At The Heart Of The Matter
The heart is an essential part of our lives. Some would say that it guides our actions in romantic relationships, helps us care for loved ones, and even gives us courage when we face tough situations. In stories and films, we fall in and out of love, guided by our hearts. Men wage war because of heartfelt sentiments of honor and pride. Parents and caregivers sacrifice everything because our hearts implore us to provide the best for our children and loved ones. In many ways, the heart has taken on a mythical, larger-than-life role in major events in our lives because it guides how we navigate interactions at milestones and in relationships. However, what most people fail to explore until much later in life is the heart's function and health. What would happen if we focused more on the science of how our hearts work?
The curriculum unit, Heart Rate Detectives, is designed to engage 5th-grade students in learning concepts about human biology, math, and scientific study. This unit will allow students to explore how their heart responds to physical activity. As part of this investigation, students will use data analysis skills, including data collection, computation, and graphing; critical thinking; questioning; and scientific study.
During this ten-day unit, students will have the opportunity to become scientists and mathematicians. Students will investigate and gather authentic data about their physiology. The trends that they observe and their findings will then be communicated to their classmates, other students, and community members through presentations and reports. This experience will provide students with a meaningful way to learn and practice math and science concepts.
Comments: