This lively practical uses algae to look at the rate of photosynthesis. The algae are 'immobilised' in sodium alginate, and then used for the experiment.

A brief outline of various ways to measure the rate of photosynthesis.

A simple simulation, giving students an opportunity to practice random sampling to measure the abundance of various different species on an area of grassland, before they carry out practical fieldwork.

This information is to support post-16 experiments using the immobilised algal system.

The growth of pollen tubes is easily observed under medium power of a microscope, and this practical suggests some ways in which this can be done.

This resource supports you in teaching current plant science requirements for 14-16 and post-16 classes, covering accessible, low-budget plant material and their associated teaching topics. Plants are linked with their teaching topics and coded to exam board requirements to help teachers and technicians plan investigations that enable students to engage with biology.

A simple simulation, giving students an opportunity to practice using systematic sampling to investigate changes in species richness across a footpath, before they carry out practical fieldwork.

Several different pigments are involved in the absorption of light. This experiment shows how these pigments can be extracted from plants and then separated.

Unlike animal cells, many plant cells are totipotent, meaning that each cell has the capacity to regenerate the entire plant. Plants can be regenerated from leaves, stems, roots, meristems, flowers and even pollen or ovules. These worksheets explain how to take explants from cauliflowers and root them.

Estimation of stomatal density is often done when studying photosynthesis (at GCSE and higher levels), and can offer a way of illustrating use of the graticule with post-16 students. There are a number of ways to measure stomatal density, and some are outlined here.

A simple way to investigate the germination of seeds.

An updated set of technical instructions and an illustrated student sheet, which aim to clarify some of the difficulties people have been having with cloning cauliflowers at GCSE.

A collection of powerpoints and activities, encouraging teachers to take a new and refreshing look at photosynthesis.

Seedlings growing on a windowsill will often bend towards the window. The simple technique described on this worksheet will help students design an nvestigation to find out more about this tropic response.

Demonstrating oxygen formation during photosynthesis can be a tricky process. One common way is to gather bubbles of gas given off by an aquatic plant. This technical guide introduces Cabomba, a reliable plant which is much more effective than the traditional Elodea.

The enzyme, catechol oxidase, is easily extracted from banana. In this practical, students measure the extent to which lead inhibits the catechol oxidase.

Fruit juice companies use a variety of different treatments and enzymes to maximise their yield. In this experiment students investigate the effectiveness of these different enzymes.

These techniques introduce students to plant tissue culture

A way to measure the amount of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in fruits and plant material.

Students examine the growth of root explants over a 7 day period, in a follow up to Student Sheet 12. This is more demanding than the protocol outlined in Student Sheet 12 and is more suitable for year 12-13 students.