I am a secondary school & A-level Science teacher, specialising in Biology. I am also an experienced AQA GCSE Biology Examiner. My resources contain a mix of Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons aimed at meeting specification points for the new AQA Trilogy GCSE course and KS3 Activate course.
All of my lessons include at least one opportunity for self-assessment, a range of activities to suit students of all abilities, a set of differentiated starter questions and a plenary.
I am a secondary school & A-level Science teacher, specialising in Biology. I am also an experienced AQA GCSE Biology Examiner. My resources contain a mix of Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons aimed at meeting specification points for the new AQA Trilogy GCSE course and KS3 Activate course.
All of my lessons include at least one opportunity for self-assessment, a range of activities to suit students of all abilities, a set of differentiated starter questions and a plenary.
This bundle of resources contains 9 whole lessons which meet all learning outcomes for the higher tier, separate science modules within the ‘Homeostasis’ unit for the NEW AQA Biology Specification.
Lessons included:
1. The brain HT
2. The eye HT
3. Common problems of the eye HT
4. Plant hormones & responses HT
5. Using plant hormones HT
6. Controlling body temperature HT
7. Removing waste products HT
8. The kidney HT
9. Dialysis & kidney transplants HT
The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, progress checks, extra challenge questions and exam questions plus more than one opportunity, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks.
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Bioenergetics’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions worth 20 marks in total, it also includes additional extra challenge tasks for higher ability students to complete. This worksheet could be used as a homework or as an extension or revision activity in class.
I have included a comprehensive mark scheme for teacher or self-assessment of the work, there are also details of grade boundaries which I use to RAG pupils work against their target grades, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This bundle of resources contains 11 lessons which meet all learning outcomes within the ‘Cells’ unit for the NEW AQA Biology Specification.
Lessons included:
1. Cells
2. Specialised cells
3. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
4. Microscopy
5. Chromosomes
6. Mitosis
7. Stem cells
8. Diffusion
9. Osmosis
10. Active Transport
11. Exchanging materials
The lessons contain a mix of differentiated activities, mid-lesson progress checks, extra challenge tasks and 6-mark exam questions and more than one opportunity, per lesson, for self/peer red-pen assessment of tasks.
This is a resource which contains all of the learning outcomes for the new AQA Biology 'Bioenergetics' SoW.
Pupils should mark whether they feel they very confident (green), a little confident (amber) or not confident at all (red) for their ability to achieve each learning outcome.
This can be used before an end-of-topic test for pupils to reflect on areas of revision which are most important. It can also be used again after to see whether students have progressed in their understanding of the topic.
A PowerPoint and worksheet aimed at the NEW AQA Trilogy GCSE specification, designed for the 'Organisation' SoW. This is a lesson I used in an Ofsted inspection which received an 'Outstanding' grading.
For more lessons designed for the NEW AQA TRilogy Biology, Chemistry and Physics specification please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
Students will recap on the digestive system from previous lessons on tissues and organs and then go on to look at the role of digestive enzymes within the digestive system.
Pupils will use posters to answer levelled questions on a worksheet, there is a mini-plenary in the middle of the lesson to regroup and show progress then a final self or peer-assessment of the work completed throughout the lesson.
The worksheet resource has three versions, each version contains information on a different digestive enzyme. Students can therefore use each other to compete the table on the first page of the worksheet.
The extension sheet and the mini-plenary resources are found at the end of the PowerPoint.
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Ecology’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The first part of the lesson asks students to think > pair > share some of their answers to questions about pollution - where does it come from? How may we monitor it? Once pupils have gathered together their ideas as groups, a class discussion can highlight some of the important ideas & the next slide details the answers.
The next task focuses on sulfur dioxide pollution and it’s contribution to the formation of acid rain. Pupils will be given some information in pairs about this pollutant and will be required to answer questions about this information in their books. Once completed pupils are able to self-assess their work using the answers provided in the PowerPoint.
The next part of the lesson is on catalytic converters, pupils will be given some information about a catalytic converter and a human bingo grid. Pupils will wander around the room and others will ask them questions in order to fill in their bing grid. Once a student has completed their grid they can shout bingo! When everyone has had enough time to complete the grid they will need to self-assess their work using the answers provided.
The next task is for pupils to consider alternative fuels as a way of reducing air pollution. Pupils are given sets of information about three alternative fuels, they will then need to fill in a table of the advantages and disadvantages of these fuels. Once completed pupils can check their work against the answers provided, marking and correcting their answers.
