Stop Fighting Football! Use the World Cup to Teach Biology Instead | S2 E40

Every four years the World Cup arrives and suddenly your students seem far more interested in football than biology. My argument? Stop fighting it.

In this episode of Miss Estruch Teach & Tell, I explore how the World Cup can become one of the most powerful teaching tools in your biology classroom. From osmoregulation and respiration to infectious disease and plant biology, the specification is playing out on the pitch in real time.

We discuss:

⚽ Hydration, sweating and osmoregulation

⚽ ADH, kidneys and negative feedback

⚽ Glycogen, respiration and energy systems

⚽ Muscle contraction and sports performance

⚽ Infectious disease transmission and R numbers

⚽ Epidemiology and mass gathering events

⚽ Plant biology, active transport and nutrient uptake

⚽ How to use major sporting events to increase student engagement

⚽ Why real-world examples matter for motivation and retention