Comparative Anatomy (6 of 8): Circulatory System

• Students will understand the function of the circulatory system.
• Students will learn the organs of the circulatory system.
• Students will understand the function of the heart.
• Students will observe the variation in heart structure seen in the animal kingdom.
• Students will understand the difference between an open and a closed system.
• Students will compare the hearts of 4 specimens: squid, dogshark, pig, and cat.
• Students will handle and manipulate each of these hearts.
• Students will be immersed in a high school blood drive field trip and understand the need for blood donations.

The circulatory system works closely with the respiratory and digestive systems to deliver oxygen and food to the cells, as well as to remove waste. This system includes blood, the heart, and the blood vessels. In the animal kingdom there are open and closed circulatory systems. Students will explore the difference. There are also variations in heart structure, typically in the number of chambers. Students will explore this also. In the hands-on, comparative portion of this lesson, students will observe and manipulate hearts from three different specimens: a squid, a dog shark, and a mammal. Field trips include a classroom dissection, a high school blood drive, and a trip through the chambers of the heart.

1. Intro 2D Video: Circulatory System Function.
2. Discuss function with PowerPoint.
3. Discuss the different types of hearts in the animal kingdom and look at examples of animals with them.
4. Show heart dissection video.
5. Discuss open vs closed circulatory systems and look at examples of animals with them.
6. Discuss the difference in the circulatory systems of the squid, shark, and a mammal.
7. Have the hearts on the lab stations so students can handle them as we discuss them.
8. Show 2D National Geographic Video while looking at mammal heart.
9. Attend virtual field trip through the heart.
10. Examine video of blood components.
11. Attend virtual field trip of a blood drive.

Heart 101: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMBSU-2GK3E Circulatory System Function: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9mgbEn0m40&feature=youtu.be Components of Blood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQLeeJZA6bk Travel Through the Heart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwog6qMuDZY