A resource aimed at advanced level biology students (or high ability GCSE students) that provides questions on how different limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis. The emphasis is on interpretation of rate of reaction graphs, with logical reasoning being used to identify and explain the main limiting factors. Answers to all the questions are provided on the second page of the worksheet. Key words: limiting factor, photosynthesis, graph, plateau, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, light intensity

A resource aimed at Advanced Biology students, this worksheet provides a list of questions related to understanding the events of the cardiac cycle. The questions focus on the characteristic pressure change graph that shows AV valves and semi-lunar valves opening and closing as pressure of blood between artery, atria and ventricles changes. Students often struggle to articulate the difference in pressure as the cause of valves opening and closing; these questions will help to reinforce key concepts. Key words: artery, ventricle, atria, semi-lunar, atrio-ventricular, pressure

An activity aimed at either 7-10 year olds (simply do the activity described on the first two pages and ask students to describe their observations) or 11-14 year old students(ask students to complete the worksheet of questions on diffusion), this resource provides a really engaging way of of showing students the phenomenon of diffusion in a quick, simple, creative and edible way! Students are tasked with creating a simple picture or image on a plate using vegetable oil and a drinking straw. Skittle sweets/candy are then added to each area of the image and water is added. The colours from the skittle sweets/candy will start to diffuse and spread across the plate, colouring the image in. The colours are prevented from running into each other by the lines of oil. The activity provides a great way of discussing key questions such as why the colours are spreading, why are some colours spreading faster than others, what effect different temperature water has on the rate of spread of the colour and why oil stops the colours from spreading any further. Most importantly though, the investigation is a FUN science activity tailored to Christmas! The resource includes: Instruction sheet with diagrams, question worksheet for 11-14 year olds and various templates designs for Christmas pictures Key words: diffusion, colour, art, christmas, santa, holly, reindeer, fun, skittles, spread, investigation

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource focuses on the mechanism of action of second messengers (using cAMP as an example), activated by an initial hormone. The worksheet contains several questions that lead students through a logical series of key points - a weblink is also included for students to research their answers further. Key words: cAMP, second messenger, adenylate cyclase, hormone, adrenaline, ATP, AMP, response, endocrine

Aimed at either GCSE or A-Level Biology students, this activity is part of a DRAW IT series of activities. A class is divided into two halves: one half gets the diagram and has to write a commentary as to what each stage in the diagram is depicting; the other half gets a written commentary about the process and has to draw a diagram representing each stage. The two halves of the class can then be paired up to discuss the process of eutrophication, before asking students to summarise during class discussion or on the main whiteboard of the classroom. An easy way to get information on a complex process across to students quickly. Key words: Eutrophication, draw, write, pollution, algae, sunlight, photosynthesis, decomposition, decay, oxygen, respiration, death, fish, organisms, aquatic

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet provides some more unusual examples of dihybrid cross genetics including malvidin production in primrose, kernel colour in wheat and fruit colour in squash; all students will be aware of the classic 9:3:3:1 ratio, but they can often struggle when other factors such as codominance are included in the question. This resource is ideal stretch and challenge material for more able students once they have mastered the basics of the dihybrid cross. It is also ideal preparation for the more challenging questions on this topic favoured by most exam boards. Keywords: dihybrid, ratio, cross, genetics

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource provides a lengthy written passage about the structure and function of cell organelles. The worksheet provides a useful written summary of organelle function in eukaryotic cells for student's revision notes but also requires students to process this information in order to label a diagram of animal cell ultrastructure and explain differences between animal and plant cells.

A resource aimed at Advanced Biology students, this worksheet provides a diagram and questions on how the cardiac cycle is under myogenic control. The worksheet begins with a labelling activity, requiring students to recall key vocabulary such as sino-atrial node, atrioventricular node, Bundle of His and Purkinje fibres. The next task requires sequencing of the appropriate events that occur as electrical impulses are generated within heart muscle. Finally, the worksheet provides some questions requiring more detailed understanding as to why these events happen in the order that they do. An ideal resource to use as either a plenary or lesson starter to recap and consolidate knowledge. Key words: sino-atrial node, atrioventricular node, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibres, systole, diastole, atria, ventricles

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet provides a template for students to work through Gregor Mendel's classic pea breeding experiments showing the results of the genetic cross. The template includes prompts for students to set out their working clearly, showing parental phenotype, genotype, gametes and offspring genotype and phenotype. The second page of the worksheet provides a template for students to work through an analysis of Gregor Mendel's actual results using the chi-squared test. A data table is included in order to determine whether results are significant or not; note that this is one of the rare cases where non-significance (between observed and expected data) actually lends weight to a theory - Mendel's results are not significantly different to those proposed by his theory. Key words: Mendel, genetics, pea, breeding, cross, diagrams, monohybrid, chi-squared, statistics, observed, expected, data

