A single powerpoint slide that can be printed A3 size and used as a homework task for A-Level Biology students. Many students do not appreciate the link between their knowledge of biochemistry, photosynthesis and plant growth. This activity will make clear that every biological molecule present in a plant can trace itself to the glucose first produced in photosynthesis and subsequent modification into proteins, lipids and nucleic acids via the addition of further minerals.

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students that reviews the causes, mechanisms and treatment of cholera. Useful as a starter or plenary activity following a lesson on this topic.

A worksheet that displays data for an investigation into the mental arithmetic ability of male and female students. The task is then to analyse the data using 95% confidence limits and standard error statistical test. A useful starter or plenary exercise or this could be adapted into a full investigation in its own right. Key words: Investigation, mental arithmetic, 95% confidence limits, statistics, null hypothesis, standard error, standard deviation, male, female

A quiz that tests students understanding on the first part of the nitrogen cycle, involving nitrogen fixation. There is a series of twenty one questions that require simple responses. This is ideal to use as a lesson starter activity as a check on whether students can remember the detail of what they have been taught and serves to reinforce vocabulary.

A resource aimed at BTEC Level 3 Applied Science students, this worksheet provides a series of research prompts for students to explore the nature of a scientific theory. The context of the theory of evolution is used in this task, with students being required to research the evidence for this theory and some of the competing and discredited ideas that were believed (and still are by some individuals) until the evidence for evolution by natural selection became overwhelming.

An original Christmas science investigation that requires minimal preparation of resources and is ideal for that final lesson before the Christmas holiday/vacation begins! In this investigation, students are asked to stare at an image relating to Christmas. Some examples are provided in the resource (e.g. holly, santa, christmas tree baubles, etc) but you could supplement these with your own if desired. Gradually, light sensitive cones in the retina of the eye become fatigued causing the appearance of a ghostly afterimage in the field of view for a few seconds/minutes afterwards. Quite literally, students will see the apparition of a giant christmas image everywhere they look! The investigation requires students to take it in turns varying the length of time they are exposed to the image and determine the effect this has on the time foor the afterimage to remain. Follow up optional extension questions require students to explain the reason for the colour of the afterimage. The activity would best be delivered to either high ability GCSE biology students or advanced level biology students with some prior discussion on the trichromatic theory of colour vision.

A comprehensive six page worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource deals with all the major aspects of how a nerve impulse originates and is propagated along a neurone. The worksheets include diagrams that show the different open and closed positions of sodium and potassium channels with space for students to show their own positions of the relevant ions (this is with reference to an online animation - weblink included on the worksheet). The worksheet also has a labelling exercise for the classic action potential graph as well as details on saltatory conductance and factors affecting speed of impulse transmission. Key words: nerve, neurone, depolarisation, repolarisation, refractory period, action potential, resting potential, sodium, potassium, diffusion, ATP, ATPase pump

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource provides two sequencing tasks: one for the events that lead to generation of an action potential and one for the events of synaptic transmission. Both of these topics are frequently examined by most major exam boards and so this is a useful task to reinforce the factual content of these topics with students. Key words: synapse, action potential, nerve, neurone, transmission, vesicle, neurotransmitter, diffusion, depolarisation, repolarisation, refractory period

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource provides several prompts for students to research and learn about the nature of the nerve impulse and action potential. Extension tasks are also provided along with weblinks to animations and information sources. This is a good activity to set a class as a homework or as an independent learning task prior to teaching of the topic in class. Key words: Nerve, neurone, nerve impulse, action potential, depolarisation, repolarisation, refractory period, resting potential, propagation, sodium, potassium, influx, efflux, membrane

A comprehensive six page worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource tells the story of how the work of several scientists ultimately led to the discovery and understanding of DNA. The worksheet includes diagrams, images and information relating to classic experiments performed by scientists (including Friedrich Meischer, Fred Griffiths, Oswald Avery, Alfred Hershey, Rosalind Franklin, James Watson and Francis Crick.

