Summary Look at your own blood, find your pulse and look at a real heart Science content Biology: Features, Adaptations of Living Things (K, 1, 3, 7) Biology: Sensing, Organ Systems (4, 5, 6) Activities in this lesson Blood vessels, pulse and heartbeat Heart dissection CO2 acidifies water Procedure First find places that you can see your own blood. (See Blood vessels, pulse and heartbeat activity.) The heart pushes the blood through the blood vessels. Do the heart dissection to see the impressive heart muscle that pushes the blood through the entire body, and look at other parts of the heart including the valves. Wash hands. Listen to your heart beat (see Blood vessels, pulse and heartbeat activity) and connect the sound to the closing of the valves on the real heart. Feel your pulse (see Blood vessels, pulse and heartbeat activity) and discuss that is is the movement of the blood that you are feeling. Measure your pulse before and after exercise. When you exercise, your heart rate increases automatically. Do the CO2 in breath makes water more acidic activity to find out how the brain measures blood acidity levels and signals the heart rate to increase. Grades taught Gr 1 Gr 2 Gr 3 Gr 4 Gr 5
