I am a Secondary Science Teacher specialising in Biology at iGCSE, AS and A Level. I have 10 years of experience teaching and leading in both the UK and abroad which has exposed me to a number of different curriculums, exam board specifications and students of a wide range of abilities, something that my resources shared here will reflect.
I am a Secondary Science Teacher specialising in Biology at iGCSE, AS and A Level. I have 10 years of experience teaching and leading in both the UK and abroad which has exposed me to a number of different curriculums, exam board specifications and students of a wide range of abilities, something that my resources shared here will reflect.
This lesson introduces Topic 20 - Respiration of the Oxford AQA A Level Biology course. Having also taught Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of this course.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will establish the role of glycolysis in cellular respiration.
This lesson continues with Topic 20 - Respiration of the Oxford AQA A Level Biology course. Having also taught Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of this course.
Respiratory Substrates - Oxford AQA A Level Biology
Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine the respiratory quotient of different respiratory substrates. Students will start by recalling their prior knowledge of biological molecules from AS Unit 1, they will then discuss how different respiratory substrates enter at different stages of respiration before exploring the equation and concept of respiratory quotients.
This lesson continues with Topic 20 - Respiration of the Oxford AQA International A Level Biology course. Having also taught Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of this course.
Investigating Rate of Respiration (RP8) - Oxford AQA A Level Biology
Through this fully resourced lesson students will investigate the effect of temperature on respiration in yeast. This lesson follows the suggested method for Oxford AQA International A Level Biology Required Practical 8. Students will be using the reduction of methylene blue as an indicator of respiratory rate. Through the starter activity I have included the set up of a respirometer as students are expected to know how they can be used to calculate respiratory quotients, although the practical method does not require this.
This scheme or work has been deisgned to cover Unit 3: Populations and Genes of the Oxford AQA International A Level Biology Course over 12 weeks.
In order to access this scheme students should have previously completed Oxford AQA iAS Biology Units 1 and 2 in their previous academic year. In term 1 students will cover all of the Unit 3 content in order that they can sit their Unit 3 examination in January and begin Unit 4 immediately after. Students will sit the Unit 4 and 5 exams in May/June. Some students may be advised to sit both Unit 3, 4 and 5 in May/June if their mock data from Term 1 indicates they aren’t quite ready to sit Unit 3 in January.
This resource bundle includes a 12 week scheme of work/curriculum plan, a baseline assessment, progress checks, a suggested term 1 mock exam, homework menu’s and required practical activity sheets organised in a simple to follow format ideal for teachers new to delivering the course.
This lesson summarises Topic 20 - Respiration of the Oxford AQA A Level Biology course. Having also taught Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of this course.
Revision of Respiration - Oxford AQA A Level Biology
Through this fully resourced lesson students will consolidate their understanding of respiration through applying their understanding to unfamiliar scenarios and diagrams. Students will start by recalling their prior knowledge of the structure of mitochondria from AS Unit 1, they will then apply their understanding to a number of different past exam questions before finishing with a reflection of their progress, knowledge and understanding of this topic. Also included in this resource is a number of past paper questions from the student textbook that I have suggested students complete for further revision.
These homework menu’s encourage students to work more independently when approaching their revision and studies by giving them suggestions to tasks to complete that will help them to consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the concepts required for Unit 3: Populations and Genes of the Oxford AQA International A Level Biology course.
This resource includes all required worksheets mentioned on the homework menu.
This lesson continues with Topic 20 - Respiration of the Oxford AQA A Level Biology course. Having also taught Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of this course.
The Link Reaction and Krebs Cycle - Oxford AQA A Level Biology
Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine the role of the link reaction and the Krebs Cycle in the production of ATP. Students will start by completing a reading application task, they will then apply their knowledge of respiration so far to a task on the inhibition of cyanide before studying the link reaction and Krebs cycle.
This lesson continues with Topic 20 - Respiration of the Oxford AQA A Level Biology course. Having also taught Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of this course.
The Electron Transfer Chain - Oxford AQA A Level Biology
Through this fully resourced lesson students will evaluate the chemiosmotic theory for ATP production. Students will start by recalling their prior knowledge of glycolysis, the link reaction and Krebs cycle before exploring the detailed events of the electron transfer chain.
