By using the information available in these cardiovascular system web pages, the students will understand the heartbeat rate of an individual during a resting and active stage.
- 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
This lesson plan can be used for individual or groups of two and three. A minimum of ten subjects is needed for the study. You may use a whole class if one is available from within the school. One of the first things to do is to instruct the students how to take a pulse. Have them practice on themselves by taking their pulse on their own wrist. After they have mastered taking their own pulse, they are ready to begin.
The students should inform the subjects selected that they will rest for five minutes; then a pulse will be taken for one minute. The results will be recorded on the data form. The next step is to test the subjects after involving an activity. The test subjects should jog in place for one minute and then record their pulse rates on the data form.
The data collected can now be entered into a spread sheet. The information can then be set up into a graph from the spreadsheet. I have found the bar graph to be the most visual and usable by students, but other types of graphs can be used. 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.
After graphing the data on the heartbeat rates, the students need to look at the heart beat rates of the subjects in the resting stage and notice the differences and similarities between them. Also have the students view the data of the subjects in the active stage and determine the differences and similarities between them. They will need to notice the differences between the resting and active stages. 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.
