Circulatory System KS2

Teaching the circulatory system in KS2?

This guide explains the key facts children need to know about the heart, blood vessels and blood, and links to ready-to-teach Year 6 Science resources to help you cover the National Curriculum objective with confidence.

In Year 6, children learn to identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system and describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood. They also learn how water and nutrients are transported around the body.

Circulatory System KS2 Lesson

PlanBee’s Heart Matters lesson from the Healthy Bodies Year 6 Science scheme helps children explore how the circulatory system works and why it is so important.

In this lesson, children find out how the heart, lungs, blood and blood vessels work together to transport oxygen, water and nutrients around the body. They learn the difference between arteries and veins, consider what happens to blood as it travels around the body, and explore how the heart pumps blood through the circulatory system.

The lesson includes:

a detailed lesson plan
a teaching slideshow
differentiated activity ideas
printable resources
everything you need to teach the circulatory system in Year 6

Ready-to-teach circulatory lesson for KS2

View the ready-to-teach Circulatory System KS2 lesson

What is the circulatory system?

The circulatory system is the body system that transports blood around the body. It carries oxygen, water and nutrients to the parts of the body that need them. It also helps carry waste products, such as carbon dioxide, away from the body’s cells.

The main parts of the human circulatory system are:

the heart – a muscle that pumps blood around the body
blood vessels – tubes that carry blood around the body
blood – the liquid that transports oxygen, nutrients and waste products

How does the circulatory system work?

The circulatory system works by moving blood around the body in a continuous loop. The heart pumps blood to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. This oxygen-rich blood then travels back to the heart, which pumps it around the rest of the body.

As the blood travels, it delivers oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells. Once the oxygen has been used, the blood carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs so it can be breathed out. The blood then collects more oxygen, and the process starts again.

What does the heart do?

The heart is a powerful muscle that pumps blood through the blood vessels. It beats continuously without us having to think about it. Each heartbeat pushes blood around the body so that oxygen and nutrients can reach the organs, muscles and tissues.

Children can feel their heartbeat by finding their pulse, usually on the inside of the wrist or at the side of the neck. This can be a simple practical way to help KS2 pupils understand that the heart is always working.

What are blood vessels?

Blood vessels are the tubes that carry blood around the body. The two main types children learn about in KS2 are:

Arteries – carry blood away from the heart
Veins – carry blood back towards the heart

Arteries usually carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body. Veins usually carry blood that has delivered its oxygen back towards the heart and lungs.

Circulatory System Diagram for KS2 Children

How are nutrients and water transported around the body?

When food is digested, useful nutrients pass from the small intestine into the bloodstream. Water also enters the blood. The circulatory system then transports these nutrients and water around the body so they can be used by the cells.

This helps children make links between the digestive system and the circulatory system, showing how different body systems work together to keep humans healthy.