Sometimes our higher ability pupils slip through the net because we are focusing our efforts on helping our students who on the verge, to succeed. I have done a lot of extra work this year to really challenge my most able students, funnily enough this has created a drive within the laziest pupils in my class. The resource i’ve attached is a review paper on Polydactyly, I shared this with my whole class even though It was to target my most highest achievers and encouraged them to all read the article as homework. Scientific reviews/articles expose students to scientific knowledge that goes above and beyond the requirements of the specification, it helps students develop an interest and love for science which then leads to better interaction in lessons. Credit to: The American Journal of Orthopedics Please share your experiences with this resource in the comments.

Inherited disorders research worksheet created in accordance to the NEW AQA specification (2016) for the Genetics and Evolution topic. It requires students to research cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and polydactyly and to answer the questions. Links to useful websites have also been included. This resource can be used with both combined and separate classes. This task requires access to computing/mobile devices. Can be set as homework. Please leave feedback :)

I have designed a mitosis and meiosis revision exam question pack, total marks /20. Contains a range of short and longer answer questions also requires students to interpret diagrams. This is a great piece of homework or mini class test, that can allow you to determine whether your students can distinguish between these two processes. I've attached the mark scheme separately as it's a great self/peer-assessed activity (reduce the marking load).

Vaccination lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher tier class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides. AQA spec link: 4.3.1.7 Relevant chapter: B6 Preventing and treating disease. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 98-99 Specification requires students to know the following; Students should be able to explain how vaccination will prevent illness in an individual, and how the spread of pathogens can be reduced by immunising a large proportion of the population. Vaccination involves introducing small quantities of dead or inactive forms of a pathogen into the body to stimulate the white blood cells to produce antibodies. If the same pathogen re-enters the body the white blood cells respond quickly to produce the correct antibodies, preventing infection. Students do not need to know details of vaccination schedules and side effects associated with specific vaccines.

Inheritance in action lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a TRILOGY class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: slide animations, embedded videos and practice questions with answers on slides as well as a quiz. AQA spec link: 6.1.6 Relevant chapter: B13 Genetics and reproduction. AQA trilogy textbook-Page 168-169.

Inherited disorders lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability TRILOGY class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: slide animations, embedded videos and practice questions with answers on slides as well as a quiz. This lesson in particular by students because of the real life implications of genetics. Students particularly enjoyed the cystic fibrosis video. I'd appreciate a review after your lesson :) AQA spec link: 6.1.7 Relevant chapter: B13 Genetics and reproduction. AQA trilogy textbook-Page 172-173.

More about genetics lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides and an interactive quiz. AQA spec link: 6.1.8 Relevant chapter: B13 Genetics and reproduction. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 210-211. Students are required to know the following; Ordinary human body cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes. 22 pairs control characteristics only, but one of the pairs carries the genes that determine sex. • In females the sex chromosomes are the same (XX). • In males the chromosomes are different (XY). Students should be able to carry out a genetic cross to show sex inheritance. Students should understand and use direct proportion and simple ratios in genetic crosses.

Antibiotics and Painkillers lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: slide animations, embedded videos and practice questions with answers on slides as well as a quiz. Due to this being a very short topic, I decided to teach this over two lessons and included a role play activity, it was thoroughly enjoyed by all three year 10 classes. Please leave a review at the end of the lesson, let me know how the 'doctor, patient' role play is reciprocated :) AQA spec link: 3.1.8 Relevant chapter: B6 Preventing and treating diseases. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 100-101 Specification requires students to know the following; Students should be able to explain the use of antibiotics and other medicines in treating disease. Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are medicines that help to cure bacterial disease by killing infective bacteria inside the body. It is important that specific bacteria should be treated by specific antibiotics. WS 1.4 The use of antibiotics has greatly reduced deaths from infectious bacterial diseases. However, the emergence of strains resistant to antibiotics is of great concern. There are links with this content to Culturing microorganisms (biology only). There are links with this content to Resistant bacteria. Antibiotics cannot kill viral pathogens. Painkillers and other medicines are used to treat the symptoms of disease but do not kill pathogens. It is difficult to develop drugs that kill viruses without also damaging the body’s tissues.

