By Maram El-Geneidy
This activity guide was developed as part of the Latham Science Engagement Initiative at the University of Iowa. Directions adapted from https://serendipstudio.org/sci_edu/waldron/pdf/HeartRateProtocol.pdf
Activity Description:
This activity allows children to feel/measure their own pulse to provide an understanding of how changes in the cardiovascular system help adapt to environmental needs and homeostasis.
Suggested Age Group:
6-8th graders
Learning Goals:
- Be able to feel a pulse
- Be able to count a pulse
- Be able to explain why blood circulation is needed and why hear rate changes during periods of intense activity
Background Information:
The body is designed to maintain a certain state of balance called homeostasis. When put in periods of stress or intense activity, the body changes heart rate to adapt to these external changes. These changes can be measured by people feeling a pulse or in the laboratory by computer programs. Measuring these changes can help us better understand what state the body is in, and can provide insight to outcomes of a research experiment.
Procedure:
- Think about why you have a heart and why the rest of your body needs blood supply that is pumped from the heart.
- Practice using your index and middle fingers (NOT your thumb) measure your pulse in your wrist just below your thumb. Pulse is a measure of blood flow through an artery, and provides us with information about your heart rate.
- Place a timer for 1 minute or 30 seconds and count your pulse.
- Now go run outside, jump on a trampoline, or do 20 jumping jacks.
- Repeat step 3.
- How do your measurements from before and after exercise compare?
Discussion Questions:
What happened to the pulse after exercise?
Why did you observe this change?
What is your body trying to do by changing heart rate?
Gold S.T.A.R.S. 