Diseases
I can describe communicable and non-communicable diseases, including causes and risk factors.
Diseases
I can describe communicable and non-communicable diseases, including causes and risk factors.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The good health of humans, other animals and plants can be compromised by diseases.
- Communicable diseases are spread by pathogens, including some bacteria, viruses, fungi and protists.
- Non-communicable diseases cannot be spread between organisms; they are caused by lifestyle and environmental factors.
- Lifestyle factors (e.g. hygiene, diet) affect the chances of developing communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Keywords
Communicable disease - A disease, caused by a pathogen, that can be spread from person to person through direct or indirect contact.
Non-communicable disease - A disease that cannot be spread from person to person.
Disease - A persistent deviation from a person’s normal appearance, body function or behaviour.
Common misconception
A person is either healthy or unhealthy.
Health is a range from good to ill health.
To help you plan your year 10 combined science lesson on: Diseases, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 combined science lesson on: Diseases, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 combined science lessons from the Health and disease unit, dive into the full secondary combined science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions

Exit quiz
6 Questions

bacteria
virus