Developing drugs lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: slide animations, embedded videos (a url to BBC-drug trials gone wrong-play first 10 minutes) and practice questions with answers on slides and worksheets. AQA spec link: 3.1.9 Relevant chapter: B6 Preventing and treating diseases. AQA Biology combined textbook-Page 96-97 Specification requires students to know the following; New medical drugs have to be tested and trialled before being used to check that they are safe and effective. New drugs are extensively tested for toxicity, efficacy and dose. Preclinical testing is done in a laboratory using cells, tissues and live animals. Clinical trials use healthy volunteers and patients. •• Very low doses of the drug are given at the start of the clinical trial. •• If the drug is found to be safe, further clinical trials are carried out to find the optimum dose for the drug. •• In double blind trials, some patients are given a placebo.

Diffusion lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability separates class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: slide animations, embedded videos and practice questions with answers on slides, worksheet. Due to the size of this topic, exchanging materials and surface area will be taught in a separate lesson. AQA spec link: 4.1.3.1 Relevant chapter: B1 Cell structure and transport. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 14-15 Specification requires students to know the following; Substances may move into and out of cells across the cell membranes via diffusion. Diffusion is the spreading out of the particles of any substance in solution, or particles of a gas, resulting in a net movement from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Some of the substances transported in and out of cells by diffusion are oxygen and carbon dioxide in gas exchange, and of the waste product urea from cells into the blood plasma for excretion in the kidney. Students should be able to explain how different factors affect the rate of diffusion. Factors which affect the rate of diffusion are: •• the difference in concentrations (concentration gradient) •• the temperature •• the surface area of the membrane.

Selective breeding lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides and an interactive quiz. NB: If you are unable to play videos a URL link can be found in the slide notes. AQA spec link: 4.6.2.3 Relevant chapter: B14 Variation and evolution. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 222-223. Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to explain the impact of selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals. Selective breeding (artificial selection) is the process by which humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics. Humans have been doing this for thousands of years since they first bred food crops from wild plants and domesticated animals. Selective breeding involves choosing parents with the desired characteristic from a mixed population. They are bred together. From the offspring those with the desired characteristic are bred together. This continues over many generations until all the offspring show the desired characteristic. The characteristic can be chosen for usefulness or appearance: • Disease resistance in food crops. • Animals which produce more meat or milk. • Domestic dogs with a gentle nature. • Large or unusual flowers. Selective breeding can lead to ‘inbreeding’ where some breeds are particularly prone to disease or inherited defects. WS 1.3, 1.4 Explain the benefits and risks of selective breeding given appropriate information and consider related ethical issues.

Genetic engineering lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for higher ability (trilogy/combined) class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides, worksheet and an interactive quiz. NB: If you are unable to play videos a URL link can be found in the slide notes. AQA spec link: 4.6.2.4 Relevant chapter: B13 Variation and evolution. AQA Biology trilogy edition textbook-Page 184-185. Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to describe genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism to give a desired characteristic. Plant crops have been genetically engineered to be resistant to diseases or to produce bigger better fruits. Bacterial cells have been genetically engineered to produce useful substances such as human insulin to treat diabetes. Students should be able to explain the potential benefits and risks of genetic engineering in agriculture and in medicine and that some people have objections. In genetic engineering, genes from the chromosomes of humans and other organisms can be ‘cut out’ and transferred to cells of other organisms. Crops that have had their genes modified in this way are called genetically modified (GM) crops. GM crops include ones that are resistant to insect attack or to herbicides. GM crops generally show increased yields. Concerns about GM crops include the effect on populations of wild flowers and insects. Some people feel the effects of eating GM crops on human health have not been fully explored. Modern medical research is exploring the possibility of genetic modification to overcome some inherited disorders. (HT) Students should be able to describe the main steps in the process of genetic engineering. In genetic engineering: • enzymes are used to isolate the required gene; this gene is inserted into a vector, usually a bacterial plasmid or a virus • the vector is used to insert the gene into the required cells • genes are transferred to the cells of animals, plants, or microorganisms at an early stage (egg or embryo) in their development so that they develop with desired characteristics.

