• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Heart, blood and circulation). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Zara counts 17 pulse beats in 10 seconds. What is the pulse rate in beats per minute? → 102Prompt: How many lots of 10 seconds are there in one minute?
2. Why does your heart beat faster when you run? (Your heart gets scared. / Your lungs stop working. / Your muscles need more oxygen and glucose. / Your blood gets heavier.) → Your muscles need more oxygen and glucose.Prompt: Working muscles respire faster.
3. Blood and circulation: which statement is NOT true? (Red blood cells carry oxygen. / White blood cells help fight infection. / Arteries carry blood to the heart. / Capillaries are tiny blood vessels where substances pass to and from cells.) → Arteries carry blood to the heart.Prompt: One of these is a famous myth.

• Ask everyone to find their pulse, then jump for 30 seconds and find it again.
• Share the objective: Arteries, veins and capillaries compared. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Which type of blood vessel: wide space inside and thin walls?
• Step 1: Veins return blood to the heart at low pressure; they have thin walls, a wide lumen and valves.
• Step 2: So the answer is: vein
• Answer: vein
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Which type of blood vessel: walls only one cell thick? (artery / vein / capillary) → capillaryPrompt: Think about pressure: high, low, or for exchange?
2. Blood vessels: which statement is true? (Capillaries have thick walls to protect the blood. / All arteries carry oxygen-rich blood. / Veins have thicker walls than arteries. / Veins contain valves.) → Veins contain valves.Prompt: Do all arteries carry oxygenated blood? Check the one going to the lungs.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. A blood donor has a needle put into a vein, not an artery. Why? (Veins have thicker walls / Arteries have no blood in them / Veins carry oxygen-rich blood / Veins are near the surface and the blood is at low pressure) → Veins are near the surface and the blood is at low pressurePrompt: Think about pressure and bleeding.
2. Blood vessels: which statement is true? (Veins contain valves. / All arteries carry oxygen-rich blood. / Capillaries have thick walls to protect the blood. / Veins have thicker walls than arteries.) → Veins contain valves.Prompt: Do all arteries carry oxygenated blood? Check the one going to the lungs.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-7.