Olympic Track Meet
Increase your heart rate by running and understand how running fast vs. walking affects your pulse rate.
Big Idea: Exercise everyday is one way to keep your body healthy
Materials:
- Stop watch or clock
- Whistle (optional)
Illinois Learning Standards:
4.A Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.
4.B Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
6.A Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings.
19.A Demonstrate physical competency in individual and team sports, creative movement and leisure and work-related activities.
19.B Analyze various movement concepts and applications.
20.B Assess individual fitness levels.
21.A Demonstrate individual responsibility during group physical activities.
21.B Demonstrate cooperative skills during structured group physical activity.
23.B Explain the effects of health-related actions on the body systems.
31.A Develop a positive self-concept.
32.A Perform effectively as an individual.
32.B Perform effectively as a member of a group.
4.B Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.
6.A Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings.
19.A Demonstrate physical competency in individual and team sports, creative movement and leisure and work-related activities.
19.B Analyze various movement concepts and applications.
20.B Assess individual fitness levels.
21.A Demonstrate individual responsibility during group physical activities.
21.B Demonstrate cooperative skills during structured group physical activity.
23.B Explain the effects of health-related actions on the body systems.
31.A Develop a positive self-concept.
32.A Perform effectively as an individual.
32.B Perform effectively as a member of a group.
Vocabulary:
Exercise: physical activity and movement that is intended to keep a person healthy
Pulse Rate: the rate at which the heart beats
Pulse: the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart
Pulse Rate: the rate at which the heart beats
Pulse: the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart
Activity Directions:
- Begin by asking the students if running will make their pulse rate increase.
- Next, warm up by doing the following stretches. When doing the stretches, students should hold each stretch for 8 to 10 seconds.
- Stretch and yawn like you do when you wake up in the morning.
- Stretch the right arm above your head and the left arm low toward the floor.
- Now reverse, and stretch the left arm above your head and the right arm toward the floor.
- Stretch as though you are reaching for a star high in the sky.
- Bend over and touch your toes.
- Now have the students see if they can find their pulse. (Some may not be able to locate their pulse at this time … but they will!!)
- Students should be instructed to pretend that they are participating in an Olympic track meet. At the start of the race, the teacher will give a signal such as blowing a whistle.
- Before blowing the whistle, instruct the students to run in place as fast as they can with their knees high and to keep running until the whistle is blown again (approximately 3 minutes).
- At the end of the three minutes, have students check their pulse rates. Ask if they noticed any differences in their pulse rates. Did running make the pulse go faster or slower?
- Cool down by having the students do some stretches, take in a few deep breaths and walk in place (or a specified distance) at a regular pace for one to two minutes. Once again, have the students check their pulse rates. What were the differences between running and walking?
Investigation Questions
Q. What is a pulse?
A. the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart.
Q. What activities make your heart beat faster?
A. Running, skipping, hopping, etc.
Q. What activities make your heart beat normal?
A. Walking, reading a book, drawing, etc.
Exhibit:
Workshop:
