Exploring Our Amazing Bodies: An Introduction to Human Organs

1. Mystery Bag/Box: Prepare a 'mystery bag' or box with items that represent internal organs (e.g., a sponge for lungs, a pump for the heart, a long tube for intestines, a bean for a kidney). Do not tell the children what they are yet.
2. Guessing Game: Ask children to feel inside the bag without looking and describe what they feel. Encourage them to guess what the object might be and what it could do.
3. Initial Discussion: Briefly introduce the idea that our bodies have many amazing parts inside that help us live and move. Ask: 'What do you think is inside your body that helps you breathe? What helps your blood move around?'

1. Introduce Key Organs: Display a large, simple diagram of the human torso showing the heart, lungs, stomach, and brain (as a key control centre). Use clear, age-appropriate language to introduce each organ. Emphasise their location.
2. Organ Fact Cards: Provide children with simplified 'organ fact cards' (one for each organ: heart, lungs, stomach, brain). Each card should have a simple picture of the organ and 1-2 sentences describing its main function (e.g., 'The heart pumps blood around your body.').
3. Body Outline Activity: Give each child a large outline of a human body (or have them draw one). Provide cut-out pictures or labels of the four key organs. Children work individually or in pairs to place the organs in the correct approximate position on their body outline, using their fact cards as a guide.
4. 'Mime the Function': After placing the organs, ask children to choose one organ and mime its function. For example, 'pump, pump' for the heart, 'breathe in, breathe out' for the lungs, 'churning' for the stomach. This helps kinesthetic learners connect to the function.

1. Review: Gather the class together. Hold up a picture of an organ (e.g., lungs) and ask: 'What is this organ called?' and 'What does it do?' Encourage children to use the vocabulary learned.
2. Quick Quiz: Play a quick 'match-up' game. Say a function (e.g., 'I pump blood around your body!') and have children shout out the organ (e.g., 'Heart!').
3. Self-Assessment: Ask children to show a 'thumbs up' if they feel they can name at least two organs, and a 'thumbs to the side' if they need a little more practice. Reassure them that it's okay to still be learning.

Observe children during the main activity as they place organs on their body outlines. Listen to their contributions during the plenary. Collect the body outlines to check for correct organ placement and labelling. Note participation in the 'Mime the Function' activity.

• Mystery bag/box with representative items (sponge, pump, tube, bean)
• Large, simple diagram of the human torso showing heart, lungs, stomach, brain
• Organ fact cards (heart, lungs, stomach, brain) with simple pictures and functions
• Large human body outlines (one per child/pair)
• Cut-out pictures or labels of the four key organs
• Glue sticks or Blutack
• Whiteboard/flipchart and pens

• Art & Design: Drawing and labelling body outlines; creating organ models from playdough or recycled materials.
• English: Writing simple sentences about organ functions; creating 'Wanted' posters for organs with their 'job description'.
• PSHE: Understanding how to keep our bodies healthy through exercise and healthy eating, linking to the function of organs.