Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson pupils should::

• Understand the structure and function of the heart

 

Resources

• Vocabulary cards

• Powerpoint: 'the heart in fact and fiction'

• Powerpoint: 'position of the heart in the body'

• Sound clip of heart

• Cutaway overlaps of heart images of heart

You provide:

• Stopwatches to record pulse

 

Vocabulary

heart, muscle, pump, lungs, vein, artery, chambers, ventricle, aorta, brain, gaseous exchange

 

Starter activity 

1. Group Activity: 

Give children a selection of the vocabulary cards and ask if they can guess what the lesson will be about.

 

Main activities

1. Class Activity:

Watch Powerpoint: 'the heart in fact and fiction'

 

2. Paired Activity:

Show children how to find the pulse in their wrist. Count how many beats in 15 seconds (multiply by 4 to find bpm). Where else can you find a pulse in your body? Share results.

 

3. Class Discussion:

What is causing the pulse? Where is your heart located?

 

4. Class Activity:

Watch Powerpoint: 'position of the heart in the body'

 

5. Class Activity:

Listen to sound clip of heart.

 

6. Teaching Point:

Explain (whilst sound clip is still running on loop) that the heart is a muscle – the only muscle in the body that is not controlled by the brain. Discuss the function of the heart – the heart pumps blood around the body, feeding vital organs with oxygen and removing waste.

 

7. Class Activity:

Work out the number of times a heart is likely to beat in a lifetime. (eg 80 years x 365 days x 24 hours x 60 minutes x 80bpm)

 

8. Group Activity:

Use cutaway overlap images of heart to explore the structure and function of the heart.

 

Plenary activity

Q: Why do we talk about the heart as the centre of our feelings?

Assessment

 

 

Downloadable lesson plan and resources