Intervention · Bridge from L1 + L2

Gut Reaction

The Digestion & Absorption Game Show

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→5 ROUNDS

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Today you become
a digestion champion.5 rounds, one trophy. Show what you remember.

Today you will fix & firm-up:

2.29–2.31 – Digestive enzymes & the role of bile (from L1).
2.32 – How the small intestine & villi are adapted for absorption (from L2).
Synthesis – Trace a meal from mouth to bloodstream.

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Teacher Print Tools

Warm-Up Round

🎤 Warm-Up Round – What Do You Already Know?

Instructions: Answer from memory only — no notes, no neighbours. This tells us where to focus today's rounds.

1. Enzymes (L1)

What enzyme breaks starch into maltose?

Amylase.

2. Bile (L1)

Where is bile made and where is it stored?

Made in the liver. Stored in the gallbladder.

3. Absorption (L2)

In which organ does absorption happen?

The small intestine (ileum).

4. Villi (L2)

Name one way the villi are adapted to absorb food.

Any of: large surface area, microvilli, one-cell-thick wall, good blood supply, lacteals.

1. Enzymes (L1)

Complete: Starch → ______ (by amylase) → ______ (by maltase).

Maltose, then glucose.

2. Bile (L1)

Name the two jobs of bile.

1) Neutralises stomach acid. 2) Emulsifies fats (increases SA:V).

3. Absorption (L2)

Name the two processes by which nutrients enter the blood.

Diffusion and active transport.

4. Villi (L2)

Why are villus walls only one cell thick?

Short diffusion distance — speeds up absorption.

1. Enzymes (L1)

Why does starch need two separate enzymes to be fully digested?

Each enzyme is specific. Amylase only breaks starch → maltose. Maltase only breaks maltose → glucose.

2. Bile (L1)

Explain why bile must neutralise stomach acid before lipase can work.

Lipase has an alkaline optimum pH. Acid would denature it (change active site shape).

3. Absorption (L2)

Explain why active transport is needed even though diffusion is "free".

Diffusion stops when concentrations equal. Active transport moves nutrients against the gradient — even when blood = gut.

4. Synthesis (L1+L2)

Bridge L1 → L2 in one sentence: how does L1 (digestion) lead into L2 (absorption)?

Digestion breaks insoluble food into small soluble molecules (e.g. starch→glucose) that are now small enough to be absorbed across the villus wall in the ileum.

⚡ Round 1

Rapid Fire — 8 Questions, Lock In Your Answer!

How to play: Click your chosen answer for each question. Each correct answer earns 1 point. Watch the XP bar fill — can your class hit a clean 8/8?

⚡ Round 1 Score

0 / 8

1. Amylase makes: Glucose Maltose Amino acids

2. Lipase makes: Glucose + maltose Fatty acids + glycerol Amino acids

3. Bile is made in the: Pancreas Gallbladder Liver

4. Bile is stored in the: Liver Gallbladder Stomach

5. Absorption happens in the: Stomach Ileum (small intestine) Colon

6. Active transport needs: Energy (ATP) Just a gradient Heat

7. Microvilli are for: Killing germs More surface area Mixing food

8. Lacteals absorb: Glucose Amino acids Fats (fatty acids)

Q5: it's the LONG winding tube after the stomach. Q6: think of "uphill" needing power. Q8: only ONE adaptation deals with fats.

Recall is everything. If you missed any of Q1–4, that's L1 wobbly. Q5–8 wobbly = L2 wobbly. The next rounds will fix it.

🚫 Round 2

Misconception Buster — Spot the WRONG Statement!

How to play: Each card has the WRONG version (red, struck through) and the RIGHT version (green flash). Read each one out loud. If anyone in the class still believes the red one — that's our intervention target!

1. "Bile is an enzyme that digests fat."

Reality: Bile is NOT an enzyme. It physically breaks fat into droplets (emulsification). Lipase does the chemical digestion.

2. "Active transport doesn't need energy because it's natural."

Reality: Active transport ALWAYS needs ATP — it works against the concentration gradient. Diffusion is the free one.

3. "Diffusion moves things from low to high concentration."

Reality: Diffusion goes from HIGH to LOW concentration. Down the gradient. Always.

4. "Enzymes get used up when they break down food."

Reality: Enzymes are catalysts — they speed up reactions and are NOT used up. One enzyme molecule can act on many substrate molecules.

5. "A thicker villus wall would absorb more food because there's more cell to take it in."

Reality: A thicker wall = LONGER diffusion distance = SLOWER absorption. The wall is one cell thick to keep the diffusion path as short as possible.

In the exam: if a question says "explain why", you must LINK feature → function → effect on absorption rate. Just naming the feature loses marks.

