Function of the heart
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe what the human heart is and what it does.
Key learning points
- The heart is a hollow, muscular organ located behind the breastbone and slightly to the left of your chest.
- The average heart is approximately the size of a human fist and some say its shape is similar to an upside down pear.
- The function of the heart is to pump blood to all parts of your body.
- Your heart will beat around 115,000 times each day.
- Models can be used to help us to learn about the human heart.
Keywords
Organ - An organ is a part of the body that does a particular job, such as the brain, heart and lungs.
Function - The function of an organ is its job within the body.
Heart - The heart is an organ that pumps blood around the body.
Blood - Blood is pumped around the body by the heart.
Model - A model is used to describe something that cannot be experienced directly.
Common misconception
Children often think that the function of the heart is to make or clean blood. Also that the heart is 'love heart' shaped.
The model making in this lesson helps children to think about which objects and materials they can use to represent the heart and demonstrate how it pumps blood around the body.
Teacher tip
Making a model of a human heart should be simple at this stage of education. Encourage children to model dough to the correct size and shape of a human heart rather than worrying about identifying and naming individual chambers of the heart.
Equipment
See additional materials for further guidance.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Exploration of objects
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is an organ?
Q2.Match the organ with the sense it is responsible for.
Q3.What does the word function mean?
Q4.Match the organs to their descriptions.
Q5.Which body system is the heart part of?
Q6.Which system breaks down food to provides the body with nutrients?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Approximately how many times does the average heart beat in one day?
Q2.The heart is a type of ...
Q3.The heart's function is to pump to all parts of the body.
Q4.The average heart is the size of a human __________ and roughly the same shape as an upside down pear.
Q5.Which of these can be used to help us to learn about the human heart?
Q6.Match each statement with an answer to describe the structure and function of the heart.
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Function of the heart, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Function of the heart, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the The human circulatory system unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.