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students studying the details of the proximal convoluted tubule of the kidney. The worksheet consists of seven questions (with a diagram for reference) that looks at the adaptations of pct cells, mechanisms of reuptake, absorption of water and the effect of diabetes on reuptake of glucose. Key words: kidney, transplant, dialysis, glomerulus, filtration, proximal convoluted tubule, distal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, collecting duct, aldosterone, anti diuretic hormone, osmosis, reuptake, hydrostatic pressure

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource serves as a recap of key events that occur during muscle contraction. The worksheet includes reference to the appearance of striated muscle fibres when in a state of contraction and relaxation (e.g. I bands, A-bands, H-zone) and the sequence of events that occur at the neuromuscular junction when a nerve impuse triggers muscle contraction. Key words: muscle, fibres, A-band, I-band, H-zone, contraction, relaxation, calcium, troponin, tropomyosin, myosin, actin

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, the first page of this resource provides a sequencing activity on the topic of DNA replication. The second page of the worksheet focuses on evidence for semi-conservative replication and requires students to follow the work of Meselsohn and Stahl by colouring radioactively labelled strands of DNA in successive generations.

A starter/plenary worksheet that can be used to recap the events of action potential generation, propagation of an impulse and factors affecting speed of impulse transmission Key words: impulse, nerve, action potential, transmission, propagation, speed

A worksheet designed to be used at the start of a topic on energy flow with A-Level Biology students. The worksheet provides a series of tasks which require students to conduct their own research and identify the key methods of nutrition, how energy is transferred and why energy is lost at each transfer stage. Extension work is aimed at students researching chemoautotrophs and realising that the sun is not always the start of a food chain. Key words: energy, transfer, parasite, holozoic, saprobiont, autotroph, chemoautotroph, photoautotroph, consumers

Ideal for use as a starter activity for A-Level Biology students following a topic on energy flow through food chains. This resource shows a diagrammatic representation of a food chain, with energy values quoted at each transfer stage. the questions require students to perform calculations and identify key processes involved in energy transfer through a food chain. Key words: energy, transfer, food chain, respiration, decomposition, photosynthesis, productivity, calcualtions, kilojoules, metres

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet provides diagrams and questions that relate to how water is absorbed into roots, transported via xylem vessels to leaves and ultimately lost to the atmosphere through transpiration. The first page of the worksheet deals with the different pathways through which water is absorbed into a root while the second page focuses on mechanisms of water transport through the xylem (including root pressure, capilliarity and cohesion-tension theory). This is a useful resource to revise this topic and neatly summarises the main points in one worksheet. Key words: osmosis, water potential, apoplast, symplast, cell wall, casparian strip, active transport, minerals, epidermis, endodermis, root hair cells, cortex, xylem, transpiration, cohesion-tension, root pressure, capilliarity

A comprehensive worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource focuses on the role of the glomerulus, proximal convoluted tubule and loop of Henle in the kidney. Included in this resource: 1. Starter task review of the glomerulus with application questions on three different kidney diseases (glomerulonephritis, minimal change glomerulonephritis and membranous gloerulonephritis) 2. Question sheet and diagram on selective reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule 3. Question sheet and diagram on concentration of glomerular filtrate in the loop of Henle Key words: kidney, transplant, dialysis, glomerulus, filtration, proximal convoluted tubule, distal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle, collecting duct, aldosterone, anti diuretic hormone, osmosis, reuptake, hydrostatic pressure

A comprehensive worksheet aimed at Advanced Biology students that deals with the fundamentals of heart structure and function. The worksheet begins with a simple labelling task of the heart, followed by questions on its structure and layout. The worksheet then moves on to a sequencing task which requires ordering of the vents of the cardiac cycle. Finally, there is a series of questions that require students to identify the reasons for valves opening and closing during the cardiac cycle. Two additional worksheets are also included which provides a shorter, edited format more useful as a short starter activity and a worksheet that includes a pressure change graph for students to reference when they complete the activity on valves opening and closing. Key words: cardiac, heart, structure, atria, ventricles, valves, cycle, pressure

A summary worksheet that simplifies information required for two statistical tests: chi-squared and 95% confidence limits + standard error. The first pages of the worksheet focus on the need to conduct statistical tests and an understanding of what the mean and standard deviation tells us about data. Key words: standard deviation, mean, chi squared, 95% confidence limits, standard error

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet links understanding of mitosis to the mechanisms by which various cancer chemotherapy drugs (taxol, vincristine, methotrexate, adriamycin and cytoxan) work. Keywords: cancer, mutation, disease, chemotherapy, mitosis, tumour, malignant, benign