This lesson provides an overview of the life cycles of regionally significant crops, such as sugarcane, bananas, and mangoes, with a focus on the role of plant hormones in enhancing growth and yields. Through discussions and comparisons, students learn about the stages of plant growth and the functions of hormones like auxins and gibberellins. This lesson is ideal for understanding plant biology and agricultural practices in North Queensland. Learning Objectives: Describe the life cycle stages (germination, vegetative, reproductive) of selected North Queensland crops. Compare the stages of plant development across different crops. Explain the role of auxins and gibberellins in plant growth and development. Outline how auxins and gibberellins can be used to maximize crop yields. Lesson Highlights: Starter Activity: Students discuss stages of the plant life cycle, identifying when roots, shoots, and flowers develop. Life Cycle Stages Overview: Detailed explanation of germination, vegetative growth, and reproductive growth, with examples from sugarcane, bananas, and mangoes. Plant Hormones Overview: Introduction to auxins and gibberellins, focusing on their roles in cell elongation, root growth, stem elongation, and fruit development. Practical Applications: Discussion on using auxins for root growth in cuttings and gibberellins for increasing stem height, enhancing yield in tropical crops. Complete Answers and Timed Activities: All answers are provided for guided discussion, with timers to maintain structured pacing. Included Materials: PowerPoint Presentation with visual breakdowns of plant life cycles and hormone functions Worksheet for analyzing crop life cycles and hormone applications Answer key for all activities and questions Reflection prompts for student self-assessment This lesson package equips students with an understanding of plant development stages and the impact of growth hormones, connecting biological concepts to practical agricultural improvements in crop yields.

This lesson introduces students to the essential nutrients required for plant growth, focusing on the nine major (macronutrients) and eight minor (micronutrients) nutrients. Through discussions and visual aids, students learn to identify nutrient deficiencies, especially for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and understand how these deficiencies affect plant health and development. This lesson is ideal for students studying plant science and agricultural practices. Learning Objectives: Identify the nine major nutrients and eight minor nutrients essential for plant growth. Describe the difference between major and trace nutrient needs. Recognize visual deficiency symptoms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in plants. Discuss strategies to prevent nutrient deficiencies in agriculture. Lesson Highlights: Starter Activity: Students explore images of nutrients and discuss where certain nutrients like carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are sourced from, along with their roles in plant physiology. Macronutrients and Micronutrients Overview: Detailed explanation of major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and minor nutrients like boron and zinc, emphasizing their roles in plant growth. Deficiency Symptoms Analysis: Visual guide to identifying deficiencies, such as chlorosis for nitrogen deficiency and purplish leaves for phosphorus deficiency. Prevention and Management: Discussion on soil testing, responsible fertilization practices, crop rotation, and the use of legumes to naturally replenish soil nutrients. Complete Answers and Timed Activities: All answers are provided to support discussions, with timers for well-paced activities. Included Materials: PowerPoint Presentation with nutrient functions and deficiency visuals Worksheet for identifying nutrient functions and symptoms Answer key for all discussion points and deficiency identification Reflection prompts for student self-assessment This lesson package provides students with foundational knowledge of plant nutrients, helping them understand how nutrient management supports agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.

This lesson introduces students to the different types of fertilizers, including organic, inorganic, and slow-release options, and explores how to determine the correct application rates based on crop needs, soil conditions, and environmental factors. Through discussions, practical applications, and case studies, students learn how proper fertilization practices enhance plant growth and minimize environmental impact, especially in regions like North Queensland with heavy rainfall. Learning Objectives: Discuss the uses of organic, inorganic, and slow-release fertilizers. Interpret soil test results to identify nutrient deficiencies. Explain how crop type, soil conditions, and environmental factors affect fertilizer selection and application rates. Identify appropriate fertilizer types and rates for specific crops. Lesson Highlights: Starter Activity: Students discuss the effects of over-fertilization, differences in crop nutrient needs, and strategies used in North Queensland to prevent fertilizer runoff. Types of Fertilizers: Overview of organic, inorganic, and slow-release fertilizers, focusing on benefits and specific examples like compost, urea, and polymer-coated fertilizers. Application Methods: Discussion on broadcasting, banding, foliar feeding, and fertigation, and how these methods suit different crop types and soil conditions. Environmental Considerations: Exploration of split applications, slow-release options, and crop rotation to prevent nutrient leaching, particularly in tropical climates. Practical Activity with Soil Probes: Students practice using soil probes to assess site suitability for crop planting based on pH, salinity, and nutrient levels. Complete Answers and Timed Activities: All answers are provided to facilitate discussion, with timers for smooth lesson pacing. Included Materials: PowerPoint Presentation with fertilizer types and application methods Worksheet for interpreting soil test results and choosing fertilizers Answer key for all discussion points and practical exercises Reflection prompts for student self-assessment This lesson package equips students with practical skills for effective fertilizer application, helping them understand how to balance plant growth needs with environmental stewardship in agriculture.

A full differentiated lesson covering ‘Ecosystems and interaction between organisms’ form the Edexcel GCSE specification but can be used for others. The lesson covers key definitions, interdependence, abiotic vs biotic factors and touches on energy transfer in ecosystems. Differentiated tasks included throughout with answers included for ease of use.

A full differentiated lesson based on the OCR-A SOW and delivered to an A2 class. The lesson covers eating and exercise and their effects on blood glucose, the pancreas, islet of Langerhans and the effects of insulin and glucagon. Student understanding is assessed by a differentiated question grid challenge (answers included). The lesson then progresses to cover negative feedback, and the depolarisation of beta cells with a simple reorder task for AFL afterwards (answers included). A PP question is included for further application of knowledge/AFL (answers included). The plenary is based on student reflection upon their progress against the learning objectives. Timers are included to promote pace.

