Contextualization
This project is about the Circulatory System, one of the most important systems of the human body, responsible for distributing nutrients and oxygen to all the cells of the body, as well as collecting metabolic waste and conducting it to the organs responsible for its elimination.
The Circulatory System is composed of the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), and blood. It is divided into two major circuits: the pulmonary circulation (or small circulation) and the systemic circulation (or large circulation). The heart functions as a propulsive motor, capable of pumping blood throughout the body with great efficiency.
Understanding the functioning of the Circulatory System is essential to understanding how the human body functions and keeps itself alive and healthy. It is also fundamental to understanding various pathologies and the importance of maintaining healthy habits, such as a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
In the real world, knowledge about the Circulatory System is applied daily in Medicine and other health areas, for diagnosis and treatment of diseases, in Sports to improve athlete performance, in Nutrition to plan balanced diets that enable good circulation, among other applications.
We recommend the following resources for research and further study on the subject:
- How Your Heart Works? (YouTube, in English, with Portuguese subtitles available)
- Como o Coração Funciona? (Toda Matéria)
- Sistema Circulatório (Mundo Educação)
- Book "Descobrindo o Corpo Humano - Funções dos órgãos: Sistema Circulatório" (Editora EVOL, can be found in the school library).
Practical Activity
Activity Title: "Explore the Circulation: A Heart Model"
I emphasize that this activity should be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students and will last for two to four hours.
Project Objective
To understand the basic functioning of the circulatory system through the construction of a functional heart model.
Detailed Project Description
Students will research and discuss the functioning of the circulatory system, with emphasis on the functioning of the heart. Then, using recyclable materials, they will build a model of the heart, demonstrating how blood moves through its chambers and throughout the body.
Required Materials
- Styrofoam balls or modeling clay
- Popsicle sticks
- Flexible straws
- Rubber balloons
- Disposable 500ml or 1L plastic bottles
- Scissors
- Colored tape or colored markers
- Research material: books, internet, videos, etc.
Step by Step
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First, students should research the structure and functioning of the circulatory system, with emphasis on the heart. This research can be conducted both in books and on the internet.
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Next, students will discuss and write down the main points of the research, explaining the blood pathways in the circulatory system and the role of the heart.
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After understanding the system, students will use the listed materials to build a model of the human heart, representing its main parts: atria, ventricles, valves, veins, and arteries.
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With the help of rubber balloons and the plastic bottle, students will simulate the movement of blood being pumped by the heart. The idea is that by pressing the balloon, the air (which will simulate the blood) is forced to pass through the straws (which will simulate the veins and arteries) in a way that demonstrates the circulation of blood in the body.
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Finally, students should present the model to the class, explaining the function of each part and how they integrate for the functioning of the circulatory system.
Report Guidelines
As they work on the practical activity, students should record the entire process and make notes on what they have learned. These notes and the final product of the activity will help in writing the report, which should be written containing the following topics:
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Introduction: Include the explanation of the theme and its relevance, in addition to describing the objective of the project.
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Development: Detail about the circulatory system and explain how they built the model, indicating the methodology used and presenting the results obtained.
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Conclusions: Review the main points, explain the lessons learned and the conclusions drawn about the project.
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Bibliography: Indicate the sources on which they based themselves to carry out the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.