A complete summary of all three main statistical tests required for AQA Biology: 95% confidence limits and standard error, spearman rank and chi-squared. The worksheet focuses on the basic routine of each test rather than getting bogged down with detailed explanations of the theory behind them. A useful resource to give to students as a summary once statistical tests have been taught. Each summary provides data for students to analyse and practice each test. There is also a quick quiz at the start, whereby students need to select the appropriate statistical test for each investigation. Key words: Statistical tests, 95% confidence limits, standard error, chi-squared, spearman rank, maths, degrees of freedom, critical value, probablity, null hypothesis

This resource consists of two worksheets aimed at advanced biology students or level 3 applied science students. The first worksheet is a simple review of how an electron microscope functions and the key points about magnification, resolution and TEM/SEM (the image is that of a tapeworm head). The second worksheet is a table comparing electron microscopes with light microscopes. Three different web references are given and students are required to use these to complete the table. At the end of the exercise, they should be able to confidently compare and contrast light microscopes with electron microscopes.

A worksheet aimed at A-Level Biology students which provides a neat summary of the key points in the Nitrogen Cycle. The resource covers naming of key compounds (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, ammonium ions), deamination, ammonification, decomposition and denitrification. The resource also has two 'challenge' questions for more able students to apply their knowledge. Key words: Nitrogen cycle, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, deamination, ammonification, decomposition, denitrification

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource contains a number of exercises that require students to make measurements from diagrams and calculate magnification. The exercises also require changing the subject of the magnification formula to work out real size of cells and using a scale bar to calculate magnification. Finally. there are questions about the nature of magnification and resolution and the electron microscope.

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource requires students to calculate the magnification of a mitochondrion by making simple measurements and unit conversions. The final questions are 'challenge questions' that require deeper thought: why mitochondria are required for every cellular activity, the raw materials needed by a mitochondrion and the resolution required to observe mitochondria using a TEM. This worksheet is a useful starter or plenary task to review a previous lesson on these topics.

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource focuses on how restriction enzymes can be used to map the position of genes within a plasmid. The worksheet consists of background information on restriction enzymes followed by a question whereby students can use logical thought to work out the position of a gene within a larger sequence of DNA. Key words: bacteria, host, gene, mapping, restriction endonucleases

This is an activity aimed at KS3-4 lower ability students, enabling them to learn the basics of lock and key theory via model building. The resource shows clear learning objectives includes a step by step series of tasks that gradually develop the model, with key questions for students to answer along the way. The resource also includes a personal learning checklist for completion before and after the lesson to show progress, along with a peer assessment sheet for students to assess each other. Key words: enzyme, substrate, lock and key, active site, denaturation, rate, reaction, products, protein, plasticine, personal learning checklist, peer assessment

Biology students often struggle to calculate rates of reaction from graphs. This worksheet provides an explanation of how to calculate rates of reaction from graphs followed by two practice examples. This is a useful worksheet to use as preparation for any practical investigation that will require this skill with data analysis.

A resource aimed at biology students studying surface area: volume ratio. This worksheet discusses the nature of surface area:volume ratio and why it is important in terms of gas and heat exchange in living organisms. The first worksheet covers basic principles of calculating surface area and volume of cubes of varying sizes, followed by calculation of surface area:volume ratio. Unlike many textbook resources, this worksheet emphasises the fact that surface area is linked to the ABILITY to exchange whereas volume is linked to the NEED to exchange. The second worksheet considers how this principle is applied to adaptations for heat exchange in different species of fox and finally how metabolic rate is influenced by the size of an organism and its ability to exchange heat with the surroundings. Key words: Surface area, volume, ratio, exchange, cube, heat, gas, metabolism, fox, ears

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource provides a table with screenshot diagrams from an online animation that explains how the sliding filament theory works. Students are required to write their own notes in the relevant spaces. The weblink to the animation is provided at the top of the worksheet. Key words: muscle, sliding filament, theory, contraction, relaxation, actin, myosin