1. Teaching the Concept of the Circulatory System: Animals vs. Plants
By: Janet Vaz and Debra Fabian

2. Introduction
We all know that animals, humans included, have a circulatory system made up of blood, blood vessels and a heart.
But what if we told you that plants also have a similar circulatory system? How is this possible?

3. Lesson Sequence Lesson 1: Cell Specialization - An Overview
Cells differentiate to become tissues and organs
Lesson 2: Circulatory System of Animals
Heart, Blood, Blood vessels
Lesson 3: Circulatory System of Plants
Vascular tissue system, Xylem, Phloem
Lesson 4: Plant Circulatory System Lab
Lesson 5: Circulatory System of Animals vs. Plants
Lesson 6-8: Culminating Task – Research Assignment

4. Curriculum Expectations
Grade 10 - Biology: Tissues, Organs and Systems of Living Things
B3.3 Explain the links between specialized cells, tissues, organs, and systems in plants and animals
B3.4 Explain the primary functions of a variety of systems in animals
B3.5 Explain the interaction of different systems within an organism and why such interactions are necessary for the organism's survival
B2.7 Use a research process to investigate a disease or abnormality related to tissues, organs, or systems of
humans or plants

5. Teaching Strategies: Overview
Video on Cell Specialization found at:

6. Teaching Strategy: Circulation in Animals Activity
Gizmos interactive activity used to develop an understanding of the parts, and pathways of the circulatory system
Students must complete this visual lab by using the student worksheet provided to work through each section
Extensions are provided for students who are able to move beyond the expectations, and for those who require more support, they will be provided with a vocabulary sheet

7. Teaching Strategy: Circulatory System of Plants Demonstration
Place a white carnation in water
Ask: "What do you think is happening when the flower is in the water?". Discuss ideas as a class.
Ask: "What do you think will happen if I add blue dye to the water?".
Allow students to come up with a hypothesis.
Place the flower in the water and discuss results.

8. Teaching Strategy: Circulatory System of Plants Activity
In pairs, students complete a mind map (or other graphic organizer) of the plant transport system using textbook & additional online resources
Vocabulary list is provided to ensure students include all necessary components

9. Teaching Strategy: Circulatory System of Plants - Lab
For the lab component, students observe a cross section of a vascular plant cell under the microscope, create a labelled diagram, and communicate their findings
Communication section focuses on comparing similarities and differences between plant and animal circulatory systems including form and function

10. Teaching Strategy: Comparison Game Create a Jeopardy game full of comparison questions between the circulatory system of plants and animals:

11. Teaching Strategy: Research-based Assignment
Students choose from a list of potential diseases/conditions affecting the circulatory system of either plant or animal cells
Information can be communicated in a variety of ways such as PowerPoint presentation, Wiki, research paper, etc.
Groups must create a handout for the class that includes disease description, symptoms, treatments, preventative measures, consequences to other systems connected to the circulatory/transport system

12. Potential Student Difficulties
CONTENT DIFFICULTIES
Many terms – students must learn parts of heart and plant cell
Transport direction – which way does blood flow within the heart? Which vessels carry oxygen and in what direction? Differences between Xylem and Phloem contents and direction

13. Potential Student Difficulties
PROCESS DIFFICULTIES
Mind map is time consuming and requires a strong understanding of how things fit together
Students must have a good cross section and must focus the microscope accurately in order to see the necessary components
Communication section of microscope
lab is individually written and
application-based

14. Potential Solutions to Student Difficulties
Encourage students to develop acronyms/phrases to help remember details ie. Blood through heart chambers
Include a vocabulary/terms list and examples of mind maps to refer to as students work through the graphic organizer
Provide images of plant cross sections as students work through microscope section
Refer students to additional resources that provide information on similarities and differences between plant and animal circulatory systems for the communication section of lab

15. Safety Considerations
Computer components for the Gizmo activity and research sections of various assignments must be conducted in a responsible manner, including using the internet for educational purposes
Microscope and related lab equipment must be used in accordance with the code of conduct agreed upon at the start of the year
Classroom must be safely organized so nothing is in the way while groups are working at microscope stations

16. Practical Applications
Use of Nanotechnology in Vascular Cell Research
Looking into new ways of tracking bacterial/viral movement in
plant cells
Medical Advancements in Circulatory System Technology
Assessing how heart condition treatment has changed over the last few decades, and how it could change in the years to come

17. Differentiated Assessment
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
1) Both practical applications are related to the research-based assignment which has rubrics provided to explain how it will be assessed in the following ways:
PowerPoint, poster, or other visual method displaying
information on chosen condition
Student-designed handout and oral presentation
2) Unit test will check student understanding of the concepts of:
parts of plant/animal circulatory system
pathways of nutrient transfer
similarities and differences among plants and animals

18. Differentiated Assessment
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
1) Interactive Gizmo activity as process learning of animal circulatory system
2) Mind map as a visual learning tool to connect vascular
components in plants
3) Ongoing class discussions based on demonstrations, labs, and online activities