Please note that I have merged the content of two lessons into one resource. Trophic levels and biomass transfers lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. This lesson Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, past paper questions, self-assessment, interactive mark scheme, embedded videos and review. For general enquiries or support please email: Paperfriendlyresources@gmail.com NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. * AQA spec link: 4.7.4; 1, 2, 3 Relevant chapter: B18 Biodiversity and ecosystems. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 300-301 Students are required to know the following; 7.4.1 Students should be able to describe the differences between the trophic levels of organisms within an ecosystem. Trophic levels can be represented by numbers, starting at level 1 with plants and algae. Further trophic levels are numbered subsequently according to how far the organism is along the food chain. Level 1: Plants and algae make their own food and are called producers. Level 2: Herbivores eat plants/algae and are called primary consumers. Level 3: Carnivores that eat herbivores are called secondary consumers. Level 4: Carnivores that eat other carnivores are called tertiary consumers. Apex predators are carnivores with no predators. Decomposers break down dead plant and animal matter by secreting enzymes into the environment. Small soluble food molecules then diffuse into the microorganism. 7.4.2 Pyramids of biomass can be constructed to represent the relative amount of biomass in each level of a food chain. Trophic level 1 is at the bottom of the pyramid. Students should be able to construct accurate pyramids of biomass from appropriate data. 7.4.3 Students should be able to: • describe pyramids of biomass • explain how biomass is lost between the different trophic levels. Producers are mostly plants and algae which transfer about 1% of the incident energy from light for photosynthesis. Only approximately 10% of the biomass from each trophic level is transferred to the level above it. Losses of biomass are due to: • not all the ingested material is absorbed, some is egested as faeces • some absorbed material is lost as waste, such as carbon dioxide and water in respiration and water and urea in urine. Large amounts of glucose are used in respiration. Students should be able to calculate the efficiency of biomass transfers between trophic levels by percentages or fractions of mass. Students should be able to explain how this affects the number of organisms at each trophic level.

The role of negative feedback lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1) for my separates class (Year 10-KS4). This content is for HIGHER TIER only. Includes: slide animations, embedded video, practice exam question with mark scheme. This resource is suitable for combined science students. May needed to be edited for foundation students. AQA spec link: 5.3.7 Relevant chapter: B11 Hormonal coordination. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 166-167. Specification requires students to know the following; Students should be able to explain the roles of thyroxine and adrenaline in the body. Adrenaline is produced by the adrenal glands in times of fear or stress. It increases the heart rate and boosts the delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, preparing the body for ‘flight or fight’. Thyroxine from the thyroid gland stimulates the basal metabolic rate. It plays an important role in growth and development. Thyroxine levels are controlled by negative feedback.

Metabolism and the liver lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, embedded video's and mini review. NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. AQA spec link: 4.4.2.1 Relevant chapter: B9 Respiration. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 140-141 Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to explain the importance of sugars, amino acids, fatty acids and glycerol in the synthesis and breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. Metabolism is the sum of all the reactions in a cell or the body. The energy transferred by respiration in cells is used by the organism for the continual enzyme controlled processes of metabolism that synthesise new molecules. Metabolism includes: •conversion of glucose to starch, glycogen and cellulose •the formation of lipid molecules from a molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids • the use of glucose and nitrate ions to form amino acids which in turn are used to synthesise proteins • respiration •breakdown of excess proteins to form urea for excretion. All of these aspects are covered in more detail in the relevant specification section but are linked together here.

