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🩸 Blood and defences

What is blood actually made of? Simple, true blood and defences facts for young children, each with a fun fact, a tiny activity and a question to talk about together.

Tap a question to reveal the answer, share the fun fact, try the tiny activity, then talk about it together.

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What is blood actually made of? Revealexpand_more

Blood is a busy mix of parts floating in a pale liquid called plasma. Red cells carry oxygen to your body, white cells fight germs, and tiny platelets rush to plug any cuts. All of it flows through your body to deliver, defend and repair, over and over.

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Talk about itYour blood does several jobs at once. Which job sounds the most important to you?

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Did you know?A single drop of blood holds millions of red cells.

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Try itPicture your blood as a delivery service: red trucks carry oxygen, white guards fight germs, and repair crews fix leaks.

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🩸🔴Why is blood red?🛡️How does your body fight germs from the inside?🩸What is blood for?

🤖Still curious?How long does it take blood to travel all the way around the body?arrow_forward

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Why is blood red? Revealexpand_more

Blood is red because of the red cells that fill it, and those cells carry a special substance that grabs onto oxygen. When it is loaded with fresh oxygen from your lungs it turns bright red, and after it drops the oxygen off it becomes a darker red. That is why veins can look bluish through your skin.

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Talk about itIt is amazing your blood changes shade as it works. What other things change colour with what they are doing?

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Did you know?Some animals, like certain octopuses, have blue blood instead of red.

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Try itLook at the veins on the back of your hand. They carry blood that has already delivered its oxygen.

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🩸🩸What is blood actually made of?🛡️How does your body fight germs from the inside?❤️What does my heart do?

🤖Still curious?Why do some animals have blue or even green blood?arrow_forward

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How does your body fight germs from the inside? Revealexpand_more

Your body has a built-in defence team called the immune system. Special white blood cells patrol your body, spot invading germs and destroy them, and they even remember germs they have beaten before. That memory is why you often catch some illnesses only once.

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Talk about itWashing hands helps your immune system by stopping germs early. What good habits help you stay well?

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Did you know?After you fight off an illness, your body can remember how to beat it for years.

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Try itThink of your white blood cells as tiny guards on patrol, learning each new germ so they can win faster next time.

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🩸🩸What is blood actually made of?💉How do vaccines protect you?🦠What are germs?

🤖Still curious?Why do we usually catch chickenpox only once?arrow_forward

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How do vaccines protect you? Revealexpand_more

A vaccine gives your immune system a safe practice run. It shows your body a harmless piece or copy of a germ, so your defences learn to recognise it without you getting sick. Then, if the real germ ever turns up, your body already knows how to beat it fast.

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Talk about itGetting a jab can feel scary but keeps you safe. What helps you feel brave at the doctor?

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Did you know?Vaccines have helped make some once-common serious diseases very rare.

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Try itThink of a vaccine like studying for a test in advance, so your body is ready when the real challenge comes.

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🩸🛡️How does your body fight germs from the inside?🩸What is blood actually made of?🦠What are germs?

🤖Still curious?How can a vaccine train the body without making it ill?arrow_forward

🩸 Blood and defences

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