A-level set practicals - factors affecting rates of photosynthesis

This updated version of our popular 'algal balls' resource is designed to support the use of practicals across various new 2015 A-level biology specifications (OCR, AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas). Students conduct an investigation into factors affecting the rates of photosynthesis, using a colorimeter to record quantitative measurements

Ins and Outs of Water - biology, chemistry and physics for 11-14 students

This collection of resources for 11-14 students uses the topic of plants to address important scientific ideas in biology, chemistry and physics. While investigating how plants have evolved to grow and flourish in many different environments, the students can cover topics including pure and impure substances, energetics, forces, physical changes and more. The resources involve a mixture of independent investigations, engaging and hands-on practicals, and activities to identify misconceptions and strengthen understanding.

Plant Needs - biology, chemistry and physics for 11-14 students

This collection of resources for 11-14 students uses the topic of plants to address important scientific ideas in biology, chemistry and physics. While investigating how plants have evolved to grow and flourish in many different environments, the students can cover topics about atoms, elements and compounds, energy, and the particle model. The resources involve a mixture of independent investigations, engaging and hands-on practicals, and activities to identify misconceptions and strengthen understanding.

Plants and Science for 11-14 Year Olds

How can pupils be encouraged to see the connections between the sciences? How can they lay the foundation for a synoptic understanding of key scientific concepts? In this innovative suite of resources, we cover key topics in biology, physics and chemistry, through the themes of plant evolution and adaptation. This collection of resources is designed to support science teaching at key stage 3 and similar curriculums for 11-14 year olds.

Seed Dispersal - physics and biology at Key Stage 3

This collection of resources for 11-14 students uses the topic of plants to address important scientific ideas in biology and physics. While investigating how plants have evolved to disperse their seeds in different environments, the students can cover topics about forces, pressure in fluids, and forces and motion. The resources involve a mixture of independent investigations, engaging and hands-on practicals, and activities to identify misconceptions and strengthen understanding.

A-level set practicals - TLC of plant photosynthetic pigments

This new resource supports the use of practicals across various new 2015 A-level biology specifications (OCR, AQA, Edexcel and Eduqas). Students conduct Thin Layer Chromatography individually or in pairs to separate and identify the photosynthetic pigments from plant material within half an hour. This simple method has been designed to produce good separation of photosynthetic pigments using solvents that are suitable for use in a school biology laboratory.

Developing skills for the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and other investigations

This collection of 10 activities is supports your students in developing the key skills they need to carry out a successful EPQ.

A-level set practicals - using a potometer

This new resource supports the use of practicals across various 2015 A-level biology specifications. The simple potometer allows students to measure the rate of transpiration of a plant specimen within a one hour lesson. Students can record the water loss at regular intervals and could investigate the effect of different abiotic factors on the rate of transpiration.

A-level set practicals - dissection and microscopy of a plant stem

This new resource supports the use of practicals across various A-level biology specifications. This experiment allows students to go from the plant on the desk, to observing a stained specimen under the microscope in less than 4 minutes. The viewed specimen clearly shows the location of vascular bundles and the xylem, phloem and sclerenchyma or collenchyma.

Diagrams of parts of a plant - stem, twigs, bud, cone, stamen and ovaries

Diagrams of parts of a plant - stem, twigs, bud, cone, stamen and ovaries - suitable for use in worksheets, Powerpoints, etc.

Why do bananas fluoresce? An unexpected view of chlorophyll

As a banana ages, black spots appear on the skin. Shine ultraviolet light on them, and you will see an amazing fluorescent blue ring around each black spot. This is produced as the chlorophyll in the banana skin is broken down. This makes a fun and thought-provoking lesson starter for a topic on chlorophyll.

Can you beat the Giant Redwood? Investigating xylem

In this lively starter activity to introduce the topic of xylem, students are posed the question ‘Can you beat a Giant Redwood?’. Giant Redwoods can reach 100m tall and have to transport the water they absorb through their roots up through the trunk to the very top of the tree. How do they do this?

A-level set practicals collection

These brand new resources support the use of practicals across all A-level biology specifications (OCR, AQA and Edexcel).

Key Stage 3 Outline Scheme of Work

Plants and KS3 Science provides teachers with ideas and resources where ‘plants’ provide contexts for learning in some KS3 topics or parts of topics. And this doesn’t just mean the biology topics. Plants can provide intriguing contexts for learning chemistry and physics. These contexts include innovative applications of science, media coverage of science, and working with science and careers in science.

Biology animations - transport of water and sugar, respiration and photosynthesis and cell growth in plants

Animations on key topics in plant biology, including photosynthesis, xylem and phloem, and cell growth and division.

How to run a science journal club for A-level students

This resource introduces how to run a journal club for your A-level science students, together with a full list of appropriate open-access papers for your students to discuss. Great for stretching and challenging your students!

PlantPowerED 2014 - Science & Design Competition

The SAPS Summer Challenge 2014 asked students aged 14-19 to think about some of the challenges in everyday life – everything from flooded towns to charging up a smartphone in a desert - and to create an idea for an invention that could tackle them. The 'ideas and inspiration' section introduces some of the unexpected ways plants are being used by scientists and engineers today.

How healthy are your trees?

This activity is designed to get students thinking about plants as living organisms that have to survive, breed and defend themselves against disease. Students begin by cataloguing the health of trees in the area, and can then follow this with a statistical investigation.

CSI Trees - investigating plant pathogens

A sickly tree might not look like much of a crime scene, but the influx of pathogens on plants is causing increasing concern in the UK. In this resource, students take on the role of plant pathologists, asking questions to determine the cause of a tree's death.

Gravitropism at post-16 - the Role of Roots

This post-16 resource looks at root growth, with a focus on gravitropism. Using agar plates and white mustard seeds, students can visualise the development of roots, their root hair cells, observe the zones of elongation and differentiation and illustrates gravitropism very effectively in roots.