A mid-lesson progress check requires pupils to identify whether a set of statements are true or false, this can be completed with a mini whiteboard or in their books.
The next part of the lesson focuses on how scientists can monitor pollution, pupils are given a set of results from particle collector pads which have been left in certain locations around the UK. Pupils need to record their results in a table, draw a graph to represent the results and write a conclusion about their results.
The plenary task is for pupils to complete a fill-in-the-blanks task on air pollution, pupils can also self-assess their work using the answers provided.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Homeostasis’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson begins with a recap on the difference between a stimulus and a receptor and asks students to think>pair>share what the function of photoreceptors might be and where they are found.
Pupils are then shown a diagram of an eye, pupils are asked to consider (from a list of structures provided) which labels might go where, they can discuss in pairs and annotate their own diagram if they know for sure. Pupils can then assess their own work when the answers are revealed on the next slide. Pupils must now learn the functions of each of these structures, they will each be given a slip of information about the function of one part of the eye and they should walk around the room and share their information to complete the table in their books. This task can be self-assessed using the answers provided.
The next part of the lesson focuses on the pupil reflex, firstly a practical is undertaken whereby pupils block out light from the room and then observe what happens to their partners pupils when they bring a torch to the side of their partners eye. This leads into a description of the pupils reflex, including the role of the circular and radial muscles. Pupils will need to summarise this information by copying and completing the sentences into their book, which can be self-assessed once completed.
The last activity is looking at how light is focused on the retina by the lens, pupils are shown a diagram of how this works. After being given a verbal description they are asked to firstly copy the diagram complete with labels and explain how light is focused on the retina using a list of key words that are provided.
The plenary task is an exam question on what the students have learnt this lesson, pupils should complete this in silence in their books and then red-pen their work using the mark scheme provided once they have finished.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Organisation’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions worth 20 marks in total, it also includes additional extra challenge tasks for higher ability students to complete. This worksheet could be used as a homework or as an extension or revision activity in class.
I have included a comprehensive mark scheme for teacher or self-assessment of the work, there are also details of grade boundaries which I use to RAG pupils work against their target grades, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy GCSE Biology ‘Organisation’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications please visit my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson begins by pupils observing a diagram of a phloem and a xylem vessel and discussing what the similarities and differences are between the two tissues. This can lead into a class discussion about the two structures.
Next is a quick recap task, pupils should have already looked at the overall function of both of these vessels so pupils now need to complete sentences to describe the role of the xylem an phloem vessel in plants.
The next activity is a video, pupils will given a set of questions and they will need to answer these questions using the video. Once finished they can self-assess their work using the answers provided on the PowerPoint.
Next, pupils will need to draw two columns in their book entitled Xylem and Phloem and sort statements into these two columns, after this is completed they can assess their work.
The last thing students will need to consider is why is transport so important in plants, pupils will discuss/brainstorm in their books why sugars, mineral ions and water are important to the plant. The answers can then be revealed to them.
The final activity is a past-paper 6 mark question, pupils will need to attempt to answer this on their own, at the back of their books for an extra challenge!
Plenary activity is to complete a summary of what the students have learnt that lesson, a list of key words will be provided to help them complete this task.
All resources are included in the PowerPoint, any questions please ask me via the comments section. Any feedback of this lesson would be much appreciated :) thank you!
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Infection & Response’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity is a revision activity for the ‘Infection & Response’ SoW, students can either have a card each and the task can be completed as a card loop activity with the whole class.
Alternatively, students could work in pairs and be given a set of the shuffled cards, they will then need to arrange the cards into the correct sequence so that the sentences make sense (like dominoes tiles). When students carry out this version of the activity I often have a prize for the students who complete the task in the fastest time!
The solution for this activity is included so you can check their answers.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Ecology’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The first part of the lesson outlines the definition of deforestation and some key facts and figures about the destruction of forests around the world. The next task is for pupils to discuss why they think rainforests may be being cut down & the consequences this might have on a local & global scale. The next two slides outlines the four main reasons why rainforests are being destroyed and some of the consequences of their destruction, pupils can check their work against the answers provided.
The next task requires pupils to watch a video and answers questions using the information provided in the video, once they have completed the question they can asses their work using the answers provided.
