Science Teacher who Specialises in Biology up to A-Level, Physics up to Triple Level and Mathematics up to KS3. I have experience teaching in both Primary and Secondary, PYP and MYP, AQA both domestic and international, and International Edexcel.
Science Teacher who Specialises in Biology up to A-Level, Physics up to Triple Level and Mathematics up to KS3. I have experience teaching in both Primary and Secondary, PYP and MYP, AQA both domestic and international, and International Edexcel.
Poster idea for individual/group work on Energy Transfer by Design for Oxford AQA Specification.
Children can use this to help with research towards understanding how things are designed or adapted to maximize or minimize thermal energy transfer.
As the vacuum flask is a staple of most exam boards, when it comes to Thermal Energy Transfer content, I would recommend that the children find how it prevent heat loss via convection, conduction and radiation.
Fertilisation in Plants and Animals: Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.12 Know the process of fertilisation in mammals, including the acrosome reaction, the cortical reaction and the fusion of nuclei.
3.13 Know the process of fertilisation in flowering plants, starting with the growth of a pollen tube and ending with the fusion of nuclei.
Content:
Internal and external fertilisation.
Pollination.
Plant fertilisation.
Human fertilisation.
Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
1.1 Understand the importance of water as a solvent in transport, including its dipole nature.
Content:
Bonding (Ionic, Covalent and hydrogen)
Importance of inorganic ions in Biology
Importance and properties of water
Lipids. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
1.5 (i) Know how a triglyceride is synthesised by the formation of ester bonds during condensation reactions between glycerol and three fatty acids.
1.5 (ii) Know the differences between saturated and unsaturated lipids.
Content includes:
What are lipids?
What are they used for?
Composition of lipids.
Saturated and unsaturated fats and oils.
Mono-, Di-, and triglycerides.
Phospholipids (and their nature. But not their use).
Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.5 (i) & (ii) Know and understand the function of the ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells, including cell wall, capsule, plasmid, flagellum, pili, ribosomes and circular DNA.
Content:
All ultrastructures and their functions
Classifying bacteria (including gram staining, shape and oxygen needs)
Controlling Gene Expression. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.18 Understand how cells become specialised through differential gene expression, producing active mRNA, leading to the synthesis of proteins which, in turn, control cell processes or determine cell structure in animals and plants.
3.19 Understand how one gene can give rise to more than one protein through post-transcriptional changes to messenger RNA (mRNA).
3.20 (i) Understand how phenotype is the result of an interaction between genotype and the environment.
3.20 (ii) Know how epigenetic modification, including DNA methylation and histone. modification, can alter the activation of certain genes.
3.20 (iii) Understand how epigenetic modifications can be passed on following cell division.
Content:
Transcription Factors
RNA Splicing
Epigenetics (Including DNA and Histone Methylation, and Histone Acetylation)
Non-Coding RNA
Cell Cycle and Mitosis. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.14 Understand the role of mitosis and the cell cycle in producing genetically identical daughter cells for growth and asexual reproduction.
3.15 Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe the stages of mitosis.
3.16 Be able to calculate mitotic index.
Content:
All steps of the cell cycle, including: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis.
Mitotic Index.
Core practical 6.
Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.9 (i) Know that a locus is the location of genes on a chromosome.
3.9 (ii) Understand the linkage of genes on a chromosome.
3.18 Understand how cells become specialised through differential gene expression, producing active mRNA, leading to the synthesis of proteins which, in turn, control cell processes or determine cell structure in animals and plants.
3.21 Understand how some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles for the same gene, or by polygenic inheritance, as well as the environment, and how polygenic inheritance can give rise to phenotypes that show continuous variation.
Content:
Gene Expression
Cell Differentiation
Effect of Multiple Alleles
Co-dominance
Dihybrid Inheritance
Linked Genes.
Interactions Between Genes and the Environment. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.20 (i) Understand how phenotype is the result of an interaction between genotype and the environment.
3.21 understand how some phenotypes are affected by multiple alleles for the same gene, or by polygenic inheritance, as well as the environment, and how polygenic inheritance can give rise to phenotypes that show continuous variation.
Content:
Environmental effects on Phenotype (Including enzyme activity)
Operons
Studying Variation in Humans
Sexual Reproduction, Gametes Structure and Function, and Meiosis. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.10 Understand the role of meiosis in ensuring genetic variation through the production of non-identical gametes as a consequence of independent assortment of chromosomes in metaphase 1 and crossing over of alleles between chromatids in prophase 1.
3.11 Understand how mammalian gametes are specialised for their functions (including the acrosome in sperm and the zona pellucida in the egg cell).
Content:
Importance of sexual reproduction on variation.
Gamete structure, function and location.
The steps of meiosis I & II.
