Lesson 1: Components of Blood
Background Information:
Blood
White Cells
Plasma:
- 7-8% of human body weight is from blood.
- In adults, this amounts to 4.5-6 quarts of blood
- Carries out the critical functions of transporting oxygen and nutrients to our cells
- Gets rid of carbon dioxide, ammonia, and other waste products
- Plays a vital role in our immune system
- Specialized tissue composed of more than 4,000 different kinds of components
- Four of the most important ones are red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma
- Red cells, or erythrocytes , are relatively large microscopic cells without nuclei
- Make up 40-50% of the total blood volume
- Transport oxygen from the lungs to all of the living tissues of the body and carry away carbon dioxide
- Produced continuously in our bone marrow from stem cells at a rate of about 2-3 million cells per second
- Hemoglobin is the gas transporting protein molecule that makes up 95% of a red cell
- Each red cell has about 270,000,000 iron-rich hemoglobin molecules
- Anemic people generally have a deficiency in red cells, and subsequently feel fatigued due to a shortage of oxygen
White Cells
- White cells, or leukocytes , exist in variable numbers and types
- Make up a very small part of blood's volume--normally only about 1% in healthy people
- They occur elsewhere in the body as well, most notably in the spleen, liver, and lymph glands
- Most are produced in our bone marrow from the same kind of stem cells that produce red blood cells
- Others are produced in the thymus gland, which is at the base of the neck
- Lymphocytes are the first responders for our immune system. They seek out, identify, and bind to alien protein on bacteria, viruses, and fungi so that they can be removed
- Granulocytes and macrophages then arrive to surround and destroy the alien cells
- Only last 18-36 hours before they are removed
- Platelets , or thrombocytes , are cell fragments without nuclei that work with blood clotting chemicals at the site of wounds
- They do this by adhering to the walls of blood vessels
- They also can release coagulating chemicals which cause clots to form in the blood that can plug up narrowed blood vessels
Plasma:
- Plasma is the relatively clear, yellow tinted water (92+%), sugar, fat, protein and salt solution
- Carries the red cells, white cells, and platelets
- Normally, 55% of our blood's volume is made up of plasma
- As the heart pumps blood to cells throughout the body, plasma brings nourishment to them and removes the waste products of metabolism
- Plasma also contains blood clotting factors, sugars, lipids, vitamins, minerals, hormones, enzymes, antibodies, and other proteins
Lesson Outline:
This lesson will introduce students to the physical make up of blood and the function of each component.
Prior Knowledge: Students should be familiar with
Learning Goals:
Hook: Teachers can use any of the following animations below to start up the lesson. These animations are engaging and will capture students' attention quickly. These will also introduce new vocabulary related to the components of blood. This activity will cater both visual and auditory learners.
Action:
In the investigation activity, students will explore the role of blood, its components, and the task that these components play in the human body. Students will identify the components of blood, then compare and contrast the samples under a microscope. Finally, students will have the opportunity to visit a medical facility or talk with medical personnel who will explain the process that blood goes through when it is tested.
Debrief:
Assessment :
Home Activity:Each student will choose to do one of the following activities:
Teacher can use this information to connect students' previous knowledge to future lessons. (FOR Learning)
Prior Knowledge: Students should be familiar with
- Cell Theory (Grade 8, Understanding Life Systems, Cells)
- Systems and their primary functions in animals
Learning Goals:
- Students will be able to use vocabulary related to blood and its components including, platelets, plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin
- Students will be able to state the 4 principle components of blood and their functions
- Students will be able to describe the percentage make up of blood by its components
Hook: Teachers can use any of the following animations below to start up the lesson. These animations are engaging and will capture students' attention quickly. These will also introduce new vocabulary related to the components of blood. This activity will cater both visual and auditory learners.
- Blood Components Song - Fun way to start a lesson
- The Components of Blood and Their Importance (Animation)
Action:
In the investigation activity, students will explore the role of blood, its components, and the task that these components play in the human body. Students will identify the components of blood, then compare and contrast the samples under a microscope. Finally, students will have the opportunity to visit a medical facility or talk with medical personnel who will explain the process that blood goes through when it is tested.
- Power point presentation of all components of blood
- Investigation Activity
Debrief:
- Pair and Share Discussion: Students in pairs will do discussions on the importance of components of blood before presenting it to the whole class
Assessment :
- FOR learning: teacher is able to see how students can make connections and work together to come to a consensus, which can therefore inform potential future activities
- AS learning: students can see what connections they can make and what they took away from the lesson
Home Activity:Each student will choose to do one of the following activities:
- Write a one page story from the perspective of any of the blood components
- Research one of the diseases that affects the blood and describe its causes and effects
Teacher can use this information to connect students' previous knowledge to future lessons. (FOR Learning)
Additional Resources
- Jigsaw puzzle briefing activity
- Exemplary Lesson Plan another lesson plan on blood components
- Game exploring viruses and bacterial infections
- Animation - Separation of blood components using centrifugal force
- Game about removing bacteria and viruses from blood
- Blood History Timeline timeline about all the discoveries related to blood
- Everything about Blood (including blood transfusion) investigation task