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 GCSE or Advanced Level Biology students that introduces the concept of pathogens, mechanisms of disease and non-specific defence mechanisms including barriers, inflammation and phagocytosis. The activity is part of the DRAW IT! series of tasks which serve as a great way of getting students to understand a lot of complex information quickly. The class is split into two, with one half receiving written descriptions and being required to draw illustrations for each piece of information; meanwhile the other half of the class receives the illustrations and is required to write written descriptions. After both sides of the class have finished (or after a pre-determined time interval has passed), each student should be paired up with someone who has completed the opposite task to them. They then spend a brief period of time verbally summarising each process to each other. Finally, a class discussion is held between students and teacher, with questioning used to check understanding and a breif summary produced on the main board.

An activity aimed at GCSE or A-Level biology (age 14-18) students on the topic of intensive rearing of livestock. The activity includes a powerpoint presentation and a questionnaire word document. The powerpoint can be printed out on separate sheets of A4 and posted around the classroom for students to find - each slide has a suitable image together with either explanatory text or thought provoking image. The questionnaire matches the slides and so students can then match the answer to the relevant question. In terms of delivery, students can be paired up after they complete the activity and asked to verbally test each other on their knowledge of intensive rearing, checking that the information gathered has been understood. This can then lead into a whole class teacher-led discussion using the powerpoint slides to summarise the topic and check responses to each question. The activity includes coverage of the reasons for intensive rearing, the ways in which energy efficiency is increased, the use of growth hormone, use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance and various ethical issues.

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.

A resource aimed at GCSE (14-16 year old) biology students, this worksheet consists of nine questions that probe understanding of the process of osmosis. This resource is ideal to use as a starter activity following the classic practical investigation into how different concentrations of salt or sugar solution affect the mass of a potato chip. Key words: osmosis, mass, percentage change, water, concentration

A resource aimed at GCSE (14-16 year old) students on the topic of cell magnification and cell division. The resource consists of a worksheet with questions that cover units of measurement conversion, recognising structures in cells from actual light micrograph images, calculation of magnification and defining the words 'gene' and 'chromosome'.

A resource aimed at GCSE (14-16) biology students, this activity requires students to construct a model of cells at different stages of division in order to learn how chromosomes behave during mitosis. The worksheet includes images of cells at different stages of division to assist students and also some questions that should be completed at each stage of the process.

A resource aimed at GCSE (14-16 year old) biology students, this resource consists of a series of instructions for four food test investigations (testing for a reducing sugar, protein, starch and fat), each of which can be printed out and positioned at various locations/work stations in a laboratory. The resource also contains a worksheet for students to fill in as they complete each investigation - students should test a known sample of a food substance first in order to see for themselves the positive result/colour change before then testing an unknown mixture.

This is a personal learning checklist (PLC) tailored for the second year of the new AQA Biology Advanced Level specification. This is an excel spreadsheet with five worksheets in total, each one covering specification references: 3.5 Energy transfers 3.6 Organisms respond to change 3.7 Genetics & ecosystems 3.8 Control of gene expression 6.1-6.5 Mathematical requirements Each worksheet contains the full list of statements/learning outcomes taken directly from the specification, along with a grid for students to RAG rate their confidence as well as space to write notes and set targets. The worksheets have been formatted to allow easy printing of each worksheet. Each worksheet can be printed and collated with others to form a full checklist for the entire year. Students could also be emailed this PLC and complete using a computer - the final worksheet collates information from the self -analysis carried out on previous pages and presents an overall percentage score for the level of confidence in each topic plus an indication of whether a student is 'secure' in that topic area. This is an essential resource for anyone teaching the new biology advanced level specification. Key words: personal learning checklist (PLC), self assessment, targets, AQA, biology

An activity aimed at A-Level Biology students. This activity involves a series of statements that can be given to a class at the start of a lesson with the instruction that they draw the phosphorous cycle based on this information. Students should initially do this in pairs but can then be teamed up in larger groups to show, discuss and explain their own diagrammatic interpretations of the phosphorus cycle. Finally, the whole class can be brought together to discuss the best way of joining these statements together into an agreed phosphorous cycle. Key words: Phosphorous, cycle, ATP, NADP, weathering, phosphates, fertilisers, glycolysis, kinase, phosphorylation