Variation from recombination and independent assortment.
Eukaryotic Cells: Common Cellular Structures & Protein Transport. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.3 (i & ii) Know and understand the function of the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells, including nucleus, nucleolus, ribosomes, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, centrioles, lysosomes and Golgi apparatus.
3.4 Understand the role of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and the Golgi apparatus in protein transport within cells, including their role in the formation of extracellular enzymes.
3.6 be able to recognise the organelles in 3.3 from electron microscope (EM) images.
Content:
Recap of GCSEs
Cell organelles listed in the LOs above.
There functions
What the look like under a microscope
Protein transport
Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.1 Know that all living organisms are made of cells, sharing some common features.
3.7 (i) Know how magnification and resolution can be achieved using light and electron microscopy.
3.7 (ii) Understand the importance of staining specimens in microscopy
Core Practical 5:
3.8 (i) Use a light microscope to make observations and labeled drawings of suitable animal cells.
Content:
History of the microscope and cell theory
Light microscope
Sample staining
Magnification and Resolution
Drawing scientific diagrams
Electron microscopes
Advantages and disadvantages
Carbohydrates. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
1.2 (i) Know the difference between monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides, including glycogen and starch (amylose and amylopectin).
1.2 (ii) Be able to relate the structures of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides to their roles in providing and storing energy β-glucose and cellulose are not required in this topic.
1.4 Know how monosaccharides (glucose, fructose and galactose) join together to form disaccharides (maltose, sucrose and lactose) and polysaccharides (glycogen, amylose and amylopectin) through condensation reactions forming glycosidic bonds, and how these can be split through hydrolysis reactions.
Core Practical 1: 1.3 Use a semi-quantitative method with Benedict’s reagent to estimate the concentrations of reducing sugars and with iodine solution to estimate the concentrations of starch, using colour standards.
Contents include:
What are organic compounds?
Monomers and polymers.
Mono-, di- and polysaccharides, and their chemical structures.
Isomers
Bonds between sugars.
Forming and breaking bonds between sugars.
Testing for reducing sugars and starch.
Cell organisation, tissues, organs and organ systems. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome: 3.2 Understand how the cells of multicellular organisms are organised into tissues, tissues into organs and organs into organ systems.
Content:
Types of tissues,
Types of epithelial cells,
Plant and human organs,
GCSE recall of organ systems and their functions.
Proteins. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
2.6 (i) Know the basic structure of an amino acid.
2.6 (ii) Understand the formation of polypeptides and proteins (amino acid monomers linked by condensation reactions to form peptide bonds).
2.6 (iii) Understand the significance of a protein’s primary structure in determining its secondary structure, three-dimensional structure and properties (globular and fibrous proteins and the types of bonds involved in its three-dimensional structure).
2.6 (iv) Know the molecular structure of a globular protein and a fibrous protein and understand how their structures relate to their functions (including haemoglobin and collagen).
Contents include:
Amino acid structure
The types of amino acids
Peptide bonds and polypeptide chains
Prime-, second-, terti-, and quarternary structures
Bonds within proteins
Fibrous and globular proteins (Collagen and Haemoglobin as examples)
Conjugated proteins
Prosthetic groups
Practical ideas
Stem Cells & Using Stem Cells. Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.17 (i) Understand what is meant by the terms stem cell, pluripotent and totipotent, morula and blastocyst.
3.17 (ii) be able to discuss the ways in which society uses scientific knowledge to make decisions about the use of stem cells in medical therapies
3.18 Understand how cells become specialised through differential gene expression, producing active mRNA, leading to the synthesis of proteins which, in turn, control cell processes or determine cell structure in animals and plants.
2.20 (ii) Know how epigenetic modification, including DNA methylation and histone modification, can alter the activation of certain genes.
Content:
Blastocyst Development
Types of Stems Cells
Where Stem Cells are collected
Epigenetic Control of haemoglobin development
Stem Cell Therapy (including Therapeutic Cloning and iPS Cells)
Examples of potential treatable conditions
Ethics
Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.10 Understand the role of meiosis in ensuring genetic variation through the production of non-identical gametes as a consequence of independent assortment of chromosomes in metaphase 1 and crossing over of alleles between chromatids in prophase 1.
3.11 Understand how mammalian gametes are specialised for their functions (including the acrosome in sperm and the zona pellucida in the egg cell).
3.12 Know the process of fertilisation in mammals, including the acrosome reaction, the cortical reaction and the fusion of nuclei.
3.13 Know the process of fertilisation in flowering plants, starting with the growth of a pollen tube and ending with the fusion of nuclei.
3.14 Understand the role of mitosis and the cell cycle in producing genetically identical daughter cells for growth and asexual reproduction.
