Osmosis - biology demo

Over the summer break I managed to complete a few courses on Future Learn.One of them touched on the topic of osmosis. I mentioned last year an easy practical for that topic (click here to read more) and this demo is a great addition to that lesson.

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

DNA Model

Are you looking for a New Year project to do with your students? A few years ago a colleague emailed me an article showing how to model the DNA double helix using bottles and cans (click here). It took me a few weeks to get the materials but it was totally worth it. The students participating in the project had a lot of fun and at the end were DNA experts.

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

Let YouTube help you teach Science #10

Throwback to the 80s with the Classification Rap song! I absolutely love to use this video in revision lessons. Added bonus: it´s really hilarious to hear the students humming the song during tests!

Which topic/s could you use this video with?
- AQA - 4.6.4 Classification of living organisms
- Edexcel - Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification
- OCR - B5.2b describe the impact of developments in biology on classification systems

Key words: class, classification, family, genus, kingdom, order, phylum, species, taxonomy

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

Let YouTube help you teach Science #6

As a Chemistry teacher I feel confident to deliver demos and practicals within my subject specialism. I always know how to modify the experiments to cater to my students' needs. When I need to deliver Biology or Physics lessons, I always like to do extra research to make sure the lesson is interesting and that my subject knowledge is sound. A few years ago I came across this demo to show how the digestive system works and it's absolutely brilliant!

Which topic/s could you use this video with?
 - digestive system

Key words: bile, blood, digestion, enzymes, large intestine, mouth, oesophagus, saliva, small intestine, rectum, stomach,  teeth, villi

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

Where to find free resources?

If you are working in a school which provides you with every single resource you ask for, you're in heaven! The reality is, however, that such schools are very rare to find. So, what to do when you want to inspire your students but you are struggling to get resources? Here are some of the places I came across over the years that can support you on your journey.

1. The Crunch Kit (Wellcome Trust)

If you are working in the UK you can get your hands on 2 different kits. These are tailored for  primary and secondary students. Each kit consists of superbly prepared experiments together with all the equipment you need to deliver it.


2. STEM Learning resources

This is a collection of various resources focused around STEM. You can easily find here materials suitable for your students. These can be used both in a classroom setting as well as in an after school club.

3. DIY experiments from STEM Newcastle

This is an amazing collection of experiments perfect for the use in a Science club. Instructions are clearly laid out with numerous pictures and drawings to aid understanding.

4. School Science list

Here you can find a list of 30+ websites which offer free resources.

5. TES resources

Times Educational Supplement is a goldmine for resources. You can find absolutely everything there from worksheets through lesson plans and power points and schemes of work. I started uploading my resources there as well so click here to see what´s available (more to come!).

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina

Let YouTube help you teach Science #4

Cells is probably the first topic all students cover in their first biology lesson when they join secondary school. It's often the first occasion when they use the microscope and you get a lot of "wows" in the classroom as they look at different specimens. I like using the video below as fun introduction or in the revision lesson. I like the fact it also reinforces correct spelling of scientific key works with the lyrics coming on the screen.

Which topic/s could you use this video with?
- Biology - cells
- Animal vs. plant cell

Key words:
- animal cell, cell, chloroplast, cytoplasm, membrane, mitochondria, nucleus, organelle, plant cell, vacuole

I wish you great lessons!

Karolina