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Cats Animation
Thursday 22nd Aug 2019, 09.00am

When did cats arrive in Britain?

Sunning themselves outside or curled up on our sofas …many of us have a pet cat in our homes. But do we ever pause to wonder where our feline friends came from and how long they have been by our sides?

 

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Researchers looking at ancient DNA have been able to look into the past of domesticated cats in Britain. In these resources students can explore ecosystems and the impact of species introductions (KS3), speciation of cats (KS4), play the role of a conservation consultancy (KS5), and look at real-life scenarios where genetic testing can be used to develop our historical understanding (KS5).
KS3 - Ecosystems and Introductions
KS4 - The Evolution of Cats
KS5 - Conservation of the Scottish Wildcat
KS5 - Genetic Archaeology
This activity uses the concept of species introductions to explore the content of food chains and webs.
Teachers Notes
File KS3 Ecosystems and Introductions Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS3 Ecosystems and Introductions Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS3 Ecosystems and Introductions Student Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS3 Ecosystems and Introductions Student Worksheet.pdf
This activity provides an opportunity to for students to review their understanding of, and practice their explanations for, evolution by natural selection and the process of speciation.
Teachers Notes
File KS4 The Evolution of Cats Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4 The Evolution of Cats Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4 The Evolution of Cats Student Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS4 The Evolution of Cats Student Worksheet.pdf
In this activity students develop a persuasive presentation as a conservation action plan for the Scottish wildcat.
Teachers Notes
File KS5 Conservation of the Scottish Wildcat Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS5 Conservation of the Scottish Wildcat Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5 Conservation of the Scottish Wildcat Student Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS5 Conservation of the Scottish Wildcat Student Worksheet.pdf
This activity engages students with interesting real-life scenarios where genetic testing has been vital to developing our historical understanding.
Teachers Notes
File KS5 Genetic Archaeology Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS5 Genetic Archaeology Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5 Genetic Archaeology Studnet Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS5 Genetic Archaeology Studnet Worksheet.pdf
Hardy Crops To Tackle Food Insecurity
Thursday 6th Jun 2019, 09.00am

Hardy Crops To Tackle Food Insecurity

Our world is getting more and more densely populated. By 2050 there’ll be nearly 10 billion people on our planet and agricultural demand is predicted to rise by 70%. So how will we ensure that every human alive gets the food they need?

 

Scientists at the University of Oxford are investigating the action of a single protein associated with the photosynthetic process. In these lessons students can design an experiment and carry out data handling (KS3); create a presentation on food security (KS4); consider the ethical and logistical considerations when choosing a model organism (KS4); and read an article adapted from a primary research paper to challenge their comprehension skills (KS5).
KS3 - Hardy Crops and Photosynthetic Experiments
KS4 - Food Security in the Future
KS4 - Model Organisms in Research
KS5 - Transport Across Membranes
This activity offers students the opportunity to plan an investigation and engage in follow up data handling within the context of current research and with the background of significant real-world issues.
Teachers Notes
File KS3 Hardy Crops and Photosynthesis Experiments Teacher Notes .docx
PDF icon KS3 Hardy Crops and Photosynthesis Experiments Teacher Notes .pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS3 Hardy Crops and Photosynthetic Experiments Student Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS3 Hardy Crops and Photosynthetic Experiments Student Worksheet.pdf
In this activity, students will be introduced to and encouraged to consider some of the major threats to food security in the future. Students will then conduct independent/group research to investigate these issues further and produce a short presentation outlining their research and its implications.
Teachers Notes
File KS4 Food Security in the Future Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4 Food Security in the Future Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4 Food Security in the Future worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS4 Food Security in the Future worksheet.pdf
This lesson introduces students to the concept of using model organisms in biological research. Students will be introduced to the reasons for their use and will explore the ethical and logistical concerns that scientists consider when selecting a model organism.
Teachers notes
File KS4 Model Organisms in Research Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4 Model Organisms in Research Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4 Model Organisms in Research Student Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS4 Model Organisms in Research Student Worksheet.pdf
This activity develops scientific comprehension by engaging students with a piece of significant current research within an interesting context. Students read an adapted article, pitched at an appropriate level for interpretation by A-level students.
Teachers Notes
File KS5 Transport Across Membranes Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS5 Transport Across Membranes Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5 Scientific Comprehension and Transport Across Membranes Student Sheet.docx
PDF icon KS5 Scientific Comprehension and Transport Across Membranes Student Sheet.pdf
Student Information Worksheet
File KS5 Transport Across Membranes Student Information Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS5 Transport Across Membranes Student Information Worksheet.pdf
Immunology
Thursday 7th Mar 2019, 09.00am

Our immune system - the battle within

If we could travel inside our body, shrinking down to a cellular level, we could see how amazing our immune system really is.