Evolution and speciation lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a separates class. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides, worksheet and an interactive quiz. NB: If you are unable to play videos a URL link can be found in the slide notes. AQA spec link: 4.6.3.2 Relevant chapter: B15 Genetics and evolution. AQA Biology trilogy edition textbook-Page 240-241 Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to: • describe the work of Darwin and Wallace in the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection • explain the impact of these ideas on biology. Alfred Russel Wallace independently proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection. He published joint writings with Darwin in 1858 which prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species (1859) the following year. Wallace worked worldwide gathering evidence for evolutionary theory. He is best known for his work on warning colouration in animals and his theory of speciation. Alfred Wallace did much pioneering work on speciation but more evidence over time has led to our current understanding of the theory of speciation. Students should be able to describe the steps which give rise to new species. WS 1.1 The theory of speciation has developed over time

The importance of communities lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, embedded video’s and mini review. NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. AQA spec link: 4.7.1.1 Relevant chapter: B15 Adaptations, interdependence and competitions. AQA Biology combined edition textbook-Page 206-207 Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to describe: •different levels of organisation in an ecosystem from individual organisms to the whole ecosystem • the importance of interdependence and competition in a community. An ecosystem is the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment. To survive and reproduce, organisms require a supply of materials from their surroundings and from the other living organisms there. Plants in a community or habitat often compete with each other for light and space, and for water and mineral ions from the soil. Animals often compete with each other for food, mates and territory. Within a community each species depends on other species for food, shelter, pollination, seed dispersal etc. If one species is removed it can affect the whole community. This is called interdependence. A stable community is one where all the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant.

DNA and the genome lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a separates class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides and an interactive quiz. AQA spec link: 6.1.4 Relevant chapter: B13 Genetics and reproduction. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 202-203. Specification requires students to know the following; Students should be able to describe the structure of DNA and define genome. The genetic material in the nucleus of a cell is composed of a chemical called DNA. DNA is a polymer made up of two strands forming a double helix. The DNA is contained in structures called chromosomes. A gene is a small section of DNA on a chromosome. Each gene codes for a particular sequence of amino acids, to make a specific protein. The genome of an organism is the entire genetic material of that organism. The whole human genome has now been studied and this will have great importance for medicine in the future. Students should be able to discuss the importance of understanding the human genome. This is limited to the: • search for genes linked to different types of disease • understanding and treatment of inherited disorders • use in tracing human migration patterns from the past.

Gene expression and mutation lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). NB: BIOLOGY ONLY-HT. Designed for higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides. AQA spec link: 6.1.5 Relevant chapter: B13 Genetics and reproduction. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 206-207. Specification requires students to know the following; (HT only) Mutations occur continuously. Most do not alter the protein, or only alter it slightly so that its appearance or function is not changed. (HT only) A few mutations code for an altered protein with a different shape. An enzyme may no longer fit the substrate binding site or a structural protein may lose its strength. (HT only) Not all parts of DNA code for proteins. Non-coding parts of DNA can switch genes on and off, so variations in these areas of DNA may affect how genes are expressed.

Diet, exercise and disease lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, embedded video's, worksheet and mini review. NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. AQA spec link: 4.2.2.6 Relevant chapter: B7 Non-communicable diseases. AQA Biology combined textbook-Page 104-105 Students are required to know the following; • discuss the human and financial cost of these non-communicable diseases to an individual, a local community, a nation, or globally • explain the effect of lifestyle factors including diet, alcohol, and smoking on the incidence of non-communicable diseases at local, national, and global levels. Risk factors are linked to an increased rate of a disease. They can be: • aspects of a person’s lifestyle • substances in the person’s body or environment. A causal mechanism has been proven for some risk factors, but not in others. • The effects of diet and exercise on cardiovascular disease. • Obesity as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Many diseases are caused by the interaction of a number of factors. Students should be able to understand the principles of sampling as applied to scientific data in terms of risk factors. Students should be able to translate information between graphical and numerical forms; and extract and interpret information from charts, graphs and tables in terms of risk factors. Students should be able to use a scatter diagram to identify a correlation between two variables in terms of risk factors.

