Straight from the Heart
Cheryl L. Trammell Delano Elementary School
3937 W. Wilcox Street
Chicago IL 60624
(312) 534-6620
Objectives:
(These objectives are adaptable for all grade levels.)
The main objectives of this mini-teach are to define and demonstrate the
functions of the heart; observe the vibration of a match due to the pulsation of
blood in the wrist; to construct a simple stethoscope and use it to listen to
your heartbeat; to measure your heart rate (pulse); to compare your heart rate
with your partner's heart rate; and to calculate the number of times your heart
beats in one hour.
Materials Needed:
Heart Model Vibration Observation Stethoscope Models
one-half pear modeling clay surgical tubing
per student paper match 2 funnels per model
surgical tubing modeling clay
plastic spoons
scalpels
"heart" vocabulary
Strategy:
Heart Model
1. Have students turn pear upside down and remove seeds.
2. Cut out two hollow openings at the top and two larger ones directly
under them to represent the four chambers in the heart.
3. Introduce the largest artery and the largest vein by inserting surgical
tubing in proper positions.
4. Discuss function(s).
Vibration Observation
1. Insert the match into a very small piece of clay (the smaller the better).
2. Flatten the bottom of the clay.
3. Place your wrist, palm side up, on a table.
4. Place the clay on your wrist, and move the clay around on the thumb side
of the wrist until the match starts to slowly vibrate back and forth.
5. Count the number of vibrations that the match makes in one minute.
Stethoscope Models
1. Have students work in pairs.
2. Cut the hoses for the stethoscopes into approximately 3 feet lengths.
3. Set out all the material on supply table.
4. Prepare a sample stethoscope. Slide the hose over the end of each funnel.
Use clay to hold funnel in place.
5. Instruct students to be quiet because it will be very hard to hear the
sound of a heartbeat if there is a lot of background noise and talking.
6. Have one student place one end of the funnel on his ear while the second
student places the other funnel near the left side of the chest.
7. Have students listen to the heartbeats of themselves and partners using
stethoscopes and compare rates.
8. Calculate the number of times your heart beats in one hour.
Performance Assessment:
At the conclusion of the mini-teach, students will be able to answer the
following questions:
Heart Model:
1. How many chambers are in the heart?
2. What are the names of the chambers?
3. What are the functions of the chambers?
4. What is the name of the protective covering of the heart?
5. What is the name of the largest artery?
6. What is the name of the largest vein?
Vibration Observation:
How many times does the match vibrates back and forth with a
regular heartbeat?
(For adults it will vibrate 60 to 80 times in one minute.
The vibration for children is from 80 to 140 beats per minute.)
Stethoscope:
1. Did you hear the "lubdub" sounds of the valves snapping shut with each
heartbeat?
2. How do you think the stethoscope works?
Conclusions:
Students will understand the functions of the heart and that as the heart
contracts, blood is forced through the blood vessels. The blood moves at a
rhythmic rate causing the blood vessels in the wrist to pulsate. All blood
vessels have this throbbing motion, but the vessels in the wrist are close to
the surface of the skin and can be felt more easily. The movement of the blood
under the clay causes it and the match to vibrate.
The students will also understand through the use of the stethoscope that sound
waves pass along the tube to the ear and that the funnel collects the sound
made by the beating heart.
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