This bundle provides all the teaching resources required for the delivery of the Respiration topic (Chapter 20) of the Oxford AQA International A Level course. Having also taught AQA and Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that these resources are also suitable for the delivery of this course. Through this series of 7 fully resourced lessons students will acquire knowledge and skills in the following areas:
Lesson 1 - Glycolysis: Students will establish the role of glycolysis in cellular respiration.
Lesson 2 - Anaerobic Respiration: Students will differentiate between anaerobic respiration in plants, microorganisms and animals. This includes an understanding of how lactate in animals and ethanol and carbon dioxide are produced in plants as well as how NAD is regenerated in order that ATP can continue to be produced in the absence of oxygen.
Lesson 3 - The Link Reaction and Krebs Cycle: Students will determine the role of the link reaction and the Krebs Cycle in the production of ATP. Students will start by completing a reading application task, they will then apply their knowledge of respiration so far to a task on the inhibition of cyanide before studying the link reaction and Krebs cycle.
Lesson 4 - The Electron Transfer Chain: Students will evaluate the chemiosmotic theory for ATP production. Students will start by recalling their prior knowledge of glycolysis, the link reaction and Krebs cycle before exploring the detailed events of the electron transfer chain.
Lesson 5 - Respiratory Substrates: Students will determine the respiratory quotient of different respiratory substrates. Students will start by recalling their prior knowledge of biological molecules from AS Unit 1, they will then discuss how different respiratory substrates enter at different stages of respiration before exploring the equation and concept of respiratory quotients.
Lesson 6 - Investigating Rate of Respiration (RP8): Students will investigate the effect of temperature on respiration in yeast. This lesson follows the suggested method for Oxford AQA International A Level Biology Required Practical 8. Students will be using the reduction of methylene blue as an indicator of respiratory rate. Through the starter activity I have included the set up of a respirometer as students are expected to know how they can be used to calculate respiratory quotients, although the practical method does not require this.
Lesson 7 - Revision of Respiration: Students will consolidate their understanding of respiration through applying their understanding to unfamiliar scenarios and diagrams. Students will start by recalling their prior knowledge of the structure of mitochondria from AS Unit 1, they will then apply their understanding to a number of different past exam questions before finishing with a reflection of their progress, knowledge and understanding of this topic. Also included in this resource is a number of past paper questions from the student textbook that I have suggested students complete for further revision.
This bundle provides all the teaching resources required for the delivery of the Energy and Ecosystems topic (Chapter 21) of the Oxford AQA International A Level course. Having also taught AQA and Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that these resources are also suitable for the delivery of these courses. Through this series of 8 fully resourced lessons students will acquire knowledge and skills in the following areas:
Lesson 1: how energy is transferred within food chains and webs. Students will start by recalling their GCSE knowledge of food chains and webs. They will describe how energy is transferred between organisms in the ecosystem and apply their knowledge to past paper questions.
Lesson 2: how energy is lost along a food chain. Students will start by identifying how how energy is lost along a food chain, they will then calculate energy transfers including a description of the terms net primary production and gross primary production. Students will finish the lesson by applying their knowledge acquired to past paper questions on this topic.
Lesson 3: will reflect upon their knowledge and understanding of populations, photosynthesis and respiration. They will identify their strengths and areas for development and they will respond to the feedback they were given by their teacher. They will then prepare for RP9, investigating the effect of competition on seedling growth, as this needs to be completed over a number of lessons.
In this resourse package I have included the week 6 assessment, mark scheme, RP9 student and teacher sheet from Oxford AQA and an accompanying PowerPoint to guide students and teachers through the lesson.
Lesson 4: will differentiate between pyramids of number, biomass and energy. They will first recall their GCSE knowledge of pyramaids of biomass and number, they will then observe their germinating seeds for RP9 in continuation from the previous lesson where they prepared their seeds in petri dishes and construct a suitable results table to collect their data over the next 5 lessons. Students will then be introduced to pyramids of energy and compare them to pyramids of number and biomass.
Lesson 5: how productivity is increased in agricultural ecosystems. They will start by compare natural and agricultural ecosystems. They will then observe their germinating seeds in continuation of RP9 before exploring the concept of productivity including calculations and studying how agricultural ecosystems are manipulated to improve productivity through creating a a leaflet or presentation to educate young farmers about how to increase the productivity of their crops.
