AQA Biology infectious diseases and pathogens

A complete lesson covering section 4.3.1.1 Infectious Diseases from the AQA Combined Science Trilogy specification.

The lesson begins with a recall starter revisiting key knowledge from Topic 1: Cells, helping students activate prior learning and make links to how pathogens interact with the body.

Students are then introduced to the four main types of pathogens, followed by a short multiple‑choice quiz to check initial understanding and address misconceptions.

Next, students complete a summary table comparing the different pathogen groups, including examples and key characteristics, to consolidate core knowledge.

The lesson then moves on to explore the different ways pathogens are transmitted, using real‑world examples to build context and deepen understanding. Students apply this knowledge by completing a set of structured summary questions.

The lesson concludes with a plenary task in which students return to the original Learning Question, demonstrating how their understanding has developed across the lesson.