The Heart Behind The Lesson
I selected this topic because it directly connects to the areas of improvement identified in our state testing data. This unit also connects to students’ lives by helping them link physical activity to their overall health. Many elementary students are aware that exercise is important, but they usually lack opportunities to investigate the science behind how their bodies function.
Heart rate is an ideal topic because it allows students to see changes in their own bodies. Students can see firsthand how activity level affects overall heart function and connect this data to research. Additionally, the topic is a great way to utilize a cross-curricular approach that meets our instructional needs identified through data disaggregation. Math and science are often taught in isolation. Still, this approach gives students a cross-curricular opportunity to practice skills in each subject while helping them make connections to the real world.
The unit also highlights one of our core approaches as a STEM school: inquiry-based learning. When students have the opportunity to identify problems, ask questions, and explore answers or solutions, they often learn more about the topic. Allowing my students to be meaningfully engaged in learning about the cardiovascular system will transform their understanding of science and math in a way that completing a worksheet will not.
This curriculum unit will consist of a sequence of lessons that guide students through a ten-day investigation of heart rate and physical activity. Students will commence by examining how the body responds to different levels of activity and develop questions about factors that influence heart rate. They will explore basic concepts of the cardiovascular system, including the functions of the heart and blood vessels, as well as the circulatory system. Students will collect heart rate data at rest and after various forms of exercise, conduct repeated trials, work cooperatively with their peers, record observations, organize information in data tables, and use mathematical procedures to analyze their findings. By engaging in authentic investigations, students will improve critical thinking skills, strengthen data literacy, and improve their ability to solve complex problems.
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