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

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

An activity aimed at GCSE biology (age 14-16) students on the topic of stem cells. 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 clear explanatory text. 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 stem cells, 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 nature of stem cells, embryonic versus adult stem cells, IVF, uses of stem cells, ethical issues, tissue culture and medical treatments that are possible using stem cell therapy.

A worksheet aimed at GCSE biology or applied science students, this resource provides a basic introduction to the concept of respiration and the movement of reactants and products into and out of cells. The worksheet also includes a table requiring students to research the uses of energy that is supplied by respiration. Useful as an introduction to the topic or as a recap of what has already been learnt previously. Key words: respiration, energy, carbon dioxide, oxygen, glucose, cells

A resource aimed at high ability GCSE or advanced level biology/applied science/health and social care students, this worksheet provides a useful comprehension task for students to gain an understanding of the nature of x-rays, their use in diagnosis and their relative advantages and disadvantages. Key words: x-rays, contrast media, hazard, radiation

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 advanced biology, applied science or physical education students, this worksheet provides several questions that lead students through the topic of blood doping. Lance Armstrong is used as a contextual example of an athlete that has been disgraced following the revelation that he was involved in blood doping; the worksheet provides questions on the effect of EPO, the impact on blood cell counts and how haematocrit tests could be used to provide evidence. The worksheet also has follow up questions on the use of steroids and diuretics in sports. Key words: Sports, Blood, doping, haematocrit, EPO, steroids, diuretics, lance armstrong, blood volume, steroids

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology or applied science students, this resource provides several question prompts that require students to research norm blood count values and the nature of various diseases and disorders of the blood: leukaemia, sleeping sickness, anaemia and malaria. The worksheet includes weblinks and references for students to use as part of their research. Key words: blood, count, malaria, leukaemia, sleeping sickness, trypanosomes, plasmodium, anaemia, red blood cells, white blood cells, erythrocytes, leukocyctes

A resource suitable for use with both GCSE and A-Level students as a lesson starter, this worksheet provides an account of aseptic technique from an instruction manual; after each step in the instructions, students are required to comment on the reasons why each technique or precaution is necessary. A useful exercise to use at the beginning or an investigation involving microbiology. Key words: aseptic, bacteria, agar, contamination

This worksheet is aimed at either GCSE or A-Level students studying microbiology. The worksheet is an ideal lesson starter to use following preparation and incubation of agar plates that have been inoculated with bacteria (from unpasteurised milk in this example, but easily adaptable for any other source of bacteria). The worksheet introduces the idea of binary fission and the concept of a visible colony being made of many thousands of individual bacterial cells. The worksheet also includes an activity on counting bacterial colonies and estimating numbers based on dilutions that would set students up well for a subsequent lesson where they did this activity using their own agar plates. Key words: Agar, bacteria, colony, estimate, milk, pasteurisation, binary fission

A starter activity suitable for GCSE and A-Level microbiology students, this resource provides a written account of a very badly organised practical session (the misfortunes of 'aseptic Adam'). Students are required to identify the problems in this investigation, explain the problems and solve the problems - ideal as an introduction to an evaluation on student's own investigations if they have recently completed a microbiology experiment. Key words: aseptic, contamination, bacteria, agar, incubate, colonies, evaluate

A resource aimed at either GCSE (high ability) or A-Level biology students, this worksheet consists of both an independent research exercise and a series of 'big' open ended questions that require extended answers. The independent research exercise provides key questions prompts to lead students through their research of the structure of the lungs and how ventilation and gas exchange occurs in the lungs. Internet websites are provided in the list of available resources which include animations and video clips. The 'big question' prompts on the second page of the worksheet encourages students to think more deeply about the topic and provide coherent, extensive answers to open questions about the lungs and ventilation. Key words: Lungs, ventilation, alveoli, trachea, bronchi, gas exchange, oxygen, carbon dioxide, intercostal muscles, diaphragm, research, oracy