How the Lungs Work
CONCEPTUALExplain how the respiratory system works in detail: air travels through the nose/mouth, down the trachea, into bronchi and bronchioles, reaching tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs where oxygen passes into the blood and carbon dioxide passes out
Mastery Evidence
- Trace the air pathway: nose/mouth → trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli
- Explain gas exchange in the alveoli: oxygen passes into blood capillaries, carbon dioxide passes out
- Describe the mechanical process: the diaphragm contracts to pull air in and relaxes to push air out
Assessment Prompt
“Can [child] describe what happens to the air they breathe in — how it travels deeper and deeper into the lungs until oxygen swaps into the blood?”
Prerequisites2
- Cells, Tissues & OrganshardAges 7—9
- How Breathing WorkshardAges 5—7
Show full prerequisite tree
- Cells, Tissues & Organs hard
Understanding alveoli and gas exchange requires knowing the cells-to-systems hierarchy
- The Heart & Blood soft
Cells-to-systems hierarchy helps organise knowledge of heart as an organ in a system
- The Brain Controls the Body soft
Cells-to-systems hierarchy helps organise knowledge of brain as an organ in a system
- How Breathing Works soft
Cells-to-systems hierarchy helps organise knowledge of lungs as organs in a system
- How Breathing Works hard
Detailed respiratory system builds on knowing we breathe air into lungs for oxygen
Unlocks1
- Circulation & Breathing TogetherhardAges 9—11