Little Scholars Workshop

Welcome to our anatomy unit, where we embark on an exciting journey to understand how our bodies work, starting with the heart! Today, we’ll explore how the heart beats through a simple and engaging experiment suitable for toddlers and preschoolers. This hands-on activity will help children visualize how their heart pumps blood throughout their body. Let’s dive into the details!

Materials Needed

To perform this experiment, you will need the following materials:

• 2 mason jars
• Water
• Red food coloring
• 2 straws
• 1 balloon
• Tape

Setting Up the Experiment

• Prepare the “Blood”: Fill one mason jar with water and add a few drops of red food coloring. Explain to your child that this represents the blood in our bodies.
• Create the “Heart”: Cut the neck off a balloon and stretch it over the top of the mason jar containing the red water. This balloon represents the heart muscle.
• Insert the “Valves”: Poke two holes in the balloon and insert the straws. One straw should go deeper into the jar (this is the “inflow” straw) and the other should just barely enter the jar (this is the “outflow” straw).
• Seal the System: Use tape to cover the end of the outflow straw. This prevents air from entering and helps control the flow, mimicking the heart valves.
• Prepare the “Body”: Place the second mason jar next to the first. This empty jar represents the rest of the body, which will receive the “blood.”

Conducting the Experiment

Now, it’s time to see the heartbeat in action!

• Press the “Heart”: Gently press down on the balloon. As the balloon contracts, it mimics the heart muscle squeezing. Watch as the red water is pushed through the straws into the empty jar.
• Observe the “Flow”: As you release and press the balloon repeatedly, the children will see the water moving back and forth between the jars, just like blood moving through the heart and body.

Touching Points for Parents

• Heartbeat and Pulse: Explain that the pressing and releasing of the balloon is like the heartbeat. You can help your child feel their own pulse to connect the dots.
• Blood Circulation: Discuss how blood moves from the heart to the rest of the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients.
• Valves Function: Describe how the tape-covered straw acts like a valve, controlling the direction of blood flow and preventing it from going backward.

Conversation Points

• “What do you see happening when we press the balloon?” Encourage your child to describe the movement of the water and relate it to how their heart moves blood.
• “Why do you think the water only moves one way?” Stimulate curiosity about how the heart’s valves work to direct blood flow.
• “Can you feel your heartbeat?” Guide them to place their hand on their chest or feel their pulse on their wrist, making the connection between the experiment and their own body.

By engaging in this simple experiment, your child gains a foundational understanding of how the heart functions and the importance of keeping it healthy. Encourage questions and curiosity throughout the process, and enjoy this time of discovery together!