"Heart" Theme

How does your heart work? What happens if your heart isn’t working properly? And how can you keep your heart healthy? With CORPUS’s “The Heart” themed lesson, your students will explore this important topic even before their visit.

During CORPUS’s “journey through the human body,” students explore the human body from the inside out. Through the themed lesson “The Heart,” they delve deeper into one specific part—the heart—either before or after their visit.

Through educational videos and hands-on activities, students explore the central questions step by step. How does your heart work? What happens if your heart isn’t working properly? And how do you keep your heart healthy? This creates a natural connection between the classroom curriculum, the visit to CORPUS, and the sense of wonder about what’s happening inside the body.

Five Active Learning Methods

Through five hands-on activities, students take a closer look at the heart. They examine its function, structure, how it works, and possible abnormalities, and then apply what they’ve learned to their own bodies.

Knowledge Clips

The CORPUS Kids Academy’s educational videos serve as the starting point. Hosts Rebecca and Ivo talk with experts from the fields of healthcare and science. Using props and humor, they make the subject fun and accessible.

For the students

Worksheets help students record questions, insights, and assignments during the learning activities. Flashcards and a vocabulary poster make difficult words related to the heart easier to understand.

For You as a Teacher

The teacher's guide provides an overview of each teaching method, including duration, key points, materials, and preparation. It also includes descriptions, variations, tips, and sample lesson plans for use in the classroom.

Do you have any other questions about this themed lesson?

We are happy to think with you!

How does your heart work?

In this educational video, your students will discover how the heart works on the inside. Together with hosts Rebecca and Ivo and pediatric cardiologist Arno, they’ll see how this organ pumps blood, how the atria and ventricles work together, and why valves and electrical impulses are important. Using a dollhouse, cables, and doors, the inside of the heart comes to life.

What if your heart isn't working properly?

In this educational video, your students will discover what can happen when a heart doesn’t work properly. Together with hosts Rebecca and Ivo and pediatric cardiologist Arno, they’ll explore the structure of the heart, echocardiograms, and heart defects in children. Heart bingo and a heart puzzle help students learn about the parts of the heart in a fun way, while Arno explains what doctors actually look for.

How do you stay healthy?

In this educational video, your students will discover how regular physical activity, adequate rest, and healthy eating affect their hearts. Together with hosts Rebecca and Ivo and cardiologist Douwe, they’ll explore their heart rates, oxygen levels, and daily choices. Through physical exercises, a heart rate monitor, and relatable examples from the supermarket, healthy living becomes manageable.

More teaching materials for your class

Even after the “The Heart” themed lesson, you can continue using CORPUS teaching materials. With the “Circulatory System & Body” teaching package, students in grades 7 and 8 can explore organs, the circulatory system, and the heart in greater depth both before and after their visit. In addition, educational videos from the CORPUS Kids Academy are available on various topics, and the “DNA” themed lesson—covering traits and heredity—will be released soon. This way, you’ll find a suitable way for every class to explore the human body further.

What other schools are saying

“For example, we might have discussed how the heart works in class, and then it suddenly clicks in CORPUS. Oh, so that’s how it works!”

– Baukje L.

Biology Teacher, Kalsbeek College in Woerden

“Not just dry facts, but a real experience!”

– Willem S.

Physical Education Teacher, Wartburg College Dordrecht

Ready for CORPUS?

Request free teaching materials now

Would you like to help your students prepare specifically for their visit to CORPUS? With our supplementary teaching materials, you can introduce them to the human body. This will bring the lesson material to life again during the “journey.”

Frequently Asked Questions

For which groups is the themed lesson “The Heart” intended?

This themed lesson was developed for students in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 who are curious about the human body.

How long is the "The Heart" themed lesson?

The "The Heart" themed lesson lasts 100 minutes and consists of five sections ranging from 15 to 20 minutes each. This makes it easy to break the lesson down into shorter sessions.

How much do the course materials cost?

The "The Heart" themed lesson is available for free. You can easily request the lesson materials using the request form.

Do the thematic lessons align with the core objectives?

The “The Heart” themed lessons align with the core objectives of the Curriculum Development Foundation. The lesson addresses core objective 34 (taking care of one’s own health) and core objective 41 (human anatomy).