A full differentiated lesson based on the new AQA (B6.1) SOW. The lesson uses video, animation and think pair and share activities to teach the concepts of vaccination and herd immunity. Student understanding is assessed/applied through the use of a differentiated question grid and past paper questions (answers included). The plenary is based on students reflecting upon their progress against the learning objectives.

Slides to introduce PAG 3.3, guidelines on what the students need to complete, an experimental approach to suggest to the students and an example data set to use as a back-up. The suggested experiment included should be practical to most school/college sites.

This lesson is tailored to the new OCR-A SOW. Please note this is a follow on lesson to a free resource which can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gene-expression-lac-operon-complete-lesson-a2-11780445 This lesson expands on the above to cover introns, exons and mRNA editing, cAMP is post transnational regulation of gene expression, body plans (Hox genes), and apoptosis and mitosis in the regulation of body plans. All answers incorporated into the slides or attached in included mark scheme, animation is included to facilitate self correction/questioning and timers are included to promote pace.

The free resource that precedes this lesson can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/gene-expression-lac-operon-complete-lesson-a2-11780445 This particular lesson expands on the previous two to cover the response of genes to stimuli, the types of genetic mutation and neutral, beneficial and harmful mutations. All answers are incorporated into the slides or attached in the included mark scheme.

Includes comprehensive slides with extension work, support sheet for less able, card sort activity, product critique activity and differentiated question grid. All incorporated into the slides, no additional material needed. Used for year 8 class based on Activate text book, could be used for year 9 or a more able year 7 class.

A full, differentiated lesson based on the new AQA (B4.2) SOW. This lesson starts off with a brief video to introduce the topic and then covers arteries, veins and capillaries in detail. Student understanding is checked via a differentiated question grid challenge. Students then attempt a past paper question (9 marks) and peer/self mark. The lesson then covers double circulation and its advantages. Another PP question is used for students to apply their learning. Peer/self marking facilitates AFL. A plenary question involves students comparing the efficiency of a fishes circulatory system to our own. Again this can be self/peer assessed. Students then finally reflect on their learning progress against the learning objectives. All answers are included within the slides, and timers are used to promote pace. LO are ranked based on the new 1-9 system.

A full differentiated lesson based on the OCR-A SOW. This lesson was used by myself for an A2 class but the content is simple enough for AS. The lesson covers sigmoidal population growth curves, abiotic and biotic limiting factors, migration and density independent factors. Student understanding is then checked through the use of a differentiated question grid tailored to the lessons LO. Students are then introduced to intra and interspecific competition using examples. The red/grey squirrel example is discussed. Students then apply their learning to 2 exam style questions. The plenary is based upon the students reflecting upon their progress against the learning objectives. All answers are included within the slides facilitating self/peer marking, timers are included to promote pace.

A full lesson based on the Activate 1 (WS 1.3) SOW but can be used for others. This lesson covers experimental variables, recording data, calculating the mean and graph drawing. The main activity involves students doing a simple experiment (2 different types of ball and meter rulers required), recording their results and drawing a bar chart. The plenary is based on students reflecting upon their progress against the learning objectives.

A complete lesson based on the new AQA (B4.5) SOW. The lesson covers the structure of the gas exchange system, the role of diffusion, the diaphragm and intercostal muscles and the adaptations of the alveoli. Learning is assessed at 4 stages by think pair and share, a sentence reorder task and past exam questions (answer included). The plenary is based on students reflecting upon their progress against the learning objectives.

A full lesson based on the new AQA (B5.5) SOW. The lesson covers salmonella food poisoning, gonorrhoea, and bacterial diseases in plants. Student understanding is checked at various stages with answers included via animation. The two main activities include a differentiated question grid challenge and a PP question (answers also included). Images and video are used to incite student interest. The plenary is based upon students reflecting upon their progress against the learning objectives.

A full lesson based on the new AQA (B10.3) SOW but can be used for others. The lesson recaps the types of neurones, covers synapse and then the reflex arc. A range of activities are included alongside a worksheet which consolidates learning across B10. All answers are included through animation to facilitate self/peer marking and timers are included to promote pace. The plenary is based on student reflection upon their progress against the learning objectives.

A full lesson based on the OCR-A SOW but can be used for others. The lesson covers meiosis in sexual reproduction and the stages of meiosis 1 and 2. Students are directed to take note of key sections using red font. Students then apply their knowledge to a card sort activity which can be glued to A3 paper to create a revision resource on meiosis. The lesson then progresses to cover ‘cross over’ and ‘independent assortment’ ahead of PP questions and a final reflective plenary. All answers are included into the slides for each activity allowing for self/peer correction. Timers are included to promote pace.

A full practical lesson based on the Activate 2 (B1.5) SOW. This lesson has been used as a follow on to a theory based lesson which can be found here : https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/bacteria-and-enzymes-in-digestion-complete-lesson-ks3-11785941. Hope this can be helpful to people.

A full lesson based on the Activate 1 (WS 1.2) SOW but can be used for others. The lesson teaches experimental planning, accuracy and precision, uncertainty, repeatability and reproducibility. A range of activities are included, all the required answers are incorporated into the slides. If you like this lesson visit my shop for superior teaching resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/matt_nick1in

A full lesson based on the new AQA (B5.3) SOW but could be used for others. The lesson uses the plague to incite interest (first 2 slides) and then moves onto the work of Ignaz Semmelweis (literacy exercise taken from other TES author). The lesson then briefly discusses other important discoveries and ways to prevent the spread of communicable diseases; hygiene, destroying vectors, vaccination and isolating infected individuals. A differentiated question grid is used to apply student learning. The plenary is based on the students reflecting upon their progress against the learning objectives. If you like this resource please visit my shop for more: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/matt_nick1in