Year 10 - Osmosis Practical - SEN

IMPROVED AS OF 12.06.2026

This 50-minute GCSE Biology practical lesson introduces osmosis using potato cells in a clear, structured, and SEN-friendly way. Created for Year 10 students in an SEN Secondary School (Autism provision).

Students build understanding through explicit teaching, retrieval practice, whole class check for understanding. Before each stage of the practical, content slides explain the underlying science to support understanding.

Lesson Structure:

Starter – Contact Lenses:
Students explore why contact lenses should not be stored in tap water, introducing osmosis through a real-life example.

Task 1 – Solutions & Concentration:
Students learn the difference between solutes, solvents, concentrated solutions, and dilute solutions through quick-check activities.

Task 2 – Plant Cells & Osmosis:
Students recap plant cell structures and learn how water moves into and out of cells through a partially permeable membrane.

Task 3 – Practical Investigation:
Students complete a potato osmosis practical using different salt concentrations, including:

• Equipment identification
• Risk assessment
• Prediction
• Method
• Hidden variables slide you can unhide and use

Task 4 – Results & Conclusion: AFTER 24 HOURS
Students compare starting and final potato masses and explain their results using the theory of osmosis. — scaffolded

Includes:

• Fully resourced PowerPoint - Worksheets on slides 1 and 2
• Practical instructions
• Risk assessment activity
• Prediction and variables tasks
• Scaffolded conclusion writing
• Multiple checking-for-understanding opportunities
• Everything unblurred when bought

Perfect for GCSE Biology, Combined Science, osmosis practicals, intervention, and SEN-friendly science teaching.