Pupils will now be required to complete a recap task on the carbon cycle, they will be given a worksheet which they will be asked to fill in using the captions provided on the PowerPoints slide. Once this has been completed pupils can assess their work using the answers on the PowerPoint slide.
The next part of the lesson focuses on the importance of peat, firstly pupils will be given a set of information about peat bogs and they will be required to answer questions using this information. This work can be self or peer assessed once it has been completed.
The final task is for pupils to answer an exam-style question on the carbon cycle and deforestation. Pupils can assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task is for pupils to choose words from a list of key words to formulate three summary sentences on what they have learned this lesson.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Infection & Response' SoW for the higher tier.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The first part of this lesson is a recap on the plant diseases students should have already covered within the 'infection & response' unit - rose black stop and tobacco mosaic virus. Plants will then be asked to come up with a brainstorm of the symptoms plants may exhibit when they are diseased. Once pupils have discussed this and tried to come up with some ideas you can reveal some of the common symptoms on the PowerPoint slide, along with images and examples.
The next slide looks at the ways in which plant diseases can be diagnosed, from gardening manuals to monoclonal antibody testing kits.
The next activity focuses on the role of certain minerals in the growth and development of plants, firstly students will draw a table in their book and then they will given a slip of information about one of the mineral ions - nitrates, magnesium or potassium. Pupils will need to walk around the room or swap these slips of paper with people on the same table as them to complete the table, they can then assess their work.
The final part of the lesson focuses on plant defence responses, firstly pupils will be shown some diagrams of plants and their defence methods and will be asked to think > pair > share the potential ways plants can defend against disease.
Pupils will then be given a card sort with different plant defence mechanisms, students need to sort these into three different categories - physical barrier, chemical barrier, defence against herbivore. Once completed pupils can then assess their work using the answers provided.
The final task is an exam-style question on what they have learnt that lesson, pupils of higher ability may want to complete these questions in silence at the backs of their book. Pupils can then self or peer-assess their work.
Plenary activity is to write 3 key words, 2 facts and 1 question about what pupils have learnt that lesson.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Homeostasis' SoW and for higher tier pupils.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The lesson begins with an introduction to the reasons why a patient might be suffering with kidney damage and introduced to the treatments pupils will be learning about this lesson: dialysis and kidney transplants.
For the next part of the lesson pupils will then need to get into four groups, two groups will read information on the treatment of dialysis and two will read information on kidney transplants. Using this information pupils will answer questions in their book and once a group has finished with one of the treatments, they should swap with another groups and answer questions about the other treatment. This task should take 40 minutes in total, once finished pupils should self-assess their work using the answers provided on the PowerPoint presentation.
The last activity is for pupils to answer an exam-style question on the function of the kidneys and treatment for patients with kidney disease, once completed pupils can mark their work using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task is a 3-2-1 task, pupils write down 3 facts, 2 key words and 1 question to test peers knowledge of the topic of the lesson.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Inheritance, variation & evolution’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions worth 20 marks in total, it also includes additional extra challenge tasks for higher ability students to complete. This worksheet could be used as a homework or as an extension or revision activity in class.
I have included a comprehensive mark scheme for teacher or self-assessment of the work, there are also details of grade boundaries which I use to RAG pupils work against their target grades, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Bioenergetics’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions worth 20 marks in total, it also includes additional extra challenge tasks for higher ability students to complete. This worksheet could be used as a homework or as an extension or revision activity in class.
I have included a comprehensive mark scheme for teacher or self-assessment of the work, there are also details of grade boundaries which I use to RAG pupils work against their target grades, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This task is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Cells’ SoW.
For more resources designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This activity contains a set of differentiated questions worth 20 marks in total, it also includes additional extra challenge tasks for higher ability students to complete. This worksheet could be used as a homework or as an extension or revision activity in class.
I have included a comprehensive mark scheme for teacher or self-assessment of the work, there are also details of grade boundaries which I use to RAG pupils work against their target grades, a full explanation of how I do this is included.
Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Ecology’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
The first task involves pupils discussing the definitions for a set of ecological terms, pupils can write their ideas down in their books and then watching a video to fill in any blanks they were unsure of. Once this has been completed pupils can self-assess their answers using the mark scheme provided.
The next task is for pupils to think > pair> share about how animals are interdependent upon each other, they can write down their ideas as a brain storm in their books. Once this has been completed, pupils can self-assess their work using the answers provided.
