This is my mindmap of the AQA Biology GCSE specification Section 5 Homeostasis. I did it for myself when the new spec. 9-1 levels came out. It was my way of identifying how this spec. was structured. It can also be used for the Biology section of Trilogy, although the numbers may not match, the headings will. If a section is in higher tier only it is labelled with (H) and if it is only on the Biology and not the Trilogy it is labelled with (B). Although I did this primarily for myself, some of my colleagues are also using them and when I left my folder open on the desk I found students asking me for copies. I do not claim that they would suit everyone but if you have that sort of need for a complete overview, in a non-linear format, it might suit you. I have some students using it as a tick list, others highlighting the sections they want to cover for revision. I have even offered it at the start of a topic to certain students. Some would be frightened off by it, so you have to be selective. Each mindmap also contains the keywords and their definitions that now need to be learned in the relevant section. There is also a free resource that is a summary of the whole Biology specification.

Lesson presentation on the need for handwashing. Slide 2 is a learning framework. Slides 3-4 are for you to print off for yourself. I’ve just copied and pasted the text that accompanies the video clips that are hyperlinked on those slides. Slide 5 shows how to set up agar plates to grow microbes. Use permanent markers to label the bottom of the agar plate. Add name to the rim of the lid then keep lid on with 2 small pieces of tape. DO NOT SEAL. When microbes grown you will be able to see through the lid (or base) without opening it. DO NOT OPEN CONTAMINATED PLATES. When plates have been observed in a second lesson, use slide 6 to draw microbial growth and conclusions. Label diagrams identifying differences between bacterial colonies and fungal growth. COLLECT PLATES AND GIVE TO TECHNICIAN TO AUTOCLAVE.

Written for AQA Trilogy GCSE. Focuses on athletes foot and rose black spot. Although the AQA specification only mentions rose black spot. ( I felt that it was important to know that fungal diseases occurred in humans as well as plants.) Slide 2 is a learning framework for the lesson. Slides 3-6 provide visual aid whilst you explain about the variety of fungal structures. Slide 7 gives extra information about rose black spot as I didn’t feel that the text book we use gave enough detail. Slide 8 answer all questions for each disease. (Red questions aimed at LAPS, green questions aimed at MAPS and purple at HAPS.) Slide 9 is an extra task that could be done as a homework.

This uses an AQA exam question. I broke this question down to explain how I would go about answering it. I always say how important it is to study the information at the beginning of a question before you read any part of the question itself. I show slide 1 then I get students to divide a page in their exercise book into 4 quarters and draw a quick sketch diagram of each cell with room below to write. Then I get them to identify the parts of each cell and also what each cell is missing. Then we discuss what each cell is and identify the reasons for each answer. Working through the next 5 slides adding to their notes if they miss any important points. Lastly I go through the questions themselves on the last slide. Parts 1.1 and 1.2 will already have been identified but there may still be discussion around the reasons used. Part 1.3 may need revision of the terms eukaryote and prokaryote before the answer can be found. Part 1.4 uses the equation for magnification. Encourage students to use calculators to check their answers. (Calculators are allowed in science exams so why not use them as it is so easy to make silly mistakes under the pressure of exams.) May need to revise relative sizes of millimetres and micrometres.

This resource was designed with AQA Trilogy in mind. Use as a plenary or as a homework task. Answer slide included.

Written for GCSE and above. Comprehension exercise - straight forward, read text and answer questions.

Visual aid to teaching about safety at the start yr7. Includes the new hazard symbols.

Consolidation of scientific vocabulary. GCSE written for AQA Trilogy. Will fit onto a single page in an A4 exercise book. Answer sheet also included.

Consolidation activity / plenary / revision / science literacy / compiled with GCSE AQA Trilogy in mind. Made to fit on one page A4 exercise book. Cut into 12 squares and resort to match words to meanings. Correct version supplied.

Consolidation of scientific vocabulary. GCSE written for AQA Trilogy. Will fit onto a single page in an A4 exercise book. Answer sheet also included.

This is a worksheet (slide 1) and a series of stimulus pictures. Make up a story to suit your class. They need to know that the species is peafowl; males are peacocks; females are peahens; offspring are peachicks. The peacocks ‘strut their stuff’ in order to gain the attention of the peahens. Then the peahen is soley responsible for bringing up the chicks. Students then write their own version on the storyboard ws. Credit should be given for correct use of scientific key words.

(Directed Activity Relating to Text) Would suit anyone studying cells. Could be used to assess prior knowledge at the start of a topic on cells with older students or as a plenary activity to assess learning at the end of a cells topic. I have given you an answer sheet for yourself (in case you couldn’t find all 20 errors). Two differentiated worksheets. The one with red words (errors) is the less demanding sheet. On the other one you have to find the errors first before you can correct them. Best not to give different sheets to students sitting next to each other.

Four different organisms and some of their various adaptations. Cut out, match up and stick in exercise book. Could also be done as a card sort (starter or plenary) Easy to differentiate LAPS - cut off bottom 4 boxes. Aimed at KS3 and GCSE.

Consolidation of scientific vocabulary. GCSE written for AQA Trilogy. Will fit onto a single page in an A4 exercise book. Answer sheet also included.

Consolidation of scientific vocabulary. GCSE written for AQA Trilogy. Will fit onto a single page in an A4 exercise book. Answer sheet also included.

O.K. this shows my age but don’t knock it. Watch the video clip and see how not to do an investigation. Poor Tom does so much wrong but this is a good stimulus for discussion. I use this lesson every year with my new classes. I have had other staff thinking that the clip is too old and will not appeal to today’s students. But when they have seen it used in a lesson they admit that it is effective. If you introduce it as ‘retro’ and explain the use of ‘canned’ laughter in 1970’s comedy most students just accept it. They (and some of you) may need a bit of background to the TV series. Basically Tom and Barbara Good have given up modern technology and are trying to live off the land by growing their own food in their garden. Predictably this regularly fails and they have to be helped by their next door neighbours.

This resource was designed with AQA Trilogy in mind. Compares diffusion, osmosis and active transport. Use as a plenary or as a homework task. Answer slide included.

This resource was designed with AQA Trilogy in mind. Compares red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Use as a plenary or as a homework task. Answer slide included.

This resource was designed with AQA Trilogy in mind. Use as a plenary or as a homework task. Answer slide included.

This resource was designed with AQA Trilogy in mind. Compares aerobic respiration with anaerobic respiration in muscles and fermentation in yeast. Use as a plenary or as a homework task. Answer slide included.