I've been teaching A-level biology for years and have spent several hours developing resources to the highest possible standard.
They are designed to maximise class time - spending less time on learning facts, with a focus on application and the processing of information.
I've been teaching A-level biology for years and have spent several hours developing resources to the highest possible standard.
They are designed to maximise class time - spending less time on learning facts, with a focus on application and the processing of information.
Pre-work for Section 7 Topic 17: Inherited changes. This contains links to videos and websites and is designed to help stimulate student interest, but also to help student's to become familiar with the terminology required and processes contained within this topic. It makes reference to a topic glossary, which is included as part of the folder dividers for these sections. Autosomal linkage and Epistasis are not included in this pre-work.
PowerPoint about the polymerase chain reaction. Includes a video showing the shedding of skin cells, an animation to show the molecular processes of PCR and then includes a few activities for students to complete. Where possible, there are links to previously taught material. The PPT contains (a few) notes with questions and answers. This resource is designed to be used with the class notes for this topic.
Very short PowerPoint introducing gas exchange in the leaf of a plant, a topic area student's generally find quite dull! This contains a diagram for students to identify the structures in the cross section of a leaf and later on, a video introducing the stomata. They are then asked a few questions about the opening and closing of the stomatal pore. Where possible, there are links to previously taught year 1 material (i.e. osmosis). The PPT contains notes with most of the answers to the questions on the PPT. This resource is designed to be used with the class notes for this topic.
PPT for lesson on diabetes. Should be used with the handout for this topic and purchased as part of the bundle. Also includes a starter exam question on synapse inhibition.
PowerPoint on electron microscopes. Contains a quiz for students to 'guess the electron micrograph' and includes a video of the Cordyceps fungi that invades the body of an insect to grow and diminish the insect population.
Topic overview check sheet for use when peer-marking student overview of this topic. Included is an example of an highly successful Biology student's topic overview!
I ask my students to practice marking this mock overview prior to them completing their first overview.
PowerPoint introducing the topic and detailing gene mutations at AS level. Contains a few chances for students to use the codon table to identify the amino acid sequences. Sickle cell anaemia is used as an example of a genetic mutation and where possible, there are links to previously taught year 1 material (i.e. drawing a labelled amino acid). The PPT contains notes with most of the answers to the questions on the PPT. This resource is designed to be used with the class notes for this topic.
Long (interactive) PowerPoint introducing this lesson - should be used with the class notes for the topic. Very lengthy, so obviously not all of it should be used in class!
PowerPoint reviewing the basics of DNA, and what is a gene. Then goes on to the triplet code and introduces the terms, degenerate, non-overlapping and universal. It then goes on to consider how we understand it is a triplet code, and not a singlet or doublet code. It also requires students to use the codon table and gets them to think about using the complement of the DNA nucleotides (in mRNA) to determine the amino acid sequence. This also has a video embedded which answers the question - what percentage of the human genome are introns?
Where possible, there are links to previously taught year 1 material. The PPT contains notes with most of the answers to the questions on the PPT. This resource is designed to be used with the class notes for this topic.
Short PPT which introduces Mitosis and the activity, which is also included here.
Quite self-explanatory, but if you're unsure how to use this, please email and I'll be happy to help.
PowerPoint introducing the key terms associated with this topic. Also includes a video clip to help students understand the idea of an ecological niche.
PowerPoint to accompany student notes on the the link reaction & Krebs cycle. Contains all the relevant terminology now included in the 2016 specification.
Lengthy PowerPoint introducing this lesson - should be used with the class notes for the topic. Very lengthy, so obviously not all of it should be shown to your classes, but for teacher use as you work through activities.
PowerPoint detailing translation, with a card sort activity that students can use to learn the process, but also figure out the missing words. Also included is a student version you can upload to your VLE, which doesn't contain all the answers. There's a quick quiz to recap the structures of DNA, tRNA and mRNA and a recap on transcription and splicing. There's short animation to show translation, but this does include the presence of a release factor (which is not in the spec). Also, it contains information about amino acid activation, which you can of course remove if you would like. Where possible, there are links to previously taught year 1 material (i.e. drawing a labelled amino acid). The PPT contains notes with most of the answers to the questions on the PPT. This resource is designed to be used with the class notes for this topic.
PowerPoint containing a few video clips that introduces photosynthesis. The aim of this is to provide a brief outline, help develop links to the year 1 content, and get students interested in plants!
This PowerPoint should ideally be used with the bespoke class notes for the topic, also available on TES.