Lesson 6: how the biological control of pests can increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. They will start by being given time to observe their germinating seeds in continuation of RP9 before exploring the features of an effective pesticide and debating whether chemical pesticides, biological control or a system that incorporates a range of techniques is best for controlling pests and thus increasing agricultural productivity. Students will finish the lesson by completing a mathematical problem solving question.
Lesson 7: explore features of intensive rearing of livestock. They will start by being given time to observe their germinating seeds in continuation of RP9 before exploring the transfer of energy through livestock including the equation, P = I - (F + R + U), for this and explaining how rearing animals intensively increases the efficiency of energy conversion. Students will also evaluate data considering economic, environmental and ethical issues involved with increasing productivity in the final part of this lesson.
Lesson 8: consolidate their understanding of energy and ecosystems through applying their understanding to unfamiliar scenarios and diagrams. They will start by being given time to observe their germinating seeds in continuation of RP9 for the last time. In this lesson they will also take measurements of the length of the root and shoot of their germinated seeds and carry out a Spearman’s rank calculation in order to see if there is a significant difference in germination and initial growth in the seedlings at different densities of sowing. The PowerPoint resource guides students through this process. Students will then attempt a number of past paper questions and reflect upon reflect upon their understanding of Chapter 21 - Energy and Ecosystems and their progress this academic year so far.
This lesson introduces Topic 22 - Nutrient Cycles of the Oxford AQA International A Level Biology course. Having also taught AQA and Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of these courses.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will evaluate the importance of photosynthetic organisms and decomposers in the carbon cycle. Students will start by recalling carbon-containing compounds and comparing organic and inorganic compounds. They will then interpret a carbon cycle to explain how carbon is cycled in ecosystems and determine the role of carbon sinks, decomposers and photosynthetic organisms in the carbon cycle.
This lesson continues with Topic 22 - Nutrient Cycles of the Oxford AQA International A Level Biology course. Having also taught AQA and Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of these courses.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will explore the causes and consequences of global warming. They will start by identify the major greenhouse gases, they will then explain why greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing through creating and annotating a diagram to show the Earth’s greenhouse effect. The main activity in this lesson is an extended writing task where students are tasked with analysing data to determine whether the relationship between carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and global temperature shows correlation or causation.
This lesson continues with Topic 22 - Nutrient Cycles of the Oxford AQA International A Level Biology course. Having also taught AQA and Pearson Edexcel for a number of years I can confirm that this lesson is also suitable for the delivery of these courses.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine the role of microorganisms in the nitrogen cycle. They will start by recalling why nitrogen is needed by oraganisms and how they obtain. Students will then study a nitogen cycle in order to discuss its key features, processses and microorganisms involved. Then as a group students will create their own nitreogen cycle before applying their knowledge to a number of practice and past paper questions. Peer assessment is embedded at the end of the lesson and mark schemes and suggested responses provided throughout.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will communicate how embryology and fossils provide evidence for evolution. They will first describe how shared features in embryos provide evidence for evolution. They will then go on to explain how homologous and vestigial structures provide evidence for evolution. They will finally infer why transitional fossils are important to studying evolution by exploring derived and ancentral features using the Archaeopteryx as an example. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine how natural selection is the mechanism for evolution. Students will first identify how adaptations lead to increased survival rate, they will then describe the 4 basic principles of natural selection and finally explain why natural selection could not occur if organisms did not have to compete for resources. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding to exam style questions.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will explore how the human genome project may impact human health in the future. They will first recall their knowledge of DNA, RNA and nucleotides. They will then learn what SNPs are, compare pharmacogenomics and gene therapy and discuss the moral and ethical concerns regarding gene therapy.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will determine the steps involved in carrying out a DNA microarray analysis. They will first describe what a microarray is and recall their understanding of the term bioinformatics. They will then explore why microarrays are useful before finally analysing the results of a DNA microarray analysis.
Through this fully resourced lesson students will explore how the human genome project may impact human health in the future. They will first recall the steps involved in the synthesis of a protein, they will then break down the word proteomics to understand its meaning before conducting independent research into examples of protein abnormalities to identify causes of disease. Students will then finally apply their understanding to some exam style questions.