Bioscience Rocks is a shop that specialises in resources for A-Level Biology and Applied Science students. The resources include a range of activities, starters, worksheets and powerpoints, all of which have been used successfully with students of a wide range of abilities. The author is a National Expert Teacher of Science (awarded by National Science Learning Centre) and also a National Space Academy Lead Educator with a long track record of producing high quality educational resources.
Bioscience Rocks is a shop that specialises in resources for A-Level Biology and Applied Science students. The resources include a range of activities, starters, worksheets and powerpoints, all of which have been used successfully with students of a wide range of abilities. The author is a National Expert Teacher of Science (awarded by National Science Learning Centre) and also a National Space Academy Lead Educator with a long track record of producing high quality educational resources.
Science students often struggle to understand the concept of a control investigation, something which is regularly examined by most exam board specifications. This worksheet explains clearly what a control investigation is and then provides several practice investigations which require students to describe a suitable control. Finally, the worksheet provides an extra 'challenge' question for more able students to describe how control experiments were important in establishing the germ theory of disease and debunking the myth of spontaneous generation.
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.
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
This worksheet is aimed at high ability GCSE or advanced level chemistry/applied science students. The resource consists of two pages, the first of which is designed to be used as a brief starter activity to recap the basic principles of a titration. The second page provides some exemplar calculation exercises for students to practice until they grasp the theory behind this experiment - how the results of a titration can be used to estimate the amount of aspirin present in a tablet and comparison with manufacturer estimates. The resource is useful at the start of this investigation in order to set the scene for the investigation.
Key words: titration, phenolpthalein, sodium hydroxide, acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin
A resource aimed at applied science/health and social care or medical physics students (either level 2 or 3) that provides a vocational discussion on how radiopharmaceuticals are used in the treatment and diagnosis of illnesses. The worksheet contains twelve questions that students are required to answer while the video plays (link to youtube video is provided on the worksheet). This is best used as a starter activity for this topic and as a prompt for further discussion. Asking students to answer questions while they watch the video helps to ensure that they are actively engaged and that they have a record of the information in their notes afterwards.
Key words: radiopharmaceuticals, isotopes, cancer, radiotherapy, imaging, gamma, beta, alpha, radiation
A worksheet which gives very clear instructions for the construction of a good quality table of data, as required by most exam boards. The worksheet includes an example of a high quality table and an exercise which requires students to criticise a poorly constructed table.
A resource aimed at either high ability 14-16 year olds or 16+ students, this worksheet provides an introductory starter activity on the topic of distillation. The resource requires students to explain what is happening at each stage of some typical distillation equipment and calculate percentage yield as a preamble to a lesson where these very techniques are practised.
A single page method sheet for carrying out the reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar test. This resource would be suitable as a concise guide to the these biochemical tests and is aimed at Advanced Level biology students or BTEC Level 3 students.
A worksheet aimed at either 14-16 or 16+ students that are studying the nature of radioactive decay. The worksheet involves learning about the process of radioactive decay by starting with a highly unstable radioactive element and then working through the products of each subsequent decay. Starting with uranium 238, students fill in 14 separate decay stages (showing mass number, atomic number and name of new element formed) until the stable isotope of lead 206 is formed. The activity provides an excellent way of practising and reinforcing ideas on alpha and beta decay.
A full answer key is included
A resource aimed at either GCSE or BTEC Applied Science Level 2 or 3 students, this starter activity provides a recap of the meaning of atomic number and mass number with reference to the periodic table of the elements. This resource is best used as a lesson starter while the periodic table is displayed on the board - students are required to interpret the periodic table in order to work out the number of protons, neutrons and electrons that various atoms possess.
An unusual resource that brings history and science together with an activity that introduces the concept of carbon-14 radioactive dating of archeological remains. The task provides an introduction to radioactive dating, followed by questions whereby students are required to calculate percentage reduction of carbon-14 . Finally, students can then calculate the approximate year when Richard III died based on the half life of carbon-14.
A resource aimed at Level 3 Applied Science students, this worksheet provides a series of research prompts to guide students to independently learn about the technique of electrophoresis. The worksheet includes clear questions, a weblink for further information and information on how the work will be assessed. The second worksheet included with this resource provides a marking grid that can be used as part of a peer assessment exercise, with students assessing and grading each other's work depending on which criteria have been met and the quality of the work produced.
This resource consists of two 'active video' worksheets linked to online Youtube videos (links provided on the worksheet). Each video consists of a three to four minute video clip showing some engaging applications of diffusion. The first video clip shows a team of scientists testing shark repellent under water and the second shows a skunk spraying musk as a defense mechanism. Each worksheet provides simple questions that students answer while watching the video - providing the opportunity to then commence a full lesson on the topic of diffusion.
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