🗂️ Round 3

Sort the Suspects — Where Does Each Fact Belong?

How to play: Click a card, then click the bin (Enzymes / Bile / Villi & Absorption) it belongs in. Correct = green. Wrong = red. Cumulative — all from L1 + L2.

🗂️ Round 3 Score

0 / 9

Breaks starch into maltose Breaks proteins into amino acids Specific to one substrate Made in the liver Neutralises stomach acid Emulsifies fats One-cell-thick wall Lacteals absorb fats Microvilli increase SA

🧪 Enzymes

🟡 Bile

🩸 Villi & Absorption

Teacher Notes:

🏗️ Round 4

Build a Villus — Two Stages, Double XP!

Stage 1: click a label, then click the spot where it belongs. Stage 2: match each adaptation to why it helps. Each correct = +1 XP.

🏗️ Round 4 Score

0 / 10

Stage 1: Label the Villus

Microvilli One cell thick Blood capillary Lacteal Villus body

↑ GUT (food side) ↓ BLOOD (capillary)

Stage 2: Match the Reason

For each feature, click the right reason it helps absorption.

Microvilli →

Kill bacteria Increase surface area further Absorb water

One cell thick →

Short diffusion distance Stops fat passing Holds enzymes

Blood capillary →

Stores food Maintains a steep concentration gradient Mixes the food

Lacteal →

Absorbs glucose Pumps blood Absorbs fatty acids & glycerol

Many villi (large SA) →

Reduce friction More molecules absorbed at once Make food softer

🥪 Round 5

The Journey of a Sandwich — Trace it from Bite to Bloodstream

How to play: Click each stop on the journey. For each one, pick the enzyme/process that acts AND what comes out. This bridges L1 (digestion) → L2 (absorption).

🥪 Round 5 Score

0 / 5

👄

Mouth

🫃

Stomach

💧

Duodenum
(+ bile)

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Ileum
(villi)

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Bloodstream

👆 Click a stop above to begin the journey.

Exam phrasing that scores: "Starch is digested by amylase in the mouth into maltose, which is then digested by maltase in the small intestine into glucose, which is absorbed into the blood by diffusion and active transport."

👑 Boss Round

Championship Question — The 5-Mark Boss

The scenario: A patient has had their gallbladder removed and also has flattened villi (coeliac disease). Explain how their digestion AND absorption of fatty foods will be affected.

Foundation Sentence Stems (3 marks)

Fill in the gaps:

1. The patient has no gallbladder, so they cannot store ___________________ .

2. Without bile, fat cannot be ___________________ (broken into small droplets).

3. Their villi are flat, so the surface area is ___________________ , and absorption is ___________________ .

Model: 1) bile · 2) emulsified · 3) reduced / smaller, slower / less efficient.

Middle Sentence Stems (4 marks)

Use these starters:

• Without bile being stored... → ...

• Fats will not be emulsified into smaller droplets, so... → ...

• With flattened villi, the surface area is... → ...so absorption is... → ...

• The patient may suffer from... → ...

Model: Without storage, bile is released slowly so fats stay as large droplets — SA:V is low, lipase works slowly, fat digestion takes longer. Flattened villi mean reduced surface area for absorption — so even digested nutrients cross the wall slowly. The patient may suffer from malnutrition / fatty stools / weight loss.

Higher (5+ marks) — No Stems, Just Cues

Your answer must include ALL of:

Role of bile (neutralise + emulsify) and effect of its absence
SA:V link to lipase rate
How flattened villi affect both diffusion (concentration gradient) and active transport
The clinical consequence (malabsorption / weight loss / malnutrition)
Use BECAUSE / SO THAT to link cause and effect

Active transport still works in flat villi — but with less SA, the ileum's mitochondria-rich cells are fewer, and overall ATP-driven uptake drops. Diffusion suffers because the gradient cannot be steeply maintained over a smaller capillary network.

Model (5 marks): Without a gallbladder, bile cannot be stored and concentrated, so fats are not emulsified efficiently. This keeps fat droplets large, lowering SA:V and slowing lipase action — fats stay undigested. Flattened villi reduce total absorbing surface area, so fewer molecules can be absorbed by diffusion at any moment. The reduced capillary network also fails to maintain a steep concentration gradient. Active transport is reduced because there are fewer ATP-rich cells. The patient suffers malabsorption — leading to weight loss, fatty stools (steatorrhoea) and malnutrition.

Boss Round Notes:

⏱️ Independent Sprint

Catch-Up Sprint — Tiered Worksheet

08:00

How it works: Print and complete the worksheet matching your grade chip. The questions target the most common L1+L2 misconceptions — this is your chance to fix them on paper.

