THE CIRCULATORY
SYSTEM
GRADE
4-6
Teacher Guidelines
Instructional Pages
Activity Page
Homework Page
Answer Key
▶
▶
▶
▶
▶
pages 1 – 2
pages 3 – 6
pages 7 – 11
page 12
page 13
Classroom Procedure:
1. Ask students if they know how many times their heart beats
in one minute.
2. Allow for responses and discussion.
3. Instruct students on how to use their pulse to count the
number of beats in one minute, using 15 second intervals.
4. You may have students use their own pulses, or pair
students to count each other’s’ heartbeats using the pulse.
5. Ask students why there may be different heart rates among
the students. Allow for responses and discussion.
6. Ask students if they know what causes the heart to beat,
and how they can feel it in their pulse. Allow for responses
and discussion.
7. Distribute The Circulatory System content pages to be
read and discussed in class.
8. Following its reading and discussion, place students into
pairs or groups of 3 or more to play the activity.
9. Review the rules of the game with the students and answer
any questions they may have.
10.Distribute 3 dice to each pair or group of students and
some colored pencils.
11.Allow the students to play the game for a set period of
time, or when sufficient for all students to “reach the heart.”
Approximate Grade Level: 4 – 6
Objectives: The students will be able to
identify the parts of the circulatory system
and their functions, including the parts and
substances in blood, and define high blood
pressure.
State Educational Standards*
LB.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2
LB.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3
LB.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4
LB.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.2
LB.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3
LB.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.4
LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6.2
LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6.4
LB.ELA-Literacy.RST.6.7
Class Sessions (45 minutes):
At least 2 class sessions
Teaching Materials/Worksheets:
The Circulatory System content pages (2),
Activity pages, Question Sets, Homework
page
Student Supplies:
colored pencils, handouts, dice (3)
Prepare Ahead of Time: Preferably red
and/or blue colored pencils, enough dice for
students to play the activity. Prior to the day of
the lesson, have a student volunteer cut apart
the questions for the game, enough sets for
the number of groups playing the game.
*Lessons are aligned to meet the education objectives and goals of
most states. For more information on your state objectives, contact
your local Board of Education or Department of Education in your state.
12.Distribute the Homework puzzle, check and review the
next day.
13.Close the lesson with an available movie about the
circulatory system from the additional resources.
1
Teacher Notes
The lesson introduces the circulatory system and its parts to the students, including the blood and parts of the
blood. An entire separate lesson could be presented solely on the heart, blood, or other parts of the system
if so desired. This lesson is an overview and is not intended to cover every aspect of the system. The main
objective is for students to become aware of the circulatory system and the part it plays in the human body.
2
The Circulatory System
Lub-dub! Lub-dub! This is the sound of your heart beat each time blood is sent throughout your body. The
heart is the main organ of the circulatory system. The circulatory system circulates (transports) blood to
and from the heart, as well as carries oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the human body. The body takes
oxygen into the lungs when a person breathes. This oxygen is then transported throughout the body into all
of the cells of the body by the circulatory system.
There are two main parts of this system, the heart and
blood vessels. The blood vessels include arteries,
veins, and capillaries.
The heart is located between the lungs, and lies just
to the left side of the middle of the chest cavity. The
heart is actually a muscle that moves and pumps
the blood into the rest of the body. This movement
causes the heart to beat about 60 to 100 times per
minute, but the number depends on many variables,
including age and health. The times a heart beats
each minute also depends on the needs of the body.
For example, when you are playing during recess
your heart is beating faster because your body needs
more oxygen. Right now, you may be sitting still,
so the heart is beating slower since the body needs
less oxygen.
3
The heart contains a total of four chambers separated
by heart valves. The chambers of the heart collect
and pump blood, as well as control the blood’s
direction. Two of the chambers are called the left
and right ventricles, located in the bottom part of the
heart, pump blood out of the heart. The upper part of
the heart contains two other chambers, the left and
right atria, receive blood into the heart.
The valves open for the blood to empty from the
chambers, and close so blood does not flow the wrong
way. The valves assure that the rest of the body get the
right amount of blood. The lub-dub sound of a heart beat
is the result of the opening and closing of the valves.
The second main part of the circulatory system is the
blood vessels, which includes the arteries, veins, and
capillaries. Arteries carry blood away from the heart,
veins carry blood to the heart, and the capillaries connect
the arteries and veins. The nutrients that come from food
is digested in the body and also transported to all of the
cells of the body through the blood vessels.
