Investigative the circulatory system - animals, including humans
In science, Year 6 learnt about the circulatory system in the human body.
The children started by learning about the structure of the heart, and its role in transporting oxygen and nutrients around the body. They also recapped their previous knowledge of the digestive system, recalling how nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream to be transported.
Once the children felt secure with this knowledge, they began to think about some of the different factors that contribute towards a healthy lifestyle. They quickly agreed that exercise was one of the most important aspects.
The children were curious to learn how exercising affected their heartrates, so they planned an investigation in groups. They thought carefully about how this needed to be done, to ensure it so that they conducted a controlled test that produced meaningful data. The children then went onto the playground to complete their experiments, by timing them precisely.
The children discovered that the harder they exercised, the faster their hearts beat; they understood that this correlation enabled oxygen to be transported around their bodies at a faster rate for their muscles to utilize.
This practical investigation was an engaging and memorable way for Year 6 to answer their scientific question.