Foundation (U–1)

Multiple choice + sentence completion. Targets enzyme/product matching, where bile is made/stored, and naming villus adaptations.

Middle (2–3)

Short answer + 4-mark exam Q. Targets emulsification, SA:V reasoning, and diffusion vs active transport.

Higher (3–5)

Application + 6-mark synthesis (gallbladder/coeliac/lactose). Targets the bridge L1↔L2 and exam-style linking.

Need extra support? Tap the print button for your tier. Use the Knowledge Organiser as a checklist while you work — every term in green is one you should be confident with by the end of the sprint.

Sprint strategy: Don't get stuck. If a question takes > 90 seconds, skip it, finish the worksheet, then come back. Marks for what you finish — not what you stare at.

🏆 Trophy Round

Trophy Round — Cumulative Super Six

How to play: Six questions, no notes, no neighbours. Reveal answers at the end as a class — every full row earns a "Champion" shout-out!

1. Enzymes (L1)

Name the enzyme and product: Starch → ?

Amylase breaks starch into maltose.

2. Bile (L1)

State the two jobs of bile.

1) Neutralises stomach acid. 2) Emulsifies fats (↑ SA:V).

3. Absorption (L2)

Name the two processes that move food into the blood.

Diffusion and active transport.

4. Villi (L2)

Why must active transport need ATP?

It moves nutrients against the concentration gradient (low→high), which doesn't happen naturally — it costs energy.

5. Adaptation (L2)

Why is the villus wall one cell thick?

Short diffusion distance — molecules cross faster, so absorption rate is higher.

6. Synthesis (L1+L2)

In one sentence, link L1 to L2: how does digestion enable absorption?

Digestion breaks insoluble food into small soluble molecules (e.g. glucose, amino acids, fatty acids) that are now small enough to cross the villus wall and be absorbed into the blood.

Knowledge Organiser — Digestion & Absorption (Bridge L1+L2)

L1 — Enzymes (Spec 2.29)
Amylase	Starch → Maltose. Made in salivary glands & pancreas.
Maltase	Maltose → Glucose. Made in small intestine.
Proteases (pepsin / trypsin)	Proteins → Amino acids. Pepsin = stomach. Trypsin = pancreas.
Lipase	Lipids → Fatty acids + Glycerol. Made in pancreas.
L1 — Bile (Spec 2.30 / 2.31)
Made in	The liver. Bile is NOT an enzyme.
Stored in	The gallbladder.
Job 1	Neutralises stomach acid → alkaline conditions for intestinal enzymes.
Job 2	Emulsifies fats — large fat droplets → smaller droplets → ↑ SA:V → faster lipase action.
L2 — Absorption & Villi (Spec 2.32)
Where	The ileum (final part of small intestine).
How	Diffusion (high→low, free) + Active transport (low→high, needs ATP).
Adaptation 1	Many villi → large surface area.
Adaptation 2	Microvilli → even larger SA.
Adaptation 3	One-cell-thick wall → short diffusion distance.
Adaptation 4	Good blood supply → maintains steep concentration gradient.
Adaptation 5	Lacteals → absorb fats (fatty acids + glycerol).

Scaffold — Foundation (U–1)

Sentence Starters

• Amylase is an enzyme that breaks _________ into _________.

• Lipase breaks lipids into _________ and _________.

• Bile is made in the _________ and stored in the _________.

• Absorption happens in the _________.

• A villus has _________ to make a large surface area.

Key Facts

Bile = NOT an enzyme. It physically breaks up fat (emulsification).

Diffusion = high → low concentration. Active transport = low → high (needs energy / ATP).

Scaffold — Middle (2–3)

Key Linking Phrases

• ...because amylase is specific to starch, and...

• ...the gallbladder stores bile so that it can be released when fat enters the small intestine...

• ...emulsification increases SA:V so lipase can work faster...

• ...active transport needs ATP because it moves against the concentration gradient...

Scaffold — Higher (3–5)

Key Terms (use ALL in your boss answer)

amylase, maltase, lipase, protease, bile, gallbladder, liver, emulsification, SA:V, neutralisation, diffusion, active transport, concentration gradient, mitochondria, ATP, villi, microvilli, lacteal, capillary, malabsorption, denature.

Catch-Up Worksheet — Foundation (U–1)

Part A: Multiple Choice (circle one)

1) Amylase makes: A) Glucose B) Maltose C) Amino acids D) Fatty acids

2) Bile is made in the: A) Liver B) Stomach C) Gallbladder D) Pancreas

3) Absorption happens in the: A) Stomach B) Liver C) Small intestine D) Mouth

4) Microvilli: A) Kill germs B) Mix food C) Increase surface area D) Make bile

Part B: Fill in the gap

5) Lipase breaks lipids into ____________ and ____________ .

