The postcards themselves offer material that will stretch students’ vocabulary and scientific literacy. Especially:




PostcardsFromTheBody!
PostcardsFromTheBody take Tanno and Iguda on an mission inside their friend Professor Wendy to discover the cause of her sickness. They find out all about organs, tissues, cells, and systems inside the human body.
Learn MoreSchools PackagePostcardsFromTheBody Educational Benefits
Primary National Curriculum for Biology:
- find out about and describe the basic needs of animals, including humans, for survival (water, food and air)
- what humans need to stay healthy; and suggesting ways to find answers to their question
- identify that animals, including humans, need the right types and amount of nutrition, and that they cannot make their own food; they get nutrition from what they eat.
- Pupils should be introduced to the main body parts associated with the skeleton and muscles, finding out how different parts of the body have special functions.
- describe the simple functions of the basic parts of the digestive system in humans
- identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions
- Pupils should be introduced to the main body parts associated with the digestive system, for example: mouth, tongue, teeth, oesophagus, stomach, and small and large intestine, and explore questions that help them to understand their special functions.
- identify and name the main parts of the human circulatory system, and describe the functions of the heart, blood vessels and blood
- describe the ways in which nutrients and water are transported within animals, including humans
Secondary National Curriculum for Biology
Cells and organisation
- cells as the fundamental unit of living organisms, including how to observe, interpret and record cell structure using a light microscope.
- the functions of the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, vacuole, mitochondria and chloroplasts.
- the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells
- the role of diffusion in the movement of materials in and between cells
- the hierarchical organisation of multicellular organisms: from cells to tissues to organs to systems to organisms
Nutrition and digestion
- the tissues and organs of the human digestive system, including adaptations to function and how the digestive system digests food (enzymes simply as biological catalysts)
- the importance of bacteria in the human digestive system
Gas exchange systems
- the structure and functions of the gas exchange system in humans, including adaptations to function
- the mechanism of breathing to move air in and out of the lungs, using a pressure model to explain the movement of gases, including simple measurements of lung volume
PostcardsFromTheBody Content
Each card features a different location with fun facts and the next instalment of Tanno and Iguda’s story. A QR code printed on the card links to a “secret” web page detailing fun activities and further learning.
Location
Activity
Skills & Learning
Equipment needed
Mouth
Investigating saliva.** Investigating tooth decay.**
Acid-base chemistry; digestion; digestive system; home experiments; dentition;
1) bread (can be gluten free); 2) various liquids: examples could be vinegar, milk, water, cola, diet cola, fruit juice, coffee, tea, eggshell,
Stomach
Neutralisation reactions.**
Acid-base chemistry; digestion; digestive system; home experiments;
1) 2 lemons, baking soda, washing up liquid; 2) 100 ml vinegar, balloon, baking soda
Small Intestine
Investigating enzymes.** (ALLERGY WARNING – BIOLOGICAL WASHING POWDER)
Scientific method; controlled experimentation; enzyme activity and digestion; digestive system;
– 3 glasses, 2 brands of biological washing powder (allergy warning – DO NOT USE IF ALLERGIC!), hard-boiled egg,
Large Intestine
Peristalsis modelling.
Digestive system; modelling; forces;
tennis ball, old pair of tights,
Blood
Modelling blood flow. Make an artificial blood sample.**
Blood and the vascular system; home experiments; modelling;
1) 3 straws (different thicknesses), red food colouring, takeaway drinks cup, sticky tape; 2) red food colouring, narrow glass, vegetable oil, syrup
Heart
Heart model.**
Vascular system; modelling; pressure and forces; the heart;
red food colouring, jar, balloon, scissors, straw
Lungs
Breathing experiment.
Controlled experiments; timing; lungs and gaseous exchange; exercise and its effects;
timer
Brain
Reaction times test.
Controlled experiments; recording observations; measurement;
30cm ruler
Eyes
Eye observations. Blind spot test
Eye & pupil; retina; optic nerve; experimentation; measuring; recording observations;
1) a torch; 2) paper, pen, ruler
Pancreas
Pancreas poster.
Research; design; poster making; scientific communication;
poster making materials, pens and paper.
Immune System
Bones in vinegar experiment. ** Modelling phagocytes
Home experiments; modelling; immune system; bone material/skeleton;
– 1) chicken bones, vinegar; 2) plasticine of 2 different colours
Skin
Skin temperature experiment. ** Sense of touch experiment.
Home experiments; timing; skin touch sense;
a pen
**adult supervision/help required