3.15 Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe the stages of mitosis.
3.16 Be able to calculate mitotic index.
Content:
Presentation 1: Cell Cycle and Mitosis.
All steps of the cell cycle, including: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis.
Mitotic Index.
Core practical 6.
Presentation 2: Sexual Reproduction, Gametes Structure and Function, and Meiosis.
Importance of sexual reproduction on variation.
Gamete structure, function and location.
The steps of meiosis I & II.
Variation from recombination and independent assortment.
Presentation 3: Fertilisation in Plants and Animals.
Internal and external fertilisation.
Pollination.
Plant fertilisation.
Human fertilisation.
Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
1.1 Understand the importance of water as a solvent in transport, including its dipole nature.
1.2 (i) Know the difference between monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides, including glycogen and starch (amylose and amylopectin).
1.2 (ii) Be able to relate the structures of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides to their roles in providing and storing energy β-glucose and cellulose are not required in this topic.
Core Practical 1: 1.3 Use a semi-quantitative method with Benedict’s reagent to estimate the concentrations of reducing sugars and with iodine solution to estimate the concentrations of starch, using colour standards.
1.4 Know how monosaccharides (glucose, fructose and galactose) join together to form disaccharides (maltose, sucrose and lactose) and polysaccharides (glycogen, amylose and amylopectin) through condensation reactions forming glycosidic bonds, and how these can be split through hydrolysis reactions.
1.5 (i) Know how a triglyceride is synthesised by the formation of ester bonds during condensation reactions between glycerol and three fatty acids.
1.5 (ii) Know the differences between saturated and unsaturated lipids.
2.6 (i) Know the basic structure of an amino acid.
2.6 (ii) Understand the formation of polypeptides and proteins (amino acid monomers linked by condensation reactions to form peptide bonds).
2.6 (iii) Understand the significance of a protein’s primary structure in determining its secondary structure, three-dimensional structure and properties (globular and fibrous proteins and the types of bonds involved in its three-dimensional structure).
2.6 (iv) Know the molecular structure of a globular protein and a fibrous protein and understand how their structures relate to their functions (including haemoglobin and collagen).
Content:
Lesson 1 - The Chemistry of Life
Bonding (Ionic, Covalent and hydrogen)
Importance of inorganic ions in Biology
Importance and properties of water
Lesson 2 - Carbohydrates
What are organic compounds?
Monomers and polymers
Mono-, di- and polysaccharides, and their chemical structures
Isomers
Bonds between sugars
Forming and breaking bonds between sugars
Testing for reducing sugars and starch
Lesson 3 - Lipids
What are lipids?
What are they used for?
Composition of lipids
Saturated and unsaturated fats and oils
Mono-, Di-, and triglycerides
Phospholipids (and their nature. But not their use)
Lesson 4 - Proteins
Amino acid structure
The types of amino acids
Peptide bonds and polypeptide chains
Prime-, second-, terti-, and quarternary structures
Bonds within proteins
Fibrous and globular proteins (Collagen and Haemoglobin as examples)
Conjugated proteins
Prosthetic groups
Practical ideas
Follows the Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Level Specification. Learning outcome:
3.1 Know that all living organisms are made of cells, sharing some common features.
3.2 Understand how the cells of multicellular organisms are organised into tissues, tissues into organs and organs into organ systems.
3.3 (i & ii) Know and understand the function of the ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells, including nucleus, nucleolus, ribosomes, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, centrioles, lysosomes and Golgi apparatus.
3.4 Understand the role of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and the Golgi apparatus in protein transport within cells, including their role in the formation of extracellular enzymes.
3.5 (i) & (ii) Know and understand the function of the ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells, including cell wall, capsule, plasmid, flagellum, pili, ribosomes and circular DNA.
3.6 Be able to recognise the organelles in 3.3 from electron microscope (EM) images.
3.7 (i) Know how magnification and resolution can be achieved using light and electron microscopy.
3.7 (ii) Understand the importance of staining specimens in microscopy
Core Practical 5:
3.8 (i) Use a light microscope to make observations and labeled drawings of suitable animal cells.
Content:
Lesson 1: Observing Cells
History of the microscope and cell theory
Light microscope
Sample staining
Magnification and Resolution
Drawing scientific diagrams
Electron microscopes
Advantages and disadvantages
Lesson 2: Eukaryotic Cells
Recap of GCSEs
Cell organelles
There functions
What the look like under a microscope
Protein transport
Lesson 3: Prokaryotic Cells
All ultrastructures and their functions
Classifying bacteria (including gram staining, shape and oxygen needs)
Lesson 4: Cell Organisation
Types of tissues
Types of epithelial cells
Plant and human organs
GCSE recall of organ systems and their functions
