Science·The Human Body·conceptual
The Immune System
Know that the body has an immune system that protects against illness: the skin acts as a barrier, white blood cells identify and destroy germs (bacteria and viruses), and vaccines train the immune system to recognise specific diseases before they cause illness
Suggested ages 9–11
Learning journey
Your child is discovering how their body works — exploring the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems in detail, and understanding how lifestyle choices affect their health and development.
Evidence of understanding
- Describe the skin as the body's first line of defence against germs
- Explain that white blood cells detect and fight bacteria and viruses inside the body
- Describe how vaccines work: they contain weakened or inactive germs that train the immune system to recognise the real disease
Assessment prompt
Can The Immune System explain how their body fights off germs — and why getting a vaccine helps protect them from getting sick?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.