The arteries are the thickest of the blood vessels. The
blood is enriched with oxygen as it is sent through the
largest artery called the aorta, to the rest of the body.
The veins then carry blood back to the heart. Veins
are thin and not as flexible as arteries, but are larger in
diameter.
The capillaries are tiny blood vessels that carry blood
between the arteries and the veins. The capillaries deliver
nutrients and oxygen to the cells in the body. Carbon
dioxide and other waste products are also removed by
the capillaries. Capillaries are extremely small, only
about one cell thick.
4
Inside the Blood
A substance inside human bones called bone marrow
produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and
platelets. They are the ingredients that make up the
blood of the body.
Most of the cells in the blood consist of red blood
cells. The red blood cells carry oxygen throughout
the body by carrying a chemical called hemoglobin.
The hemoglobin in the red blood cells gets oxygen
from the air a person breathes, and the blood delivers
that oxygen to all the parts of the body. Hemoglobin
is what gives the blood its red color.
White blood cells are responsible for protecting the
body when it gets sick. The cells are not as numerous
as red blood cells, but there are different types of
white blood cells. Granulocytes helps wounds heal
after an injury and prevent infection by killing germs.
T-cells and B-cells are lymphocytes that produce
antibodies to attack bacteria or viruses to prevent a
person from getting sick. The B-cells will also prevent
the germs from causing problems in the future. Finally,
monocytes fight and destroy bacteria by surrounding
it by stopping an infection.
Platelets are cells in the blood that help make sure a person does not bleed too much after a cut or other injury.
Blood vessels break when a person bleeds, the platelets join together to help stop the flow of blood. This is called
blood clotting. The clot keeps blood inside while the blood vessel heals.
Plasma is the final ingredient that makes up the blood. The plasma is a yellowish liquid that carries proteins,
nutrients, and hormones to the rest of the body. Plasma is mostly water that comes from what a person eats and
drinks. It is absorbed from the intestines, and the liver supplies needed proteins. Plasma also carries away waste
from the cells. The kidneys are the organs that remove waste from the blood. As the blood circulates through the
body and to the kidneys, the waste products are removed and carried away by the plasma inside the blood.
5
Hormones carry messages to the body with the
instructions of what to do and when. It helps bones
and muscles grow. The hormones also help the
platelets clot the blood by stopping its flow until the
vessel is repaired.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is how hard the heart works to pump
blood throughout the body. It is the force created as
blood flows through the circulatory system, and the
force from the arteries resisting the blood flow. Blood
pressure rises during a heartbeat and falls between
beats.
Blood pressure can be affected by activity, rest, diet,
emotions and many other factors. When a person’s
blood pressure is too high, it means the heart is
working too hard to pump blood to the rest of the body.
Because the heart is a muscle, it is important to keep
the heart as strong as the other muscles of the body
by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly.
In summary, the circulatory system includes the heart and blood vessels which transports the oxygen,
nutrients, and other substances of the body. Working with other systems of the body, it is responsible for
keeping the body alive and healthy.
6
Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
The Circulatory System Game
1. A game for 2, 3, or 4 people. A total of 3 dice are needed and a disposable game board for each player.
2. The object of the game is to answer each numbered card correctly before the other players and reach
the heart.
3. Lay out the questions with the NUMBER only face up on the desk or table.
4. Roll the dice to see who goes first. The player with the highest roll is first, second highest second, and
so on.
5. The first player rolls the dice and answers the corresponding question number.
6. The question is to be read aloud by one of the opposing players.
7. If the question is answered correctly, the player moves ahead 3 PLACES by coloring in the correct number
of spaces. If the answer is incorrect, the player stays on the space.
8. As each player answers a numbered question, it is marked off on their game board. A player cannot
answer a question correctly more than one time.
9. Each player is permitted only one roll per turn. They can choose to roll one dice, two dice, or all three to
roll a question number for advancement.
10.Players are not permitted to help other players or give hints for the questions.
11.The winner of the game is the person who first reaches the heart.
12.Once there is a winner, other players continue playing until everyone reaches the heart.
13.If there are any disagreement or issues that cannot be agreed upon, the teacher is to be called to the
game to resolve the problem.
7
Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
QUESTION
NUMBER
1
10
2
11
3
12
4
13
5
14
6
15
7
16
8
17
9
18
8
Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
Cut each and fold on the center line so the answer cannot be seen. Do not cut between Q/A.
9
Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
10
Activity
Name __________________________ Date _________
11
Homework
Name __________________________ Date _________
12
Homework
Answer Key
Name __________________________ Date _________
13