1. Williamwood High School
Starter Task:
On your show me board write down 3 biology related items from this illustration.
Information Evening Parents of Pupils Sitting National 5 Biology
Louise McFadzean (PT biology)
Rebecca Rose
Jessica McBride
Jayne Skelly

2. What do students need to be successful in National 5 biology?
complete daily homework tasks.
reflecting on feedback to improve.
independent home study using all available resources.

3. What support is offered in school?
Homework
tasks are given daily
Supported study
every Thursday from 3.35pm
‘Open door policy’
help and advice available from biology teachers.
Assessment
regular and meaningful summative assessments across all 3 units.
Tracking
rigorous and regular monitoring of progress.

4. How can parents offer support?
For homework and test dates consult your child’s planner or biology website.
Encourage students to attend supported study sessions and to seek help from their teacher.
Ensure that students regularly review the learning outcomes for each key area of work and where possible, you can test their knowledge.
Promote the use of past papers and school resources for effective independent home study.
Contact Louise if you have any concerns.

5. Home Learning Resources
Key Area
1.1
Learning Outcomes 1.
name and identify the three main structures of animals cells . 2.
name and identify the three additional structures found in plant cells 3.
state the function of these cell structures. 4.
name and
identify the structures found in fungal cells. 5.
give an example of a fungal cell and state its method of reproduction
Assessment Evaluations
Glossaries
Key area 1.1
Terms
Definition
Example/book reference
Unicellular
Multicellular
Ultrastructure
Organelles
Cell membrane
Nucleus

6. Williamwood Biology Department Website
The biology page can be accessed from the school’s website >departments >biology
A range of resources for all the Biology courses are available for you to access online:
Teaching PowerPoint presentations
Homework exercises
Learning intentions
Course timelines
Summary notes
Past papers
Click here to view the website
Password: nucleus

7. Independent Learning Study Skills
There are many methods that pupils can use which include:
Mind mapping
Creating questions
Study cards
Teaching someone else
Reading notes
Making summaries of notes in a variety of formats
SQA past paper practice, using official marking schemes
Study groups with peers

8. Assessment Dates Assignment Write Up Completed October 2017
End of Unit 2 Tests
WB 27 November 2017
Biology Prelim
January / February 2018
End of Unit 3 Tests
WB 16 April 2018
SQA final National 5 Exam
15 May 2018
The timeline of the National 5 course is detailed in the biology website

9. National 5 Biology – Parent Forum
Group Tasks: What does the National 5 biology exam look like?
1. Using the newly published National 5 biology specimen exam paper and marking instructions, look at the timing of the exam and the types questions.
Your teacher will facilitate discussion and answer your questions.
2. Using the assignment exemplars and marking instructions, look at the expectations of this assessment.
Your teacher will facilitate discussion and
answer your questions.

10. Course Structure Unit 1: The Exam: 2.5 hours Cell Biology Unit 2:
Multicellular Organisms
Unit 3:
Life on Earth
Research Assignment:
20 marks, marked
externally by SQA and
contributes to 20% of the
final grade.
The Exam: 2.5 hours
Section 1
Multiple Choice
25 marks
Section 2
Short answer questions
75 marks
The final exam contributes
to 80% of their grade.

11. Parent Plenary
On your show me board write down something that you have learnt about National 5 biology tonight.