The Circulatory System — Year 6 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: Science — Animals including humans: the circulatory system, Year 6
Overview
Pupils investigate the human circulatory system, learning the role of the heart, blood, and blood vessels. They explore how blood carries oxygen and nutrients around the body and removes waste products. They investigate the effect of exercise on heart rate and understand the importance of diet and exercise for cardiovascular health.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and describe the functions of the heart, blood, and blood vessels.
- Explain how the circulatory system transports oxygen, nutrients, and waste.
- Describe the components of blood and their roles.
- Investigate the effect of exercise on heart rate and explain the results.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Pupils find their pulse. Count beats in 15 seconds × 4 = beats per minute. Compare with a partner. Ask: what does the pulse tell us? Why is it faster after exercise?
Explain the double-loop circulatory system: heart → lungs (picks up oxygen) → heart → body (delivers oxygen, collects CO₂) → heart. Introduce arteries, veins, and capillaries and their differences. Describe the four components of blood: red blood cells (oxygen), white blood cells (defence), platelets (clotting), plasma (transport).
Investigation: measure resting heart rate, exercise for 2 minutes, measure immediately, after 2 minutes, after 5 minutes. Record results, plot on a graph. Discuss: why does heart rate increase? Why does it return to normal?
Pupils annotate a diagram of the circulatory system, labelling the heart's chambers, the direction of blood flow, and where oxygen is gained and lost.
Ask: why is regular exercise good for the heart? Pupils apply their knowledge of heart rate and cardiac health, connecting to the idea that a stronger heart pumps more efficiently.
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils sometimes think arteries always carry oxygenated blood — the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from heart to lungs.
- Believing veins are always blue — this is a surface appearance effect; all blood is red, though deoxygenated blood is a darker red.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Awareness that the heart pumps blood around the body.
- Knowledge that the body needs oxygen and nutrients to function.
- Some understanding of the digestive system.
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