Investigate the heart

In this lesson pack for year 6 and P7, linking to the topic Animals, including humans and Body systems and cells, pupils will learn about the circulatory system. Blood zooms around the body like a high-speed transport system, delivering a cargo of food and oxygen. Its journey begins and ends in the same place - the heart! Pupils will make their own working model of a heart, learning that it contains hollow spaces called chambers and that it is actually two pumps next to each other. The right-hand pump sends blood to the lungs. The left-hand pump gives blood an even bigger push, sending it surging around the whole body. Pupils will learn scientific vocabulary, such as atrium, ventricle, artery, vein, valve and aorta.

This downloadable pack includes:

• A lesson plan, complete with top tips for setting up the activity.
• Printable instructions for the activity.
• A PowerPoint presentation that explains how the heart works.
• A writing frame for an explanation text with a diagram of the heart, to be used in English lessons.
• A printable heart card to make.

Simple to resource! The items you will need:

• Bendy drinking straws
• Cups
• Skewers
• Balloons
• Red food colouring (optional)