A worksheet aimed at A-Level Biology students which sets out a series of research tasks for students to learn about the nitrogen cycle. A good resource to use at the start of this topic as homework or in class by dividing out each piece of key research among the class. Internet websites are listed which provide useful animations and information for students to use as they complete their research. Key words: nitrogen cycle, deamination, ammonification, denitrification, nitrification, nitrogen fixation, nitrogen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium ions, symbiotic

A worksheet aimed at A-Level Biology students that provides four questions to practice their knowledge of the technique of mark-release-recapture. The questions also test student's understanding of the limitations of this technique and causes of inaccuracies Key words: Mark, release, recapture, biology, limitations, assumptions, N1, N2, n, population, estimate

A worksheet with method and subsequent questions (including a higher ability challenge question) on the effect of lipase and bile salts on the breakdown of fat present in milk. A good practical activity for GCSE and A-Level students alike, which demonstrates the impact of bile as an emulsifying agent. Key words: phenolpthalein, milk, ph, bile, fat, triglyceride, temperature, lipase

A resource aimed at GCSE (14-16 year old) biology students, this worksheet consists of nine questions that probe understanding of the process of osmosis. This resource is ideal to use as a starter activity following the classic practical investigation into how different concentrations of salt or sugar solution affect the mass of a potato chip. Key words: osmosis, mass, percentage change, water, concentration

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students who are studying a topic on gene technology and the role of restriction endonucleases. The worksheet consists of task where students are required to choose the most appropriate restriction enzyme to cut out a gene from a piece of DNA. Students are given four different examples of restriction enzymes, together with information about the recognition sequence for each enzyme. Using this information, students must then select the most appropriate enzyme to cut out the gene. Key words: restriction endonuclease, gene, recognition sequence

An activity aimed at A-Level Biology students. This activity involves a series of statements that can be given to a class at the start of a lesson with the instruction that they draw the nitrogen cycle based on this information. Students should initially do this in pairs but can then be teamed up in larger groups to show, discuss and explain their own diagrammatic interpretations of the nitrogen cycle. Finally, the whole class can be brought together to discuss the best way of joining these statements together into an agreed nitrogen cycle. Key words: Nitrogen, cycle, ammonification, nitrification, denitrification, saprobiont, decay, symbiotic, rhizobium, azotobacter, decomposition, photosynthesis, respiration, combustion, fossilisation, assimilation, feeding, herbivore, carnivore, carbonate

A resource aimed at Advanced Biology students, this worksheet provides a diagram and questions on how the cardiac cycle is under myogenic control. The worksheet begins with a labelling activity, requiring students to recall key vocabulary such as sino-atrial node, atrioventricular node, Bundle of His and Purkinje fibres. The next task requires sequencing of the appropriate events that occur as electrical impulses are generated within heart muscle. Finally, the worksheet provides some questions requiring more detailed understanding as to why these events happen in the order that they do. An ideal resource to use as either a plenary or lesson starter to recap and consolidate knowledge. Key words: sino-atrial node, atrioventricular node, Bundle of His, Purkinje fibres, systole, diastole, atria, ventricles

Worksheet that asks students to work through a chi-squared analysis of data from an investigation into PTU tasting ability. Useful as a lesson starter or plenary review on chi-sqaured. Keywords: chi-squared, statistics, PTU, tasting, null hypothesis, probability, degrees of freedom, critical value

This guidance sheet is for use in lesson as an introduction to muscles and the features of synovial joints. The dissection is broken up into several different tasks, each of which have follow up/extension questions that encourage students to make cross links with other topics. Muscles, bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons are all covered in this activity.

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, this resource focuses on the mechanism of action of second messengers (using cAMP as an example), activated by an initial hormone. The worksheet contains several questions that lead students through a logical series of key points - a weblink is also included for students to research their answers further. Key words: cAMP, second messenger, adenylate cyclase, hormone, adrenaline, ATP, AMP, response, endocrine

A resource aimed at GCSE or A-Level biology, physical education or applied science students, this worksheet provides a series of instructions to investigate the effect of exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output. The worksheet includes a weblink to an online metronome for students to standardise their rate of exercise (e.g. squats)and also provides a graphic to gauge whether blood pressure is optimal or above normal. Key words: blood pressure, sphygmomanometer, exercise, heart rate, cardiac output, recovery

A worksheet aimed at advanced biology students, the first page of this resource provides a sequencing activity on the topic of DNA replication. The second page of the worksheet focuses on evidence for semi-conservative replication and requires students to follow the work of Meselsohn and Stahl by colouring radioactively labelled strands of DNA in successive generations.

