Year 9 Science

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In Science recently, the Year 9’s have been learning about body systems and how we carry out our essential life functions.  This includes the digestive system, circulatory system and the respiratory system.  

Typically, learning centres around discussion, video, Scipad, and other practical, and digital learning tools.  However, as part of this unit, classes were lucky enough to participate in sheep heart dissections.   After much anticipation, the boys worked in groups to explore the heart structure, and could identify the heart chambers, valves, veins and arteries.

Students were able to observe and discuss the double circulatory system and how the blood passes through the heart twice, to the lungs, back to the heart, and then to parts of the body.  There was a lot of discussion around oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.  The science teacher (Mr Kotkamp in the photos)  even demonstrated air moving into the lungs through the trachea.  The students watched in awe as the lungs inflated and deflated.  Hands-on learning such as this is extremely valuable as the boys can make sense of what they have read and discussed in class.