students to assess their progress and prior knowledge checks allow them to recognise the clear links to other topics and modules.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the other uploaded lessons on glycolysis, the Link reaction and Krebs cycle and anaerobic respiration
This detailed lesson looks at the structure of the mitochondrion and explains how the specific features allow the stages of aerobic respiration to take place in this organelle. The engaging PowerPoint and accompanying resource have been designed to cover point 5.2.2 (b) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification which states that students should be able to demonstrate and apply an understanding of the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes, cristae, matrix and mitochondrial DNA.
The lesson begins with a version of “GUESS WHO” where students have to use a series of structural clues to whittle the 6 organelles down to just 1 - the mitochondrion. 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. 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.
This lesson has been designed to tie in with the other uploaded lessons on the stages of respiration.
A detailed lesson presentation (37 slides) that looks at the different motions that are represented on a velocity-time graph and guides students through using these graphs to calculate the distance travelled by an object. The lesson begins by challenging the students to construct a velocity-time graph by using a displayed guide and using their knowledge of drawing a distance-time graph. Moving forwards, the students will match terms of motion to the lines on the graph and time is taken to make links to the physics equations that allow acceleration and deceleration to be calculated. Students will also learn that they can use a velocity-time graph to calculate the distance travelled. A worked example is used to show them how to tackle these questions. There are regular progress checks throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding of this topic.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students but could be used with higher ability KS3 students
A highly engaging and information lesson presentation (46 slides) which guides students through the steps needed to construct an accurate distance-time graph and then teaches them how to interpret the motions that are shown by the different lines. The lesson challenges the students to work out the type of graph that should be used to present the data and to suggest which factor from the blank table should go on the x-axis. Using the results that they obtain, a step-by-step guide is used to walk students through constructing the graph. This includes deciding on scales to ensure they are even and make the most of the available paper. Student will see the four key terms of motion associated with these graphs (acceleration, deceleration, constant speed and stationary) and will be able to use their graph to work out which lines go with which motion. Moving forwards, students will be shown how to calculate speed from the graph. There are progress checks throughout the lesson so that students can assess their understanding of the topic.
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students but is perfectly suitable for KS3 students too.
All 9 of the lessons included in this bundle are fully resourced and have been designed to cover the detailed content of module 5.2.2 (Respiration) of the OCR A-Level Biology A specification.
The following specification points are covered by this bundle of lessons:
The need for cellular respiration
The structure of the mitochondrion
The process and site of glycolysis
The link reaction and its site in the cell
The process and site of the Krebs cycle
The importance of coenzymes in cellular respiration
The process and site of oxidative phosphorylation
The chemiosmotic theory
The process of anaerobic respiration in eukaryotes
The difference in the relative energy values of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
The use and interpretation of the respiratory quotient
All of the lessons are detailed and engaging and contain regular progress checks so that students can assess their understanding of the current topic as well as prior knowledge checks to enable links between topics and modules to be seen
It is estimated that these lessons will cover in excess of a month’s A-level Biology teaching time
This fully-resourced lesson describes the process of anaerobic respiration in eukaryotes and explains how pyruvate can be converted to lactate or ethanol using the hydrogen atoms released from reduced NAD and that the reoxidation of this coenzyme allows glycolysis to continue. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying differentiated resources have been designed to cover the first part of point 5.2.2 (i) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification which states that students should be able to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and understanding of anaerobic respiration in mammals and yeast.
The lesson begins with a focus on the coenzyme, NAD, and students are challenged to recall details of its role in the oxidation of triose phosphate. Students will recall that oxidative phosphorylation in aerobic respiration allows these coenzymes to be reoxidised and therefore recognise that another metabolic pathway has to operate when there is no oxygen available. Time is taken to go through the details of the lactate and ethanol fermentation pathways and students are encouraged to discuss the conversions before applying their knowledge to complete diagrams and passages about the pathways. Understanding checks in a range of forms are used to enable the students to assess their progress whilst prior knowledge checks allow them to recognise the links to earlier topics.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the other uploaded lessons on glycolysis and the stages of aerobic respiration
This fully-resourced lesson looks at the process and site of the Krebs cycle and explains the importance of decarboxylation, dehydrogenation, the reduction of NAD and FAD and substrate level phosphorylation. The engaging and detailed PowerPoint and accompanying resource have both been designed to cover point 5.2.2 (e) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification and includes the formation of citrate from the acetyl group of acetyl CoA and oxaloacetate and the regeneration of this four carbon molecule.
The lesson begins with a version of the Impossible game where students have to spot the connection between 8 of the 9 terms and will ultimately learn that this next stage is called the Krebs cycle. The main part of the lesson challenges the students to use descriptions of the main steps of the cycle to continue their diagram of the oxidation-reduction reactions. Students are continually exposed to key terminology such as decarboxylation and dehydrogenation and they will learn where carbon dioxide is lost and reduced NAD and FAD are generated. They will also recognise that ATP is synthesised by substrate level phosphorylation. The final task challenges them to apply their knowledge of the cycle to work out the numbers of the different products and to calculate the number of ATP that must be produced in the next stage if the theoretical yield of 32ATP is to be achieved.