This is a worksheet that focuses on how proteins form increasingly complex structures (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary). There are extension questions at the end for the more able. The resource is suitable for A-Level Biology students and would be a useful plenary or starter exercise once a lesson on protein structure had been completed. Key words: Protein, amino acids, condensation, peptide, primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, conformation

A worksheet that provides secondary data from an investigation into the population density/abundance of plant species in a field. The worksheet requires some calculations to estimate population density and total population size across the whole field. There is also consideration of the reasons why quadrats are always deployed randomly and why random sampling is required for any fieldwork investigation. Key words: quadrat, fieldwork, dandelions, daisies. estimate, population, density, abundance, calculations

A resource aimed at advanced biology students, this worksheet contains a practical schedule for the Hill reaction - a classic practical investigation which provides evidence for the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis. The worksheet contains practical instructions, tables for students to complete with their observations and a list of follow up questions that probes understanding of both the experimental procedure and importance of controls plus the background biochemical theory. The experiment is simple to set up (I recommend using spinach leaves) and straightforward to perform making it an ideal practical to add to what can otherwise be a fairly 'dry' topic. Key words: Hill reaction, NADP, light dependent reaction, light independent reaction, photosynthesis, chloroplast, cells, DCPIP, reduction, colour, expeirment, investigation, control

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource has a series of questions that require students to calculate water potential values in order to predict the direction of water movement between different cells. The worksheet also has diagrams of both animal cells and plant cells showing water movement in, out and no net movement - students are required to match each diagram to the circumstance that would cause each effect. A useful worksheet to review understanding of the key ideas involved with osmosis

A resource aimed at either GCSE (14-16 year olds) or Advanced (16 -19 year olds) biology students, this worksheet provides a diagram of a typical prokaryotic (bacterial) cell. The task involves labelling the diagram to identify each organelle, followed by a mix and match task to describe the function of each organelle. This resource is ideal for use as either a starter activity to recap previous learning or as a plenary exercise following a lesson on this topic. Key words: prokaryotic, cell, organelle, capsule, membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, nucleoid, chromosome

A worksheet aimed at high ability GCSE or advanced level biology or applied science students, this resource provides a research task for students to complete independently on the topic of thermoregulation. The worksheet has clear criteria for the research task and provides several individual prompts that lead students through the task. Weblinks are provided at the end of the worksheet. Key words: thermoregulation, temperature, research, vasoconsstriction, vasodilation, shivering, piloerection, respiration, core temperature

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource is useful as a review of how colorimeters work and how they should be operated. The second worksheet contains a list of questions on different types of error that may result from laboratory investigations, some of which may be experienced when using a colorimeter: zero errors, systematic errors and random errors. The third worksheet is a differentiated version of the above, with an emphasis towards more simple ideas on the difference between qualitative and quantitative errors and calibration curves.

A practical method sheet for use by A-Level students investigating the effect of temperature on amylase, but also useful for teachers and technicians. Provides simple bullet point instructions that are easy to follow and also a full equipment list. A classic practical in A-Level Biology; please note that the practical procedure requires use of a colorimeter. Key words: Colorimeter, enzyme, amylase, rate, reaction, technician, buffer, iodine, substrate, products, temeprature, denature

A resource aimed at GCSE or A-Level biology, physical education or applied science students, this worksheet provides a series of instructions to investigate the effect of exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output. The worksheet includes a weblink to an online metronome for students to standardise their rate of exercise (e.g. squats)and also provides a graphic to gauge whether blood pressure is optimal or above normal. Key words: blood pressure, sphygmomanometer, exercise, heart rate, cardiac output, recovery

A resource aimed at GCSE biology students, this worksheet provides a quick review quiz on the basics of the specific immune response followed by a more in-depth focus on the difference between primary and secondary responses with reference to the classic graph showing changes to plasma antibody levels over time. This is an ideal resource to use in order to probe student's understanding of this complex topic and ensure they have properly grasped the essential information. Key words: Immune, vaccination, lymphocyte, primary, secondary, antibody, antigen, pathogen