Exploring the Wonders of the Human Body: A Hands-On Science Adventure

This week at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, the girls participated in an exciting session exploring human anatomy through hands-on experiments.  They learned about lung capacity, breathing, and blood circulation.  Nicole and Chris from McClure Civil Management were in attendance to help with the experiments.

The session began with a practical experiment to measure lung capacity.  The girls inflated a balloon with a deep breath, tied it off, and submerged it in a bucket of water.  They observed how much water was displaced, giving them a fun, approximate measure of their lung capacity and learning that we do not fully empty our lungs with one breath.

Next, they built a model of the lungs using simple materials like a plastic bottle, balloons, straws, and masking tape.  The model represented the thoracic cavity, including the lungs, bronchi, windpipe, and diaphragm.  The girls observed how pulling the diaphragm out created a vacuum, causing the lungs to fill with air.  When the diaphragm relaxed, the air was expelled, simulating the process of breathing.

The session concluded with a lesson about the heart.  The girls learned that the heart, about the size of their fist, pumps blood through the body’s circulatory system, delivering oxygen and nutrients to every cell.  They also discovered how the heart beats 60-100 times per minute for their age and pumps 5-7 litres of blood per minute.  To better understand heart function, they challenged themselves to transfer 1.8 litres of water between bowls using a ¼ cup measure in just 20 seconds.

The girls left with a deeper understanding of their amazing bodies, having explored the intricate systems that keep them alive and thriving!

A quick reminder that registration is now open for the upcoming term of the Girls in STEM Club at the Discovery Science and Technology Centre, offered free of charge to girls in Years 5 and 6. For more information and to register, please reach out to GM Alissa Van Soest at manager@discovery.asn.au or use the QR code provided.