Germination Practical (RP 8). This practical was completed in 2 lessons. Students are required to collect data outside of lesson time. I’ve attached both lessons, mock data (lesson 2) and a sign in sheet so you can create your own groups and student rota. Good luck! Lesson 1: Demo provided, students set up their practical, three conditions were created; full light-by windowsill, partial light-underneath windowsill and darkness-cupboard. The remainder of the lesson was spent discussing how to collect data, the student rota was explained. Students also used this time to assign roles to one another. Opportunity to collect data at break/lunch over 7 days (excluding weekends). Lesson 2: Interpreting data, working out averages, plotting graph, biological drawings. Conclusion and evaluation of practical was given as homework. Overall, this practical was very easy to set up but very fiddly to organise. Students need to take active approach as this practical needs to be done over 7 consecutive days, ownership to students. Mustard seeds were quick to germinate but were very poor at demonstrating phototropism. I would probably use coriander seeds next time. Also in the dark condition shoots grew very long, this confused students as light was absent (due to Etiolation), to complex for GCSE students to comprehend. Spec ref: 5.4.1 Required practical: Investigate the effect of light or gravity on the growth of newly germinated seedlings. Record results as both length measurements and as careful, labelled biological drawings to show the effects.

The impact of change lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. This lesson Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, self-assessment, interactive mark scheme, embedded videos and review. For general enquiries or support please email: Paperfriendlyresources@gmail.com ***Paper friendly tips: Only print slide 8 for students that cannot see the board clearly. Print the worksheet as two pages to one, this will need to be quarted with a guillotine and you’ll have enough for four students! NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. * AQA spec link: 4.7.2.4 Relevant chapter: B18 Biodiversity and ecosystems. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 296-297 Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to evaluate the impact of environmental changes on the distribution of species in an ecosystem given appropriate information. Environmental changes affect the distribution of species in an ecosystem. These changes include: •• temperature •• availability of water •• composition of atmospheric gases. The changes may be seasonal, geographic or caused by human interaction. WS 1.4 There are links with this content to Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems.

Please note that this resource contains two lessons worth of content. Factors affecting food security and making food production efficient lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. This lesson Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, past paper questions, self-assessment, interactive mark scheme, embedded videos and review. For general enquiries or support please email: Paperfriendlyresources@gmail.com NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. * AQA spec link: 4.7.5; 1, 2, 3 Relevant chapter: B18 Biodiversity and ecosystems. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 304-307 Students are required to know the following; 7.5.1 Students should be able to describe some of the biological factors affecting levels of food security. Food security is having enough food to feed a population. Biological factors which are threatening food security include: • the increasing birth rate has threatened food security in some countries • changing diets in developed countries means scarce food resources are transported around the world • new pests and pathogens affect farming • environmental changes affect food production, such as widespread famine occurring in some countries if rains fail • cost of agricultural inputs • conflicts have arisen in some parts of the world over the availability of water or food. Sustainable methods must be found to feed all people on Earth. 7.5.2 The efficiency of food production can be improved by restricting energy transfer from food animals to the environment. This can be done by limiting their movement and by controlling the temperature of their surroundings. Some animals are fed high protein foods to increase growth. 7.5.3 Fish stocks in the oceans are declining. It is important to maintain fish stocks at a level where breeding continues or certain species may disappear altogether in some areas. Control of net size and the introduction of fishing quotas play important roles in conservation of fish stocks at a sustainable level.

Thermoregulation lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1) for my separates class (Year 10-KS4). This is a printer friendly resource it includes an: embedded video, slide animations and a mini exam question. AQA spec link: 5.2.4 Relevant chapter: B12-Homeostasis in action. ( Note: This topic is for BIOLOGY only not for combined science students). AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 182-183 *The new specification requires students to know the following; Body temperature is monitored andcontrolled by the thermoregulatory centre in the brain. The thermoregulatory centre contains receptors sensitive to the temperature of the blood. The skin contains temperature receptorsand sends nervous impulses to the thermoregulatory centre. If the body temperature is too high, blood vessels dilate (vasodilation) and sweat is produced from the sweat glands.Both these mechanisms cause a transfer of energy from the skin to the environment. If the body temperature is too low, blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction), sweating stops, and skeletal muscles contract (shiver). Students should be able to explain how these mechanisms lower or raise body temperature in a given context.