This lesson has been designed to tie in with the other uploaded lessons on glycolysis, anaerobic respiration, the Link reaction, oxidative phosphorylation and respiratory substrates
This clear and concise lesson covers the Link reaction and its site in the cell as detailed in point 5.2.2 (d) of the OCR A-level Biology A specification. The PowerPoint explains how the product of glycolysis, pyruvate, is decarboxylated and dehydrogenated and combined with coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A which will then enter the Krebs cycle.
The lesson begins with a challenge, where the students have to recall the details of glycolysis in order to form the word matrix. This introduces the key point that this stage occurs in this part of the mitochondria and time is taken to explain why the reactions occur in the matrix as opposed to the cytoplasm like glycolysis. Moving forwards, the Link reaction is covered in 5 detailed bullet points and students have to add the key information to these points using their prior knowledge as well as knowledge provided in terms of NAD. The students will recognise that this reaction occurs twice per molecule of glucose and a quick quiz competition is used to test their understanding of the numbers of the different products of this stage. This is just one of the range of methods that are used to check understanding and all answers are explained to allow students to assess their progress.
This lesson has been written to tie in with the other uploaded lessons on glycolysis and the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
An informative lesson presentation (37 slides) and accompanying worksheets that guides students through the different methods that can be used to rearrange formulae as they will be required to do in the Science exams. The lessons shows them how to use traditional Maths methods involving inverse operations and also equation triangles to come to the same result. These are constantly linked to actual examples and questions to show them how this has to be applied. There are regular progress checks, with explained answers, so that students can assess their understanding.
An informative lesson presentation (30 slides) that ensures that students know the meaning of the independent, dependent and control variables in an investigation and are able to identify them. Students are challenged to use their definitions to spot the independent and dependent variable from an investigation title. Moving forwards, they are shown how they can use tables and graphs to identify them. The rest of the lesson focuses on the control variables and how these have to be controlled to produce valid results
This lesson is suitable for students of all ages studying Science as it is such a key skill
This engaging and detailed lesson presentation (43 slides) uses a step by step guide to take students through the important scientific skill of drawing graphs to represent data and address all the misconceptions and misunderstandings that often accompany this topic. The lesson begins by explaining to the students how to decide whether data should be represented on a line graph or a bar chart and a competition called "To BAR or not to BAR" is used to allow them to check their understanding while maintaining motivation. Moving forwards, students are shown a 6 step guide to drawing a line graph. Included along the way are graphs that are wrong and explanations as to why so that students can see what to avoid. There are continuous progress checks and a homework is also included as part of the lesson.
This lesson is written for students of all ages who are studying Science.
An informative lesson presentation (26 slides) that shows students how to convert between numbers and standard form (and the other way) so they are able to understand when these are used in Science questions. The lesson begins by guiding them through how to change numbers to standard form and explains when a power of 10 that is positive will be achieved and when it will be negative. Students are given the opportunity to see these used in a Science question and there is a cross-subject link as they are also required to convert between units. A number of competitions are used near the end of the lesson to maintain motivation and to allow the students to check their progress in a fun way
This lesson has been designed for GCSE students but is suitable for KS3
This bundle of 6 engaging and motivating lesson presentations and associated worksheets uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to test the students on their knowledge of the key topics of the Chemistry modules of OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification. The knowledge of the following modules can be assessed using these lessons:
C1: Particles
C2: Elements, compounds and mixtures
C3: Chemical reactions
C4: Predicting and identifying reactions and products
C5: Monitoring and controlling chemical reactions
C6: Global challenges
A fully resourced lesson presentation (60 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within unit C2 (Elements, compounds and mixtures) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification.
Relative formula mass
Empirical formula
Pure and impure substances
Filtration and crystallisation
Distillation
Chromatography
Electronic structure
Forming ions
Simple molecules
Giant covalent structures
Carbon
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “Take the HOTSEAT” and “SEPARATE the fact from the fiction” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
An engaging lesson presentation (48 slides) and associated worksheets that uses a combination of exam questions, quick tasks and quiz competitions to help the students to assess their understanding of the topics found within unit C1 (Particles) of the OCR Gateway A GCSE Combined Science specification.
The topics that are tested within the lesson include:
Introducing particles
Chemical and physical changes
Atomic structure
Isotopes
Developing the atomic model
Students will be engaged through the numerous activities including quiz rounds like “SPOT the SCIENTIST” and “Order, Order” whilst crucially being able to recognise those areas which need further attention
A series of 5 exam questions that challenge students to work out the actual size of a section as seen under a microscope or the magnification. These questions will test their ability to convert between measurements and give answers in micrometers. These questions are suitable for GCSE and A-level students