Every part of the body needs oxygen, and two organs work as a team to deliver it. The lungs take oxygen from the air; the heart pumps blood to carry it everywhere. At Heartbeat Harbour, Year 4 scientists follow that journey.
What your child will learn
- Know that the heart is a muscle that pumps blood around the body
- Know that the lungs take in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide
- Name arteries and veins and say which way they carry blood
- Explain why the heart and breathing speed up during exercise
A loop that never stops
The heart pumps blood to the lungs to collect oxygen, then pumps it out through arteries to the whole body. The blood drops off its oxygen, picks up waste carbon dioxide and returns through veins to the heart — and the loop begins again.
Exercise
Working muscles use oxygen faster, so you breathe faster to take more in and your heart beats faster to deliver it. You can feel this as your pulse. Regular exercise makes the heart muscle stronger.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Which gas does the body need from the air?
- Oxygen
- Steam
- Carbon dioxide
- Smoke
Show answer
Answer: Oxygen. Every part of the body needs oxygen to work.
2. Which is good for your heart?
- Sitting all day
- Smoking
- Lots of salty snacks
- Regular exercise
Show answer
Answer: Regular exercise. Exercise makes the heart muscle stronger.
3. What protects the heart and lungs?
- The kneecap
- The skull
- The ribcage
- The pelvis
Show answer
Answer: The ribcage. The ribs form a cage around the heart and lungs.
Tips for grown-ups
- Count your pulse for a minute at rest, then again after 30 star jumps.
- Feel your ribs move out and in as you take a deep breath.
- Talk about what helps the heart: moving more, eating well and never smoking.