Start by introducing the key parts of the circulatory system. Say the names and point them out on a diagram of the human body, so students learn to say them correctly and know where they are in the body. Include parts such as the heart, veins and arteries.
Show students a model of a human heart. Teach them about the different chambers of the heart, and explain the difference between veins and arteries. Point out that veins are blue and arteries are red.
Explain to your students how arteries take blood rich with oxygen away from the heart and out into the body, while veins carry blood lacking oxygen back to the heart and lungs to get reoxygenated. Practice memorizing the parts of the circulatory system and their functions by singing the song, "The Circulation Song."
Reinforce the circulatory systems function through simulation by playing Circulation Relay. Divide your students up into two teams. Within the two teams designate half of the students veins and the other half arteries. Designate one area of your playing area the lungs and another area the heart. All of the veins start out in the lungs and all of the arteries start out in the heart. On, "Go," the first person in the artery line races to the lung, simulating clean oxygenated blood, and tags the first person in the vein line. The vein races back to the heart carrying deoxygenated and tags the next person in the artery line. Continue until the first team gets all of the veins with deoxygenated blood to the heart. Simulate how cholesterol works by adding obstacles to the relay, making the path more difficult.
Review key concepts from the circulatory system. Give students a diagram of the human body with blank lines, and have them label the correct parts of the circulatory system and identify the part's function.