6) Bile is stored in the ____________ .

7) Diffusion moves things from ______________ to ______________ concentration.

Part C: Short Answer

8) Name two adaptations of a villus.

9) Why is bile NOT an enzyme?

Part D: Exam Question [3 marks]

10) Describe the role of bile in the digestion of fat.

Catch-Up Worksheet — Middle (2–3)

Part A: Multiple Choice

1) Maltase breaks maltose into: A) Starch B) Glucose C) Lipids D) Amino acids

2) Active transport requires: A) Just a gradient B) Heat C) Energy (ATP) D) Bile

3) Diffusion direction: A) Low → High B) High → Low C) Equal D) Random

Part B: Short Answer

4) Complete: Starch → ___________ (by amylase) → ___________ (by maltase).

5) Explain why emulsification helps lipase. Use SA:V.

6) State why the villus wall is only one cell thick.

Part C: Long Answer

7) Explain why both diffusion AND active transport are needed for absorption.

Part D: Exam Question [4 marks]

8) Describe how the structure of a villus is adapted for absorption. Name two adaptations and link each to its function.

Catch-Up Worksheet — Higher (3–5)

Part A: Multiple Choice

1) A patient with low ATP would lose: A) Diffusion B) Active transport C) Both equally D) Neither

2) The optimum pH of intestinal lipase is: A) Acidic B) Neutral C) Alkaline D) None

Part B: Short Answer

3) Explain why starch needs TWO different enzymes to be fully digested.

4) Explain how the blood supply maintains a steep concentration gradient at the villi.

5) Predict what would happen to a patient with very few mitochondria in their ileum cells.

Part C: Bridge L1 ↔ L2

6) Explain how digestion (L1) makes absorption (L2) possible. Use specific examples — starch, protein, lipid.

Part D: Exam Question [6 marks]

7) A patient has had their gallbladder removed AND has flattened villi (coeliac disease). Explain how this affects (i) digestion of fats and (ii) absorption of all nutrients. Use SA:V, concentration gradient, and ATP in your answer.

Trophy Round Exit Ticket — Cumulative Super Six

Enzymes

1) Starch → ? (name enzyme + product)

Bile

2) State the two jobs of bile.

Absorption

3) Name the two processes that move food into blood.

Mechanism

4) Why does active transport need ATP?

Adaptation

5) Why is the villus wall one cell thick?

Synthesis

6) In one sentence, link digestion to absorption.

TA Focus

Cold Call

Champion of Gut Reaction!

Gut Reaction

Teacher Print Tools

🎤 Warm-Up Round – What Do You Already Know?

1. Enzymes (L1)

2. Bile (L1)

3. Absorption (L2)

4. Villi (L2)

1. Enzymes (L1)

2. Bile (L1)

3. Absorption (L2)

4. Villi (L2)

1. Enzymes (L1)

2. Bile (L1)

3. Absorption (L2)

4. Synthesis (L1+L2)

Rapid Fire — 8 Questions, Lock In Your Answer!

Misconception Buster — Spot the WRONG Statement!

Sort the Suspects — Where Does Each Fact Belong?

🧪 Enzymes

🟡 Bile

🩸 Villi & Absorption

Build a Villus — Two Stages, Double XP!

Stage 1: Label the Villus

Stage 2: Match the Reason

The Journey of a Sandwich — Trace it from Bite to Bloodstream

Championship Question — The 5-Mark Boss

Foundation Sentence Stems (3 marks)

Middle Sentence Stems (4 marks)

Higher (5+ marks) — No Stems, Just Cues

Catch-Up Sprint — Tiered Worksheet

Foundation (U–1)

Middle (2–3)

Higher (3–5)

Trophy Round — Cumulative Super Six

1. Enzymes (L1)

2. Bile (L1)

3. Absorption (L2)

4. Villi (L2)

5. Adaptation (L2)

6. Synthesis (L1+L2)

Knowledge Organiser — Digestion & Absorption (Bridge L1+L2)

Scaffold — Foundation (U–1)

Sentence Starters

Key Facts

Scaffold — Middle (2–3)

Key Linking Phrases

Scaffold — Higher (3–5)

Key Terms (use ALL in your boss answer)

Catch-Up Worksheet — Foundation (U–1)

Catch-Up Worksheet — Middle (2–3)

Catch-Up Worksheet — Higher (3–5)

Trophy Round Exit Ticket — Cumulative Super Six

We Do – Class Evidence