The Heart of It! Part 1: A Mini Med School Self-Paced Class
What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1 hour per week. * Learners will complete a model, drawing, or written notes or worksheet during each class * Learners will post a photo of their model, drawing, or written notes in the classroom * Learners will be asked to answer a prompt before and after the recorded lesson every week, which may be a getting-to-know-you question or related to the material and an additional prompt related to an outside video with a link in the classroom.Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Calling all young scientists! ⚕️⚕️ This is part 1 (weeks 1-4) of an 8-week class where you'll learn all about one part of the amazing human body: your heart! Wondering about the schedule? This class is at your own pace, so you can learn whenever you have time. There are no live meetings, but you'll get to interact with me in the online classroom. No prior knowledge needed! We'll start from scratch and explore topics that most students don't learn until high school (or even later!). Wondering what to expect? You'll have a 20-30 minute recorded lessons every week in which I use models, drawings, and more. Read the syllabus for details! Each week we go beyond the classroom with an additional science video to watch and discussion questions. Ready to share your genius? You'll get to show off your work in the classroom and answer discussion questions related to the class video lesson and science video. This class is all about YOU and how YOU learn best so I'm able to make adjustments as needed. Get ready for a fantastic adventure inside the human body! P.S. If you finish part 1 and want more, there's a whole part 2 waiting for you!
Learning Goals
Students will gain a basic understanding of the human heart. More importantly, students will leave the class with an appreciation of the amazing function of the heart and how to care for their own.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Your Heart: The Body's Mighty Pump!
This lesson is all about your amazing heart! What is the heart, why is it important, and what does it do?
In this lesson, you'll learn:
*What the heart is and why it's so important
*How the heart acts like a pump (get ready to build your own model!)
*We'll use a coloring page to diagram where the pressures are in the heart.
Here's what you'll do:
*watch a lesson on the topic
*build a model heart
*complete a coloring page
*watch an additional science video
*answer discussion questions
25 mins of video lessons
Lesson 2:
Your Heart: The Body's Mighty Pump!
We're going inside your amazing heart! We'll discover what keeps your blood moving.
In this lesson you'll learn:
*How the structures inside the heart keep the blood moving forward
*The two sides of the heart and their jobs
*Neat tricks for remembering all this info when you need to
Here's what you'll do:
*watch a lesson on the topic
*complete a diagram/coloring page of the flow of blood
*watch a video about a cardiothoracic surgeon
*answer discussion questions
34 mins of video lessons
Lesson 3:
Blood: The Body's Delivery System!
We're going to explore the whole point of the heart: BLOOD! The heart might be the pump, but blood is what travels around your body.
In this lesson you'll learn:
*What are the cells in the blood?
*What is the blood carrying around the body
Here's what you'll do:
*watch a lesson on the topic
*create a drawing or model of blood like mine
*watch a video about how donated blood is processed and components are separated
*answer discussion questions
24 mins of video lessons
Lesson 4:
Dissection Time!
It's time to explore a real heart! You can do the dissection, too, or just watch me.
In this lesson you'll learn:
*How the topics in this class appear in real life
*How the real structures work
Here's what you'll do:
*dissect an animal heart
*share about your dissection or do a drawing of what you've observed
*watch a video about how to feel your pulse
*answer discussion questions
Please note: Dissection is optional, and alternative learning methods are provided.
25 mins of video lessons
Other Details
Learning Needs
This format is ideal for a variety of learning needs and I'm happy to help adjust expectations or resources to work well for your learner.
Parental Guidance
This class includes an optional dissection. Please note that dissection involves cutting heart tissue with sharp instruments. Those sharp instruments are just as capable of cutting your learner's fingers! Please only allow your learner to do any dissecting themselves if they are already competent with sharp instruments or only allow them to do the parts that can with done with scissors. Even if your learner is quite capable, please observe them the entire time they are working with sharp instruments or raw meat and make sure they clean up properly afterwards to prevent injury or disease.
Nothing in this class will be or is intended to be medical advice. This is merely educational in nature and will be a surface-level overview. Your student will not be coming out of this class knowing anything about how to diagnose or treat these conditions and we will not be discussing any personal medical questions/needs. Students should come with general questions about the topic.
Supply List
Please read through the class description for a more detailed explanation. All learners will need paper and their preferred coloring implements when there is a coloring page. It will be easier for you if you're able to print the worksheets and coloring pages but students are welcome to create their own drawings and charts if that isn't an option. If your learner will be taking notes or drawing, they will need the appropriate supplies for that. If your learner will be creating the same models as I use, they will need a glass jar, beads (mostly red and a few blue and white), water. I bought all my supplies new and spent under $10. If your learner has another idea for creating models, they'll need whatever supplies they will be using. If your learner wants to complete a dissection (optional), then they will need an animal heart to dissect (usually available at a butcher for $5-10 depending on what animal/size the heart is). The heart will typically be frozen so plan ahead to have time to thaw. Your student will also need dissection equipment such as a tray, knife or scalpel, scissors, tweezers or something to hold the tissue while cutting without endangering their fingers, a tray, gloves, eye protection. Please read through the parental guidance for safety warnings.
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Doctoral Degree from Unviersity of Colorado School of Medicine
Bachelor's Degree in Science from University of Denver
As a family physician with a decade in private practice, I love teaching young people about how their bodies work. I believe that people who understand their bodies will take better care of them.
Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$18
weekly or $72 for all content4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 29 learners
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Ages: 8-13