Genetic engineering lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for higher ability (trilogy/combined) class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides, worksheet and an interactive quiz. NB: If you are unable to play videos a URL link can be found in the slide notes. AQA spec link: 4.6.2.4 Relevant chapter: B13 Variation and evolution. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 224-225. Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to describe genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism to give a desired characteristic. Plant crops have been genetically engineered to be resistant to diseases or to produce bigger better fruits. Bacterial cells have been genetically engineered to produce useful substances such as human insulin to treat diabetes. Students should be able to explain the potential benefits and risks of genetic engineering in agriculture and in medicine and that some people have objections. In genetic engineering, genes from the chromosomes of humans and other organisms can be ‘cut out’ and transferred to cells of other organisms. Crops that have had their genes modified in this way are called genetically modified (GM) crops. GM crops include ones that are resistant to insect attack or to herbicides. GM crops generally show increased yields. Concerns about GM crops include the effect on populations of wild flowers and insects. Some people feel the effects of eating GM crops on human health have not been fully explored. Modern medical research is exploring the possibility of genetic modification to overcome some inherited disorders. (HT) Students should be able to describe the main steps in the process of genetic engineering. In genetic engineering: • enzymes are used to isolate the required gene; this gene is inserted into a vector, usually a bacterial plasmid or a virus • the vector is used to insert the gene into the required cells • genes are transferred to the cells of animals, plants, or microorganisms at an early stage (egg or embryo) in their development so that they develop with desired characteristics.

This resource has been amended since the last review More about extinction lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides, homework worksheet and an interactive quiz. NB: If you are unable to play videos a URL link can be found in the slide notes. AQA spec link: 4.6.3.6 Relevant chapter: B15 Genetics and evolution. AQA Biology Third edition textbook-Page 246-247 Students are required to know the following; Extinctions occur when there are no remaining individuals of a species still alive. Students should be able to describe factors which may contribute to the extinction of a species.

The chemistry of food lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, embedded video's and mini review. NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. AQA spec link: 4.2.2.1 Relevant chapter: B3 Organisation and the digestive system. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 40-41 Students are required to know the following; The products of digestion are used to build new carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Some glucose is used in respiration.

Complete lesson on Specialised cells, suitable for a high ability KS3 class. Suitable to use as part of the ‘Activate’ schemes of work. Resources can be adjusted to meet the needs of your class. For further enquiries please email paperfriendlyresources@gmail.com Also available via instagram: Paperfriendlyresourcesuk

Dont’t know if you’ve felt the same but my year 11 students really struggled to grasp punnett squares through a couple of worked examples so I designed a booklet solely focused on punnett square PPQ’s with some very challenging questions. As always total marks /21, not too short or too long to take up an entire lesson. A marking grid has also been included. Contains a range of short and longer answer questions also requires students to interpret diagrams. This is a great piece of homework or mini class test, that can allow you to determine whether your students have understood the topic. I’ve attached the mark scheme separately as it’s a great self/peer-assessed activity (reduce the marking load).

B10 and B11 revision pack created for biology separates. It includes a series of practice paper questions and a mark scheme, I've tried to include a question from each topic. Total marks out of 33. Perfect to set over the half term, or for a quick progress check at the end of the topic (formative assessment).

Human reproduction lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1) for my separates class (Year 10-KS4). Includes: slide animations, embedded videos and practice questions with answers on slides. This resource is suitable for combined science students. May needed to be edited for foundation students. AQA spec link: 5.3.4 Relevant chapter: B11 Hormonal coordination. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 168-169. Specification requires students to know the following; Students should be able to describe the roles of hormones in human reproduction, including the menstrual cycle. During puberty reproductive hormones cause secondary sex characteristics to develop. Oestrogen is the main female reproductive hormone produced in the ovary. At puberty eggs begin to mature and one is released approximately every 28 days. This is called ovulation. Testosterone is the main male reproductive hormone produced by the testes and it stimulates sperm production. Several hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle of a woman. • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) causes maturation of an egg in the ovary. • Luteinising hormone (LH) stimulates the release of the egg. • Oestrogen and progesterone are involved in maintaining the uterus lining.