When Halloween rolls around, kids are fascinated by all things gross and spooky.
Turn this fascination with gross and icky things into a fun hands-on science lesson that kids will remember long after Halloween is over!
This fun blood cell model science activity is classroom-friendly and is a fun way to introduce the parts of blood to young children. After building the blood model, kids can dive in for a fun sensory experience that is perfect for this time of year.
Getting the Blood Model Activity Ready
Before you start this with kids, you’ll want to do the hard work at home, as you’ll need to heat some water. Heat a cup of water (or however much will fill about 3/4 of your container) and add a teaspoon of Xanthan gum to it.
The mixture will clump, which makes your white blood cells. Add red food coloring to it and seal the container before taking it to school. You don’t want that goopy mess spilling all over your car.
Print a blood model science worksheet for each child.
Get ready for the blood cell model:
- Xantham gum
- Blood model printable (scroll down to download)
- Red Styrofoam balls
- Red food coloring
- Beaker
- Small red erasers
- Water
Doing the Blood Cell Model Activity
Before showing the kids your fake blood supplies, talk about the parts of blood. Give each child a worksheet and have them write down or draw what each part of the blood does.
Show the kids a picture of a microscopic picture of blood, or if you have your own microscope, examine a sample of real blood under the microscope.
Show students the ingredients you’ve gathered to represent each part of the blood.
- the water is plasma
- the xanthan gum is the white blood cells
- the Styrofoam balls are red blood cells
- the erasers are platelets.
To get this freebie, use the ‘click here to download’ button at the bottom of this page.
Add the blood elements to your container, then mix it all up.
Let the students play in the mixture for a while if you have time for messy play, or just let them observe if you want to keep things cleaner.
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Download Your Blood Model Recording Sheet Below!
Can you not find a resource that you would LOVE to have for your classroom? Contact me and I would be happy to make it for you.
I hope that you and your students enjoy this Blood Cell Model Science Activity in your classroom this year!
How much of the styrofoam balls and erasers do you add ? Also, can you use something besides the styrofoam balls? Beads?
Hi there Alicia, thank you for reaching out. For the styrofoam balls and erasers, the amount you will use will depend on how much slime you are using. You will mix it in until the consistency looks right. I used about 1/4 of a cup. Anything the size of the styrofoam balls will work, using beads will work fine. Let me know how it works out!!!