Researchers at the University of Oxford are investigating how the immune system works in order to create new treatments for diseases, such as cancer. In these lessons students can review and revise the immune system by looking at the connection between cell structure and function (KS3), creating a stop-motion animation (KS4), exploring how protein shape is important for function (KS4), and playing top trumps to learn about specific immune cell types (KS5).
KS3 - Cell Structure and Structural Adaptations
KS4 – An Animated Immune System
KS4 – Control of Immunity: Cascades of Shapes
KS5 - Immune Cell Top Trumps
In this lesson students will review cell organelle function, predict basic structural adaptations of cells based on their function and explain structural adaptations of cells in relation to organelle function.
Teachers Notes
File KS3 Cell Strucutre and Structural Adaptations Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS3 Cell Strucutre and Structural Adaptations Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS3 Cell Strucutre and Structural Adaptations Student Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS3 Cell Strucutre and Structural Adaptations Student Worksheet.pdf
In this activity, students engage in a creative group activity to review the immunity topic.
Teachers Notes
File KS4 An Animated Immunity System Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4 An Animated Immunity System Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4 An Animated Immunity Story Board Student Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS4 An Animated Immunity Story Board Student Worksheet.pdf
This activity encourages students to review the action of the immune system with an emphasis on students considering the importance of shape in the activation and action of phagocytes and lymphocytes.
Teachers Notes
File KS4 Immunity - Control of Immunity - Cascades of Shapes Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4 Immunity - Control of Immunity - Cascades of Shapes Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4 Immunity - Control of Immunity - Cascades of Shapes Studnet Worksheet.docx
PDF icon KS4 Immunity - Control of Immunity - Cascades of Shapes Studnet Worksheet.pdf
This top trumps activity is intended to be a fun and interactive way for students to engage with and review the content of immune cells and their function.
Teachers Notes
File KS5 Immunity Top Trumps Teacher Notes.docx
PDF icon KS5 Immunity Top Trumps Teacher Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5 Immunity Top Trumps Student Sheet.docx
PDF icon KS5 Immunity Top Trumps Student Sheet.pdf
Soluble Semiconductors - A Revolution In Printing in the 21st Century
Thursday 22nd Nov 2018, 09.00am

Soluble Semiconductors- A revolution in Printing for the 21st Century?

The digital age is built upon semiconductors. The crystalline semiconductors, such as silicon or germanium, lie behind modern electronics and computing. They are such essential materials because their conducting properties may be altered in useful ways by the deliberate, controlled introduction...

Researchers studying semiconductors are looking to create new semiconductors that could revolutionize our technology. In these resources, students learn about resistance and apply this knowledge to explore how semiconductors might work (KS3), recognise I-V graphs and calculate resistanc (KS4), consider error in measurements (KS5), and apply what they know to identify and analyse uses and limitations of semiconductors (KS5).
KS3 - What is resistance?
KS4 - Ohm’s law and Ohmic conductors
KS5 - Resistivity and error in measurement
KS5 - What is a Semiconductor?
Learning outcomes: 1 Describe resistance in an electrical circuit. Define an insulator and conductor and predict what a semiconductor is. 3. Understand the uses of semiconductors.
Teachers Notes
File KS3_What_is_resistance_Teacher_Notes FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS3_What_is_resistance_Teacher_Notes FINAL.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS3_What_is_resistance_Student_Sheet FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS3_What_is_resistance_Student_Sheet FINAL.pdf
Learning Outcomes: 1. Recognise I-V graphs and the limitations of Ohm’s Law. 2. Apply Ohm’s law to calculate resistance of a component and circuit. 3. Identify and analyse uses and limitations of semiconductors.
Teachers Notes
File KS4_Ohms_law_and_Ohmic_conductors_Teacher_Notes FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS4_Ohms_law_and_Ohmic_conductors_Teacher_Notes FINAL.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4_Ohms_law_and_Ohmic_conductors_Student_Sheets FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS4_Ohms_law_and_Ohmic_conductors_Student_Sheets FINAL.pdf
Learning Outcomes: 1. Define resistivity and determine the equation of resistivity. 2. Identify systematic and random errors. 3. Assess the uncertainty of measurements.
Teachers Notes
File KS5_Resistivity_and_error_in_measurement_Teacher_Notes FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS5_Resistivity_and_error_in_measurement_Teacher_Notes FINAL.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5_Resistivity_and_error_in_measurement_Student_Sheets FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS5_Resistivity_and_error_in_measurement_Student_Sheets FINAL.pdf
Learning Outcomes: 1. Recognise I-V graphs and the limitations of Ohm’s Law. 2. Describe the difference between an Ohmic conductor and a semiconductor. 3. Identify and analyse uses and limitations of semiconductors.
Teachers Notes
File KS5_What_is_a_semiconductor_Teacher_Notes FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS5_What_is_a_semiconductor_Teacher_Notes FINAL.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5_What_is_a_semiconductor_Student_Sheets FINAL.docx
PDF icon KS5_What_is_a_semiconductor_Student_Sheets FINAL.pdf
Bacteria Safari: Forest on your Fingernail
Wednesday 17th Oct 2018, 09.00am

Bacteria Safari: The Forest on your Fingernail

What on Earth can tiny microorganisms tell us about the animal and plant life around us? Bacteria are tiny organisms that exist everywhere; including on us! Watch this animation...

