Biology 11–12 · Year 11
Mammalian gas exchange structures: sheep pluck dissection
Module 2: Organisation of Living Things (Nutrient and Gas Requirements)
Teacher-led demonstration
A teacher carries out this activity as a demonstration. Its materials, steps, variables, misconceptions and sources are not published on the open web, and neither is any result, control or note that states a number or an amount: tutors and administrators read them on the learning platform, with the safety card first. The idea, the hazards and the curriculum references are below.
Open the procedure on the learning platform (tutor or administrator sign-in)
School laboratory, not for home
In a school laboratory, with a teacher supervising, under the school's risk assessment. Not for home.
The idea
Air reaches a vast, thin, moist surface by way of a branching tree of tubes, and the spongy tissue that results is what makes mammalian gas exchange fast enough for an endotherm.
Safety card
Setting: In a school laboratory, with a teacher supervising, under the school's risk assessment. Not for home.
Hazards
- Sharp instruments
- Aerosols from inflating lungs
- Microorganisms on raw animal tissue
- Allergy or distress at dissection
Controls
At least one of them states a number or an amount, which may be part of the method, so the controls are shown with the method to tutors and administrators on the learning platform.
Note
The pluck is bought from a butcher, an abattoir or an educational supplier; disinfectant use per RiskAssess (https://www.riskassess.com.au/). NSW permits the dissection of animal parts bought from a butcher, supermarket or abattoir, no learner can be compelled to dissect, and any other source needs Schools Animal Care and Ethics Committee approval (https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/animals-in-schools/animals-in-schools-issues/dissection-of-animals); the Department's Animals in Schools framework sets out the school's wider obligations (https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/animals-in-schools).
What you should see
It states a number or an amount, which may be part of the method, so it is shown with the method to tutors and administrators on the learning platform.
Curriculum references
The NSW syllabus outcomes and Australian Curriculum v9 codes this activity supports. They are references, not a verified or complete curriculum alignment.
- Biology Stage 6 Syllabus (2017), current: Year 11 taught to the end of 2026 and Year 12 to Term 3 2027BIO11-9BIO11/12-4BIO11/12-7
- Biology 11–12 Syllabus (2025), Year 11 focus area Cells to systems; new syllabus not yet taught: Year 11 from Term 1 2027, Year 12 from Term 4 2027BI-11-02
- Biology 11–12 Syllabus (2025), Year 11 Working scientifically; new syllabus not yet taught: Year 11 from Term 1 2027, Year 12 from Term 4 2027BI-11WS-04BI-11WS-07
- Australian Curriculum v9No Australian Curriculum v9 code is listed.