YEAR 3 GOLDEN NUGGETS

How Humans Work

Twelve Science Tasks Lesson 1-12

National Curriculum coverage, by the end of the twelve sessions:

NC: Identify that humans and some other animals have skeletons and muscles for support,
protection and movement.
Identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions
IPC: 2.14 Know about the functions of skeletons and muscles in humans and some other
animals
2.15 Be able to describe the process of digestion
• We all have skeletons inside our bodies. The function is to protect organs like the
heart, lungs and brain and to provide support, so we stand up instead of wobbling like
jelly. Because our muscles connect to our bones, our skeletons also help us to walk,
run, lift and play sport.
• Bones and muscles work together to create movement.
• The digestive system is the group of organs responsible for the digestion of food.
They assist in the breakdown of food in order to extract the nutrients the body
requires to grow, repair itself, and maintain health.
• Food passes through the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large
intestine.
• Chemicals in saliva, the stomach and from other organs break the food into small
particles, enabling nutrients and some other substances to be absorbed into the
bloodstream.
• Undigested matter passes through the large intestine and out of the body.

NC: 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
IPC: 2.27 Know that there are physical similarities and differences between themselves and
other people
2.28 Know the role of the different nutrients in the body
• Molars - the flat teeth towards the back of our jaw. They are used for chewing and
grinding food.
• Incisors - the front teeth. They are used for biting and cutting.
• Canines - the sharp, pointy teeth. They are used for tearing and ripping.
• Bacteria – Bacteria are amongst the smallest living things in the world, containing just
one cell. Bacteria can be found everywhere, including in the air, on our skin, on the
ground, in our bodies, and in nature. Most bacteria are not dangerous, though there are
some kinds of bacteria that can make us sick. (GDS)
• Plaque - Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. Bacteria in
plaque produce acids after you eat or drink. These acids can destroy tooth enamel and
cause cavities and gingivitis (gum disease). (GDS)
• Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts
to work properly. Most people should be able to get all the nutrients they need by
eating a varied and balanced diet.
• Vitamin A, D, are mainly found in: dairy foods, oily fish and eggs. While your body
needs these vitamins to work properly, you don't need to eat foods containing them every
day. (GDS)
• Vitamin C, E and K are mainly found in fruit and vegetables.
• The B vitamins and folic acid are in meat, fish, milk and dairy foods. These vitamins
aren't stored in the body, so you need to have them regularly. (GDS)
• Minerals include calcium and iron amongst many others and are found in meat, cereals,
fish, milk and dairy foods, fruit and vegetables and nuts. (GDS)
• Minerals are necessary for 3 main reasons: building strong bones and teeth, controlling body
fluids inside and outside cells and turning the food you eat into energy. (GDS)

NC: Identify how sounds are made, associating some of them with something vibrating. Find
patterns between the pitch of a sound and features of the object that produced it. Find patterns
between the volume of a sound and the strength of the vibrations that produced it.
IPC: 2.67 Know how sounds are changed by altering the nature of vibrations

• Sound is made by vibrations travelling through the air as sound waves.

• Sound waves radiate outward in all directions from a source.
• Sounds can come from various sources including vocal cords and musical
instruments.
• High-pitched sounds are made by objects vibrating quickly.
• Low-pitched sounds are made by objects vibrating slowly.
• Some sounds are so high-pitched that humans cannot hear them, but some animals
can.

NC: Recognise that they need light in order to see things and that dark is the absence of light

IPC: 2.69 Know that we see things because light travels from a source and reflects from an
object into our eyes

• Light is a kind of wave that comes from a source (such as a light bulb or the sun),
travels in a straight line until it hits an object.
• When light hits an object it can be absorbed (as with plants), refracted (as with our
eyes) or reflected.
• We can see things when light is reflected off them into our eyes.
• Light reflects off an object and then enters the eye through the pupil, through the lens
and onto the retina, which transforms it into information which is sent to the brain. (GDS)
• Darkness is the absence of light. If no light reaches our retina, we cannot see.

Know that the heart, arteries and veins form the Circulatory System to pump blood around the
body.
• The heart is an organ that pumps blood around our body.
• The average pulse for a child is 90 beats per minute, ranging from 70-110 beats. (GDS)
• It moves blood move around the body.
• The blood goes out of the heart to the lungs where it off-loads the carbon dioxide that
it doesn’t want and picks up a fresh supply of oxygen, then it delivers this oxygen and
nutrients to the body parts before travelling back to the heart again. (GDS)
• When you exercise it beats faster and to pump more blood that increases the supply of
nutrients and oxygen to your muscles.
• Exciting or frightening events can quicken the heart rate.
• Sleep and relaxation can slow the heart.
• It is important to exercise to keep our hearts fit.
• Fitness is often measured by finding out how quickly the pulse returns to normal after
exercise. (GDS)

Know that the lungs form the Respiratory System to transport oxygen into the body.
• We breathe air through the trachea into the lungs.
• We take oxygen form the air into our blood.
• We breathe out carbon dioxide.