Researchers at the University of Oxford are study how bacteria live together, interact or compete, and hope to test theories about how much larger species interact. In these resources, inspired by this research, students devise a method to test whether the microorganisms in probiotics make it to the stomach alive (KS3), looks at how antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria develop (KS4), research what drives competitions or cooperation in animals (KS4), and read a research paper to consider evidence around how the microbiome can effect mood (KS5).
KS3 - Beneficial Bacteria
KS4 - Alternative Antibiotics
KS4 - Cooperate or Compete
KS5 - Gut Feeling
Probiotics contain species of these bacteria but do they actually work to increase their population in our intestines? This activity is suitable for extending the more able students. They plan an investigation to collect evidence before evaluating how valid their data would be.
Teachers notes
File KS3_beneficial_bacteria_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS3_beneficial_bacteria_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS3_beneficial bacteria_Student_Sheets.docx
PDF icon KS3_beneficial bacteria_Student_Sheets.pdf
In this activity students use a model to understand how antibiotic resistant bacteria develop and then investigate a possible solution.
Teachers Notes
File KS4_Alternative_antibiotics_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4_Alternative_antibiotics_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4_alternatives_antibiotics_Student_Sheets.docx
PDF icon KS4_alternatives_antibiotics_Student_Sheets.pdf
Some groups of organisms live in harmony, sharing and helping each other. Whilst others fight for their share of resources – what drives organisms to cooperate or compete?In this lesson students find out why the work of microbiologists at The University of Oxford is helping to answer this question. This lesson is best used after students have studied competition between organisms. The main activity can be carried out for homework.
Teachers Notes
File KS4_cooperate_or_compete_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4_cooperate_or_compete_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Sheet/Presentation
File Cooperate or compete.pptx
In this activity students read an extract from a paper written by microbiologists and The University of Oxford to understand how bacteria can influence our thoughts and feelings – are they trying to manipulate their hosts for their own benefit or is this simply a side-effect?
Teachers Notes
File KS5_gut_feeling_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS5_gut_feeling_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5_Gut_feeling_Student_Sheets.docx
PDF icon KS5_Gut_feeling_Student_Sheets.pdf
protecting elephants, protecting humans
Monday 8th Oct 2018, 09.00am

Protecting elephants, protecting humans

How do we find ways for people and wildlife to co-exist? Elephants pose a particular problem as their large size means they need to roam over large areas to find food, water and refuge.

The Mali elephants might provide some clues.

Researchers have been studying elephants and humans in Mali to understand they can adapt to each other in mutually beneficial ways. In these resources, students think about how adaptation applies to extinction or co-existence (KS3), explore the differences between biotic and abiotic factors (KS4), model population growth and changes (KS5) and apply their knowledge about ecosystems to describe the case study of elephants in Mali (KS5).
KS3 - Adapt or extinct?
KS4 - Abiotic or biotic?
KS5 - Changing a population
KS5 - Inside the ecosystem
Learning Outcomes: 1. Recap ecosystem knowledge and describe common resources that organisms compete for 2. Determine how organisms can adapt, particularly to their environment 3. Apply adaptation to extinction and co-existence
Teachers Notes
File KS3_Adapt_or_extinct_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS3_Adapt_or_extinct_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS3_Adapt_or_extinct_Student_Sheets.docx
PDF icon KS3_Adapt_or_extinct_Student_Sheets.pdf
Learning Outcomes 1. List abiotic and biotic factors and describe their difference 2. Apply biotic factors and competition knowledge to elephants in Mali 3. Describe stable and unstable populations
Teachers Notes
File KS4_Abiotic_or_biotic_factors_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS4_Abiotic_or_biotic_factors_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS4_Abiotic_or_biotic_factors_Student_Sheets.docx
PDF icon KS4_Abiotic_or_biotic_factors_Student_Sheets.pdf
Learning Outcomes 1. Describe what determines a population size 2. Graph a changing population and calculate the rate of change 3. Compare and contrast intraspecific competition and interspecific competition
Teachers Notes
File KS5_Changing_a_population_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS5_Changing_a_population_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5_Changing_a_population_Student_Sheets.docx
PDF icon KS5_Changing_a_population_Student_Sheets.pdf
Learning Outcomes 1. Define the terms abiotic and biotic, referencing the biosphere 2. Explain what an ecosystem is and apply it to elephants in Mali 3. Describe the population, community and habitat of elephants in Mali
Teachers Notes
File KS5_Inside_the_ecosystem_Teacher_Notes.docx
PDF icon KS5_Inside_the_ecosystem_Teacher_Notes.pdf
Student Worksheet
File KS5_Inside_the_ecosystem_Student_Sheets.docx
PDF icon KS5_Inside_the_ecosystem_Student_Sheets.pdf