A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource provides students with a diagram and explanation of the appearance of a typical sarcomere. Students are required to use this diagram to label an actual micrograph image. The activity is a worthwhile exercise in getting students to relate the actual appearance of striated muscle tissue to the diagrams commonly shown in textbooks. Keywords: sarcomere, myofibril, muscle, z-line, h-zone, a-band, i band, striated

An activity aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource provides a detailed step by step set of instructions for students to construct their own detailed models of cells undergoing meiotic cell division. The activity provides an excellent way for students to clarify their understanding on how chromosomes behave and appear at different stages of meiosis and how haploid cells are produced from diploid cells. The second page of the activity provides a template of cell diagrams which can be printed out on A3 paper and used as a template for student to attach their models. Once complete, students can then copy a diagram of their model or take a photograph to record their work. The activity also contains an extension task which asks students to consider the impact of independent assortment of chromosomes. Please note that this activity requires two sets of pipecleaners (each of different colours and some adhesive white labels to identify genes carried on each pipecleaner 'chromosome'.

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students, this worksheet provides a comparison table for mitosis, meiosis I and meiosis II. Students often confuse the events of these processes, particularly the movement of chromosomes and so it is a useful exercise to clarify which events happen where. Keywords: mitosis, meiosis, chromosomes, chromatid, diploid, haploid, centriole, centromere

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

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet consists of a discussion of the main points regarding control of blood glucose: why it is important, how it happens, how it is controlled, causes of diabetes, etc. The worksheet is designed to be interactive with students answering question prompts and furthering their understanding as they work through each section. The final page of the worksheet contains various weblinks to online resources and animations which they can use to complete the worksheet independently. Key words: glucose, glycogen, starch, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, glucagon, insulin, diabetes, type 1, type 2, sugar, osmosis, water potential, osmotic lysis, liver, muscles, uptake

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet requires students to identify which stage of mitosis different cell diagrams are in along with key processes associated with mitosis (e.g. chromosomes condense and become visible, nuclear membrane breaks down, etc). The worksheet is useful as either a plenary or starter activity to recap learning following a lesson on this topic Key words: mitosis, chromosomes, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, interphase, centromere, chromatid

An activity aimed at advanced biology students, this activity provides a series of bullet points related to the nature and mechanisms of hormones, local chemical mediators and the nervous system. Students are required to study the information and then draw their own diagrammatic representations of the information provided in this worksheet. Student diagrams can then be shared with the class, with students providing a commentary as to what each diagram is representing. A good way for students to gain a quick understanding and overview of the ways in which the human body communicates with itself.

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource is useful as a recap and test of understanding on the topic of mitosis. Students are required to identify cells at different stages of mitosis, recall events that are occurring in cells at each stage and identify mitosis stages in a real micrograph as well as textbook-style diagrams. Keywords: mitosis, chromosomes, condense. prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, interphase

A worksheet containing a simple comparison table looking at the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA followed by questions that ask students to consider why chromosomes may sometimes appear single stranded and sometimes double stranded. A useful exercise for students to become acquainted with chromosome appearance before learning about mitosis, meiosis, etc. Key words: mitosis, meiosis, chromosomes, cells, division, eukaryotic, prokaryotic, DNA

A resource aimed at advanced level biology students who have just studied a topic on mitosis, this worksheet consolidates understanding by asking students to consider how the quantity of DNA in cells changes at different points during the cell cycle. The resource checks that students understand the difference between somatic cells and gametes, and whether they can visualise the appearance of chromosomes and hence the quantity of DNA present at different stages of cell division. Key words: mitosis, chromosomes, division, somatic, gametes, cell cycle, S phase, G1 phase, G2 phase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, interphase

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource looks provides a sequencing exercise for the events involved in synaptic transmission of an impulse, followed by an exercise that illustrates the complexity of information processing at synapses. Further notes on the nature of temporal and spacial summation are provided. Key words: synapse, cleft, acetylcholine, neurotransmitter, calcium, vesicles, receptors, diffusion, summation, spatial, temporal, processing, synaptic resistance, inhibitory, excitatory

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet is a 'DRAW IT' activity - the class is divided into two with each half being required to draw diagrams to represent the information on the sheet. In this case, one half of the students should draw diagrams to represent the action of baroreceptors, the other half should do the same with chemoreceptors. Once complete, students can be paired together to explain their respective diagrams followed by a summative class discussion with the teacher. Key words: baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, reflex, pressure, blood, pH

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 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 resource designed for A-Level Biology students, this worksheet provides questions and diagrams to develop and consolidate student's understanding of the circulatory system layout and structure of the heart. The first page contains questions relating to the dual circuit found in mammals and clarifies the nature of arteries, veins and oxygenated/deoxygenated blood. The second page contains a detailed and labelled diagram of the heart that would provide a useful reference during a heart dissection. The final questions are ideal follow up questions to answer post-dissection or possibly to act as prompts for a teacher to ask during the dissection. The resource is differentiated - the first worksheet provides a diagram of the heart with full labels. The second worksheet has number prompts instead and an instruction to use available textbooks, etc to provide the labels. If you have planned to deliver a heart dissection practical, this is very much a self-contained resource that will serve as a starter and plenary for your session. Key words: heart, dissection, valves, atria, ventricles, aorta, pulmonary, artery, vein

An activity aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource consists of two worksheets that can be used together or separately. The first worksheet begins with a research task that requires students to make their own notes on key processes involved with glucose control; weblinks and animation references are included and this could be set as a homework the week before the topic commences in class. The second worksheet has a recap of the research learning points before continuing into a long-response question carrying a maximum of ten marks. Students are required to use their initial research to answer the long question: 'Describe the factors that influence blood glucose concentration and explain how the body responds to changes in blood glucose levels' before self marking using the mark scheme provided. Key words: glucose, homeostasis, glucagon, insulin, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen, starch, blood, diabetes

A worksheet (three different versions are included) that is aimed at Advanced Biology students and which discusses how heart rate is controlled by both the brain and hormones. Each worksheet has a slightly different emphasis and can be adapted to the needs of your class. Topics covered include: 1. How the heart is innervated by the brain 2. The nature of sympathetic and parasympathetic control 3. The involvement of hormones in controlling heart rate 4. The action of neurotransmitters at synapses 5. The action of drugs that can affect the cardiac cycle 6. How chemoreceptors and baroreceptors are involved in maintaining a constant blood pressure

An activity aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource consists of two worksheets that can be used together or separately. The first worksheet begins with a research task that requires students to make their own notes on key processes involved with meiosis; weblinks and animation references are included and this could be set as a homework the week before the topic commences in class. The second worksheet has a recap of the research learning points before continuing into a long-response question carrying a maximum of ten marks. Students are required to use their initial research to answer the long question: ‘Describe and explain how a diploid cell divides by meiosis to produce genetically variable gametes’ before self marking using the mark scheme provided (sixteen marking points are available). Keywords: meiosis, cell division, gametes, diploid, haploid, biology, crossing over, independent assortment, prophase, anaphase, metaphase, telophase, interphase