Feeding relationships lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, embedded video’s and mini review. NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. AQA spec link: 4.7.2.1 Relevant chapter: B16 organising an ecosystem. AQA Biology combined edition textbook-Page 224-225 Students are required to know the following; Students should understand that photosynthetic organisms are the producers of biomass = for life on Earth. Feeding relationships within a community can be represented by food chains. All food chains begin with a producer which synthesises molecules. This is usually a green plant or alga which makes glucose by photosynthesis. Producers are eaten by primary consumers, which in turn may be eaten by secondary consumers and then tertiary consumers. Consumers that kill and eat other animals are predators, and those eaten are prey. In a stable community the numbers of predators and prey rise and fall in cycles. WS 1.2 Interpret graphs used to model predator-prey cycles. Students should be able to interpret graphs used to model these cycles.

Distribution and abundance lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes powerpoint timers, slide animations, embedded video’s and mini review. NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. AQA spec link: 4.7.2.1 Relevant chapter: B16 Adaptations, interdependence and competitions. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 262-263 Students are required to know the following; A range of experimental methods using transects and quadrats are used by ecologists to determine the distribution and abundance of species in an ecosystem. In relation to abundance of organisms students should be able to: • understand the terms mean, mode and median •calculate arithmetic means

Evolution by natural selection lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for higher ability (trilogy/combined) class, although content can be adjusted to suit any ability. Includes: embedded videos and timers, slide animations, practice questions with answers on slides and an interactive quiz. NB: If you are unable to play videos a URL link can be found in the slide notes. AQA spec link: 4.6.2.1 + 4.6.2.2 Relevant chapter: B13 Variation and evolution. AQA Biology trilogy edition textbook-Page 180-181. Students are required to know the following; Students should be able to: • state that there is usually extensive genetic variation within a population of a species • recall that all variants arise from mutations and that: most have no effect on the phenotype; some influence phenotype; very few determine phenotype. Mutations occur continuously. Very rarely a mutation will lead to a new phenotype. If the new phenotype is suited to an environmental change it can lead to a relatively rapid change in the species. Students should be able to describe evolution as a change in the inherited characteristics of a population over time through a process of natural selection which may result in the formation of a new species. The theory of evolution by natural selection states that all species of living things have evolved from simple life forms that first developed more than three billion years ago. Students should be able to explain how evolution occurs through natural selection of variants that give rise to phenotypes best suited to their environment. If two populations of one species become so different in phenotype that they can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring they have formed two new species.

Making the most of photosynthesis lesson created in accordance to the NEW AQA Specification (9-1). Designed for a higher ability class and HIGHER TIER ONLY students. You will require access to computers/tablets for this lesson as it is heavily research based. You may decide to set this part of the spec as homework although my students thoroughly enjoyed designing the most affordable greenhouse. * NB: If you are unable to play embedded videos please view slide notes for link. Enjoy this lesson for free as a token of appreciation for all the hard work you've done this term :) AQA spec link: 4.4.1.2 Relevant chapter: B8 Photosynthesis. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 128-129 Students are required to know the following; Limiting factors are important in the economics of enhancing the conditions in greenhouses to gain the maximum rate of photosynthesis whilst still maintaining profit.

To use a light microscope to observe, draw and label a selection of plant and animal cells. AQA spec link: 4.1.1.5 Relevant chapter: B1 Cells and organisation. AQA Biology third edition textbook-Page 4-5 In doing this practical students should cover these parts of the apparatus and techniques requirements. Biology AT 1 – use appropriate apparatus to record length and area. Biology AT 7 – use a microscope to make observations of biological specimens and produce labelled scientific drawings