Heart KS2

How the Human Heart Works

Learning about the heart is an important part of studying the circulatory system in KS2 Science. The human heart is a powerful muscle that pumps blood around the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells and carrying away waste products.

This guide explains how the heart works, includes a heart diagram for KS2 children and shares fascinating facts about the heart that can support learning in Years 5 and 6.

What Is the Heart?

The heart is a muscular organ located slightly to the left of the centre of the chest. It works continuously throughout our lives, pumping blood through a network of blood vessels around the body.

The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body because every cell relies on the oxygen and nutrients carried by the blood.

Heart Diagram KS2

A heart diagram helps children understand the main parts of the heart and how blood travels through it. In KS2, children often learn about:

• The left and right sides of the heart
• The atria and ventricles
• The aorta
• The vena cava
• The pulmonary artery
• The pulmonary vein

These parts work together to move oxygenated and deoxygenated blood around the body and to and from the lungs.

Labelled diagram of the heart for KS2 children

How Does the Heart Work?

The heart works like a pump. Blood that has delivered oxygen around the body returns to the heart through the vena cava. This blood is low in oxygen and is sent to the lungs to collect more oxygen.

Once the blood has picked up oxygen in the lungs, it returns to the heart through the pulmonary vein. The heart then pumps this oxygen-rich blood around the body through the aorta.

This process repeats continuously to keep the body functioning properly.

The Heart and the Circulatory System

The heart is part of the circulatory system, which also includes blood and blood vessels.

Together, these parts:

• Transport oxygen around the body
• Deliver nutrients to cells
• Remove carbon dioxide and other waste products
• Help regulate body temperature
• Fight infection through white blood cells

Facts About the Heart KS2

Here are some interesting heart facts for KS2 children:

• Your heart beats around 100,000 times every day.
• An adult heart is about the size of a clenched fist.
• The heart is made of specialised muscle tissue.
• Blood travels through thousands of miles of blood vessels in the human body.
• The heart begins beating before a baby is born.
• During exercise, the heart beats faster to supply more oxygen to muscles.

Fun Facts About the Heart KS2

• If stretched out, the blood vessels in an adult body could travel around the Earth several times.
• The sound of a heartbeat is caused by heart valves opening and closing.
• Your heart pumps roughly 7,500 litres of blood each day.
• The heart never takes a holiday and works every minute of every day.

How to Keep Your Heart Healthy KS2

Looking after your heart helps your whole body stay healthy. Children can keep their hearts healthy by:

• Taking regular exercise
• Eating a balanced diet
• Drinking plenty of water
• Getting enough sleep
• Avoiding smoking when they are older

Activities such as running, cycling, swimming and playing sports all help strengthen the heart muscle.

Teach the Heart and Circulatory System with PlanBee

If you're teaching the circulatory system in KS2, our ready-to-teach lesson packs make it easy to explore how the heart works, how blood travels around the body and how lifestyle choices can affect health.

Our fully prepared resources include detailed lesson plans, slides, differentiated activities and assessment opportunities to help children understand the human heart and circulatory system with confidence.

👉 Explore our 'Healthy Bodies' Science scheme of work for Year 6