Our science topic, Animals including humans, focuses on the human circulatory system, how we keep our heart healthy and the dangers of not looking after our health. Pupils learn to identify and describe the main parts of the circulatory system: the heart, blood and blood vessels, and understand their role in transporting oxygen, nutrients and waste. They explore how diet, exercise, drugs and lifestyle affect body function, linking healthy choices to wellbeing. Children also learn how nutrients and water are carried around the body, building on previous learning about digestion. Through investigations such as measuring pulse rates, they develop skills in planning, recording, analysing data and drawing scientific conclusions.
Measuring my heart rate and drawing graphs was difficult, but I feel like I have got better at it. I enjoyed modelling the heart as it helped me to remember some of the blood vessel names. I know it's really important to look after my heart by exercising and eating healthily, otherwise it could lead to heart disease and heart attacks. I know smoking and drinking alcohol are not good for people's health.
Planning investigations – deciding what to measure (e.g. heart rate before and after exercise), identifying variables, and making predictions.
Taking measurements – accurately recording pulse over time using appropriate equipment.
Recording data – organising results in tables, charts, and line graphs.
Analysing and interpreting evidence – spotting patterns such as how exercise affects heart rate.
Drawing conclusions – linking results to scientific knowledge about circulation and lifestyle.
Evaluating methods – considering reliability and suggesting improvements.
This is my favourite science topic to teach! The children develop a basic understanding of how their muscles and organs receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive: all from the small, powerful muscle sitting in the middle of their chest! Through active experiments, pupils develop their recording and interpretation skills to analyse their findings. More importantly, they use resilience and their prior knowledge when conducting experiments as they are not always straight forward, and can always be improved upon - especially when measuring something as tricky as pulse rate!
As well as getting to know the circulatory system, the children also learn: what blood is made up of and how it travels around the body; what it means to keep healthy; the risks of having unhealthy habits - especially in the future; and how important water is for our bodies.
Clapgate Primary School
10 Cranmore Drive
Belle Isle
Leeds
LS10 4AW
Headteacher: Miss Taylor
Deputy Headteacher: Miss Procter
SENDCO: Mrs Lawton
Office: Mrs Austin,
Miss Johnson,
Mrs Belt and Miss Stamp
Chair of Governors: Mr Bache
Tel: 0113 271 6700
Email: clapgate@clapgateprimaryschool.org
