Circulatory System Lesson Plan – A Complete Science Lesson Using the 5E Method of Instruction

By the end of this lesson about the circulatory system, students will be able to identify the main functions of the circulatory systems and how it is structured. They will also be able to identify the main organs associated with this system. Each of our lessons is designed using the 5E method of instruction to ensure maximum comprehension by the students. This well-thought out unit does the heavy lifting, giving teachers easy-to-implement, highly engaging lesson plans.

This blog will walk you through each of the steps and activities of the Circulatory System 5E Lesson Plan.

ENGAGEMENT

Objective Introduction

At the beginning of the lesson, the class will do a Think-Pair-Share to discuss the objective.

Class Activity

1. Insert a toothpick into the top of a marshmallow.
2. Have the students find their pulse on their wrist.
3. Place the marshmallow and the toothpick right on top of their pulse.
4. Using a timer, time the number of times they see the toothpick move in 15 seconds. Multiply by four to get a pulse rate average. You might want to do this a couple of times.
5. Take data from each of the students and find the class average. Extremely athletic kids will have a lower pulse rate.

Student Activity

1. Ask students what creates their pulse. (Heartbeats.)
2. Ask them why the doctor always takes their pulse on routine visits. (The rhythm and strength of the heartbeat are important to your health.)
3. Give them a few facts about the heart, such as;
   
   • A child’s heart is about the size of a fist, while an adult’s heart is the size of two fists.
   • The heart beats about 100,000+ times a day or 2.5 billion times in an average lifespan.
   • We circulate about six quarts of blood every three minutes. In one day you blood will travel 12,000 miles.
4. Tell students that they will be studying the circulatory system of which the heart is the main organ.

The teacher will then help to clear any misconceptions their students have about the circulatory system. A common but major misconception, for example, is that students don’t understand that the circulatory system is made up of two sub-systems (pulmonary and systemic).

Estimated Class Time for the Engagement: 20-30 minutes

EXPLORATION

With nine stations in total, you can introduce the circulatory system to your middle school students in a variety of ways! Four of these stations are considered input stations where students will learn new information about the circulatory system, and four of the stations are output stations where students will be demonstrating their mastery of the lesson's material. A bonus station offers challenges for your early finishers and independent learners. You can read more about how I set up the station labs here.

Watch It!

At this station, students will be watching a short video explaining the circulatory system. Students will then answer questions related to the video and record their answers on their lab station sheet. For example: What is the difference between veins and arteries? What are the two things that happen as blood passes through the lungs? Briefly summarize how blood flows through the heart.

Read It!

This station will provide students with a one-page reading about heart disease. There are four follow-up questions that the students will answer to demonstrate their comprehension of the reading material.

Explore It!

Students will be working in pairs to better understand the circulatory system. At this station, students will be observing diagrams of the circulatory system. As they explore, students will record their observations on their lab sheet.

Research It!

The research station will allow students to explore an interactive webpage that has students take a scientific approach to understanding the circulatory system. Students will be instructed to complete a few tasks and record answers on their lab sheets.

Organize It!

Students at this station will match the sets of cards. Students will read a series of cards and have to match on the visual where this function is taking place. Once students have completed their organization, the teacher will check their understanding.

Illustrate It!

Your visual students will love this station. Students are to create and label a diagram that shows the function of the circulatory system.

Write It!

Students who can answer open-ended questions about the lab truly understand the concepts that are being taught. At this station, the students will be answering three task cards: Explain in your own words what the circulatory system is. What role does oxygen and carbon dioxide play in the circulatory system? Describe the main organs and components of the circulatory system.

Assess It!

The Assess It station is where students will go to prove mastery over the concepts they learned in the lab. The questions are set up in a standardized format with multiple choice answers. Some questions include: Which is not a part of the circulatory system? Which describes the purpose of the circulatory system? _______ travel away from the heart and carry oxygen-rich blood to the body. The circulatory system works directly with the ______ system to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body.

Challenge It! - Bonus Station

Early finishers and advanced students will love the extension activities in this station. Four activity choices offer them ways to expand their learning through mini-games and mini-projects.

Estimated Class Time for the Exploration: One or two 45-minute class periods

EXPLANATION

The explanation activities will become much more engaging for your class once they’ve completed the exploration station lab. During the explanation piece of the lesson, the teacher will be clearing up any misconceptions their students may have about the circulatory system with a variety of materials. These materials include on-level and modified versions of the interactive presentation (may be used individually or projected), anchor charts, and paper or digital interactive notebook activities. If you have students that need modified notes, the 5E lessons come equipped to help give every student access to the lesson.

Estimated Class Time for the Exploration: Two or three 45-minute class periods

ELABORATION

The elaboration section of the 5E method of instruction gives students choices that allow them to prove they’ve mastered the concepts behind the lesson. When students are given a choice, they’re much more enthusiastic and invested in the project than they are when their teachers choose their projects for them. There are a total of nine choices to demonstrate understanding of the circulatory system. A separate set of choices that offer more teacher support are also available for students that need them. Rubrics guide students to doing their best work and assist in grading. The elaboration project will allow students to create a 3-D model, experiment, study guide, interactive notebook, infographic, poster, or even write a story of the journey of CO2.

Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: Two or three 45-minute class periods (can also be used as an at-home project)

EVALUATION

The final piece of the 5E model is to evaluate the students' comprehension. Included in every 5E lesson is a homework assignment, assessment, and modified assessment. Research has shown that homework needs to be meaningful and applicable to real-world activities in order to be effective. When possible, I like to give open-ended assessments to truly gauge the student’s comprehension.

Estimated Class Time for the Elaboration: One 45-minute class period

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