Pupils will then be given some information on stable communities, they will need to read this information in pairs and then try and answer a set of questions. They can then self-assess their work, correcting anything they didn’t get correct using the answers provided.
Pupils will now be introduced to the difference between abiotic and biotic factors, the first task is for pupils to watch a video and sort the factors demonstrated in the video into two columns – abiotic vs. biotic. They will then be given a set of descriptions, pupils will firstly need to identify which factor is for a list provided and the second task is for pupils to identify whether this factor is biotic or abiotic. Pupils can complete this on the worksheet provided, once completed students can either self-assess or peer-assess their work, making any corrections if necessary.
The plenary task is for pupils to choose two organisms from the pictures on the PowerPoint slide, they will need to describe the difference in habitats between the organisms and compare the abiotic and biotic factors which affect their survival.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the ‘Ecology’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This lesson begins with an introduction to evolutionary trees, pupils will be shown how to interpret evolutionary trees and understand the common ancestry between species of organisms. Pupils will then be shown the difference between convergent and divergent evolution.
The next part of the lesson will focus on the work of Woese et al, pupils will watch a video and try to answer questions about Woese and his work, this can be assessed using the answers which can be revealed once the video has been watched. Pupils can then watch a second video, using this video they will then try to complete profile cards for three domains as proposed by Woese – archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes. Pupils can again check their work against the answers provided in the PowerPoint slide.
Pupils will then be given some information on Woese and his work, students will need to use this information along with what they have learnt so far in the lesson to complete a newspaper article on his work and infamous discovery.
The next part of the lesson looks again at evolutionary trees, pupils are shown how to use an evolutionary tree to compare the relationships between organisms. Pupils will then need to complete an exam-style question on evolutionary trees, which can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary task is for pupils to come up with questions for a set of answers.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Inheritance, variation and evolution' SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This lesson begins with a think > share > pair task for pupils to consider the definition of genetic engineering, once pupils have had a discussion about this the answer can be revealed.
Pupils will then be shown a video about the steps involved with genetic engineering, pupils will need to answer questions whilst watching the video. Pupils can then check their work against the answers provided and correct anything they perhaps didn't get during the video.
Pupils will then be given a diagram of the genetic engineering process, specifically using the example of the human gene for insulin being inserted into a bacterium. Pupils will need to copy the diagram into their books and choose the correct statements, from a jumbled list, to go with the correct steps. Pupils can self or peer-assess their work once this task is complete.
The next part of the lesson is on the genetic modification of crops, pupils will firstly watch some videos which outlines various viewpoints of the growth and consumption of GM crops. Pupils should watch the videos and note down any benefits or problems they identify, a class discussion can follow this to ensure all students got the important points.
The benefits of GM crops will then be highlighted to students with the aim to be used to feed the world's starving nations. After pupils have read through this they will be asked to come up statements that a collection of people might make about GM crops - an organic farmer, a charity worker for a world hunger organisation, a GCSE student and a GM scientist.
The final activity is for pupils to complete the exam-style question on genetic engineering, once completed pupils can assess their work using the mark scheme provided.
The plenary is for pupils to pick a task - either write a summary sentences including a list of key words or identify the questions for a list of answers.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)
This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Biology GCSE, particularly the 'Inheritance, variation and evolution ’ SoW.
For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience
This lesson begins with an introduction to inherited disorders, particularly the two examples students will need to learn about - polydactyly and cystic fibrosis.
Pupils will then be given information on either of these two disorders and will be asked to complete a fact file on the one they have been given using a set of criteria provided. Once they have completed one of the fact files they will need to pair up with someone who did the other fact file to share information.
Pupils will then be given further information about the inheritance of these disorders and whether it is controlled by a dominant or recessive allele. Pupils will need to draw genetic diagrams for each of the disorders given a set of example parent genotypes, and work out the probability of the offspring inheriting the condition.
The next part of the lesson focuses on embryo screening, firstly pupils are introduced to the two ways in which embryos can be screened for genetic conditions - amniocentesis & chorionic villus sampling. The next task pupils will need to think > pair > share ways in which these two methods which be controversial, identifying the positive and negative effects on the baby and family. For the final activity pupils will be given a set of opinion cards in groups, they will need to read the viewpoints, discuss as a group and write a short summary paragraph on their opinion of genetic screening in embryos.
The plenary task is for pupils to write three summary sentences of what they have learnt this lesson using as many key words from the list provided.
All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)