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource focuses on the mechanism of action of agonists and antagonists. The worksheet includes a diagram and explanation of how agonists and antagonists work, followed by some examples of common drugs and chemicals that can act as agonists or antagonists of the autonomic nervous system. A diagram of the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system is included and is required for the final page of the worksheet - a series of questions that asks students to predict the effect of various drugs and poisons (e.g. beta blockers, muscarine, atropine, etc). This is a good activity for making the link between theory and practice; most students really enjoy being able to predict the action of a drug from a simple understanding of its mechanism. A second, shorter worksheet is also included on the same topic which could be used as a revision activity once the key concepts have been taught. Key words: agonist, anatgonist, sympathetic, parasympathetic, sympathetic, autonomic, muscarine, beta blockers, atropine, noradrenaline, acetylcholine, sarin

This is a personal learning checklist (PLC) tailored for the second year of the new AQA Biology Advanced Level specification. This is an excel spreadsheet with five worksheets in total, each one covering specification references: 3.5 Energy transfers 3.6 Organisms respond to change 3.7 Genetics & ecosystems 3.8 Control of gene expression 6.1-6.5 Mathematical requirements Each worksheet contains the full list of statements/learning outcomes taken directly from the specification, along with a grid for students to RAG rate their confidence as well as space to write notes and set targets. The worksheets have been formatted to allow easy printing of each worksheet. Each worksheet can be printed and collated with others to form a full checklist for the entire year. Students could also be emailed this PLC and complete using a computer - the final worksheet collates information from the self -analysis carried out on previous pages and presents an overall percentage score for the level of confidence in each topic plus an indication of whether a student is 'secure' in that topic area. This is an essential resource for anyone teaching the new biology advanced level specification. Key words: personal learning checklist (PLC), self assessment, targets, AQA, biology

An activity aimed at either 7-10 year olds (simply do the activity described on the first two pages and ask students to describe their observations) or 11-14 year old students(ask students to complete the worksheet of questions on diffusion), this resource provides a really engaging way of of showing students the phenomenon of diffusion in a quick, simple, creative and edible way! Students are tasked with creating a simple picture or image on a plate using vegetable oil and a drinking straw. Skittle sweets/candy are then added to each area of the image and water is added. The colours from the skittle sweets/candy will start to diffuse and spread across the plate, colouring the image in. The colours are prevented from running into each other by the lines of oil. The activity provides a great way of discussing key questions such as why the colours are spreading, why are some colours spreading faster than others, what effect different temperature water has on the rate of spread of the colour and why oil stops the colours from spreading any further. Most importantly though, the investigation is a FUN science activity tailored to Christmas! The resource includes: Instruction sheet with diagrams, question worksheet for 11-14 year olds and various templates designs for Christmas pictures Key words: diffusion, colour, art, christmas, santa, holly, reindeer, fun, skittles, spread, investigation

A resource aimed at GCSE (14-16 year old) biology students, this resource consists of a series of instructions for four food test investigations (testing for a reducing sugar, protein, starch and fat), each of which can be printed out and positioned at various locations/work stations in a laboratory. The resource also contains a worksheet for students to fill in as they complete each investigation - students should test a known sample of a food substance first in order to see for themselves the positive result/colour change before then testing an unknown mixture.

A worksheet aimed at advanced level biology students, this resource provides a lengthy written passage about the structure and function of cell organelles. The worksheet provides a useful written summary of organelle function in eukaryotic cells for student's revision notes but also requires students to process this information in order to label a diagram of animal cell ultrastructure and explain differences between animal and plant cells.

This resource is aimed at A-Level Biology students and lists the mechanisms behind each of four different lung diseases and disorders: asthma, tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. As well as being a useful collection of revision notes in itself, the task here is for students to explain how each of these diseases causes a reduced tolerance to exercise - this is often asked in exam questions and requires students to apply their knowledge of Fick's Law. Each disease will impact on surface area, concentration gradient and/or thickness of exchange surface thereby reducing the rate of diffusion; the challenge is for students to explain this

A worksheet to be used as an introduction to enzymes. The weblinks at the bottom of the worksheet link this topic to the some of the neurotoxins and haemolytic toxins found in snake venom - an engaging context to spark the interest of learners.