I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
I currently teach IGCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Also A level Biology. The resources I produce for my lessons are carefully planned and I try to involve a lot of self-learning to allow students to develop these important skills needed for further education.
A PDF worksheet designed to summarise the process of protein synthesis to IGCSE students. The task is a word fill exercise but my students added comments to the diagrams to consolidate their understanding.
2 ppt lessons covering the specification links in Edexcel 5.23 - 5.25
A range of activities plus assessment opportunities. Tailor made questions fit to students ability. A good topic to generate class discussion too.
Edexcel Spec link 6.7 (i) (ii)
An introduction to how bacteria are able to spread from one person to another. We then look at how the body protects itself against pathogen entry. This is a circus activity where students gather information from around the room (cards provided). Finally we research how bacteria cause the disease with endotoxins and exotoxins.
Edexcel specification link 6.5 (i) (ii)
Two power point complete lessons focusing on the structure of viruses and bacteria. The second lesson looks at the lytic and lysogenic cycles with a short video clip on retrovirus reproduction - this will be looked at again when we study HIV.
The lesson includes an exam question with mark scheme.
IAL Edexcel Topic 8A
Included in this chapter:
The structure and function of the mammalian nervous system
Nervous transmission
Resting and action potential
Myelinated neurones and saltatory conduction
Synapses
Effects of drugs on synapse
The detection of light
Habituation
Included in this selection of powerpoints are videos, exam questions plus tasks throughout the lesson to generate discussion and independent learning.
I have produced a website for year 12 students to support their studies as they prepare for the unit 3 exam. The website will be supplied on a word document and can be shared with allof your students. Any updates to the course over time will be updated on the website.
The website includes video support for each experiment
Exam-style questions for each core practical
A summary of previous core practicals examined from 2019-2022
Photosynthesis Topic with complete PowerPoint lessons and worksheets including lab activities. Each lesson involves a range of activities to promote interest and learning of the material.
The content covers the following points:
The word equation and the balanced chemical symbol equation for photosynthesis
Understand how varying carbon dioxide concentration, light intensity and temperature affect the rate of photosynthesis
Describe the structure of the leaf and explain how it is adapted for photosynthesis
Understand that plants require mineral ions for growth, and that magnesium ions are needed for chlorophyll and nitrate ions are needed for amino acids
Practical: investigate photosynthesis, showing the evolution of oxygen from a water plant, the production of starch and the requirements of light, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll
Help students prepare their revision for the topic of nutrition. The questions cover both plants and animal nutrition including core practicals (Edexcel).
I print the document on A3 paper and it takes around 45 - 50 minutes for able students to complete. I allow the task to be an open book activity in preparation for an exam.
A PDF worksheet which focuses on the 3 types of neurones and Schwann cell structure. Students label the cells and complete a cloze exercise. There is also a vocabulary enhancer for students to define keywords.
Answer sheet included.
18 longer response exam questions.
This document can be modified and the order of questions can be changed or removed.
The total time for this document is 155 minutes.
Mark scheme is included.
I have used this document as a timed revision exercise but the document can be used as a summative exam.
Topics included:
Heart structure and function
Blood vessels
Circulatory system
Blood components including the role of the blood cells
The questions test both knowledge and application of knowledge.
AS Biology lesson on the process of fertilisation in flowering plants from pollen tube formation to fusion of nuclei.
Contains a useful video I found on youtube which explains the process. I have also included a starter activity of labelling the plant parts (IGCSE) and an exam question with mark scheme for self assessment activity.
A PDF worksheet with focused questions on determining the time of death of a body.
This focuses on factors that affect body temperature and the use of rigor mortis and entomology to determine the time of death.
I have included my answer sheet for guidance.
A complete lesson with worksheets and exam questions/answers which introduces the reflex arc. There are simple animations which show the route of the impulse. Synapses are not covered in detail as they are not needed for double award syllabus (edexcel IGCSE).
A lesson which explores the effect of exercise and heart rate on the body. Students learn how to calculate cardiac output.
The power point explores the role of the cardiovascular control centre. Students complete a diagram showing how both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can increase/decrease the heart rate depending on blood pressure, need for oxygen and glucose.
There is a little practical activity when students observe the effect of adrenaline on heart rate and how quickly heart rate changes.
A PPT with complete lesson with different activities to introduce the idea of surface area and volume and how it is affected by the size of an organism.
Activities include - calculating the surface area and volume of 3 cubes; explaining why certain cells/organs have a large surface area.
There is also an edexcel IGCSE exam question and mark scheme for self assessment.
A PPT which introduces the role of both xylem and phloem. The first activity is a research activity (8 minutes) where students use resources available to determine characteristics and roles of phloem and xylem.
The next 20 minutes is a circus of activities with microscope work (drawing xylem and phloem); observing dye in celery; dendrochronology (tree rings) and transpiration and translocation.
This series of 3 lessons covers:
the terms magnification and resolution
the differences between light and electron microscopes
the importance of staining in microscopy; a series of practicals with instructions
how to make plan drawings of specimens
how to use a graticule.
I have included different tasks, some individual and some group work. I have encouraged my students to study independently rather than give all of the information. There are also a series of exam questions to test understanding.
These lessons provide support towards the core practical
This resource focuses on Edexcel specification link 6.11
It introduces the different types of immunity.
There is a video resource and questions to check understanding.
The information cards can be printed and put around room for students to collect information to make it more interactive. I was short on time so I went through them on the board as students made their own notes.
2 lessons focusing on Edexcel specification link 2.7
The first lesson is an introduction to enzymes and naming enzymes
The second lesson focuses on how they work and factors which affect the rate of reaction.