By using the information available in these cardiovascular system web pages, the students will understand the heartbeat rate and the reason recovery rates differ from individual to individual.
- Computer lab access - Optional
- Computer Program - Excel or Quattro Pro - Optional
- Graph paper if no computer program available to make graphs
- Form for recording data
- Stopwatch or wristwatch with stopwatch function
A good follow up activity to the Heartbeat Rate lesson plan is one that gives students a different perspective on how long it takes a heart to return to normal after physical exertion. The student should involve family members by including them in a study that tests the recovery rates for different aged individuals. Any members of their family may participate in this project. If students have problems in acquiring family participants, they may use any friends or relatives in their neighborhood.
The student should begin by informing the family members that they will rest for five minutes; then a pulse will be taken for one minute. The results will then be recorded on a data form. The next step is to test the family members and record data after they have jogged in place for one minute. The students should then continue to check their family members' heart rates every three minutes and record data. They should continue to take heart rate data until heart returns to a normal heartbeat. The student should then record how long it took to return to a normal heartbeat.
Now enter the data collected into a spreadsheet. The information can then be set up into a graph from the spreadsheet. The computer program Excel or Quatro Pro can be used if available. If no computer programs are available for student use, graph paper can be used.
Now have the students compare and contrast the graphs they created. They should show the different times it takes for the heart to return to normal beat per minute. The students should then hypothesize why they think different people's heart rate returns to normal at different rates of time. Have the students summarize in one or two paragraphs what they concluded from their study. To conclude the lesson, have the students discuss in class what was found in their comparison and what conclusions they drew from the study.
The following Rubric can be used for assessment.
5. Student's work is outstanding. The data is well organized and the written information is clear, concise, and accurate.
4. Student's work is good but lacks some elements that would keep it from being outstanding .
3. Student has organized data, and data is clear and easy to understand. Written work lacks standard written English.
2. Student has gathered data but not well organized. Information is incorrect or missing. Written work is not meeting standard written English.
1. Work done on project very poor or nonexistent.
Cardiovascular System
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