Tennis and KS3 Science

by James

---

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgio/

With Wimbledon in full swing (excuse the pun), I thought I’d post a KS3 Science sample clip with a tennis-related theme. The clip would serve (sorry, really not trying!) as a useful introduction to the respiratory system topic and begins by showing an examination of the trachea and bronchi using an endoscope.

Before showing the video, you could ask the pupils to discuss the functions of the lungs and what the inside of a windpipe or trachea might be like, and to feed their ideas back to the class. After the video, you may wish to discuss any differences between their ideas and the accepted ideas about the lungs.

The clip goes on to show a game of tennis in order to illustrate that the size of a tennis court is approximately equivalent to the surface area of a human’s lungs! You could discuss this with the class, asking how such a large surface area is achieved and why it is important for gaseous exchange.

Good luck Mr Murray!

Title of clip	The respiratory system
Curriculum location	KS3 Science  >  Organisms, behaviour and health  >  Life processes  >  Section: Circulatory system  >  3.3a life processes are supported by the organisation of cells into tissues, organs and body systems
Description	An examination of the structure of the human lung. A doctor uses an endoscope to explore a person’s lung, he describes how the air passages continue to bifurcate the deeper he journeys. Two people play tennis on a clay court; the size of the court is approximately equivalent to the surface area of a human’s lungs.
Duration	33 seconds