First, second and third grade students in Sophia and Jean’s class have been studying the circulatory system. Sophia brought in a pig’s heart from the butcher shop so that students could observe a heart that is very similar to their own. Students were thrilled to be able to touch and probe the various vessels and chambers of the heart. The large vessels were also quite impressive!
Just as students had learned in class, they noticed that the upper chambers (atria) of the heart were smaller and not as muscular as the lower chambers (ventricles). Students understood that the heart’s ventricles needed to be more powerful in order to pump the blood to the lungs to receive oxygen and then to pump the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It was amazing for students to have this hands-on experience with an actual heart.
