Take a class tally of the average pulse rates. Group the data, e.g. 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-99. Create a class bar chart with the grouped data (see resources bar chart to use with IWB or Excel file). – Ask children questions the bar chart, e.g. Which was the most common range pulse rate? What were the highest and lowest pulse rates? The range of normal pulse rates for children is from 75 to 100. Babies have much higher pulse rates 130 to 140, an elephant has a pulse rate – of 20 to 30 and a mouse of 450 to 550 beats per minute. Normal adult rates are between 60 & 100, the fitter you are, the lower the rate. Why do children think animals have different pulse rates? Explain that children are to investigate the factors that change their pulse rate. Ask children what might affect it, e.g. sleeping, watching TV, cycling, swimming, reading and/or running. Ask children to make some predictions, e.g. if I run for two minutes it will increase my pulse rate; if I run for 3 minutes it will increase more and take longer to get back to normal. Chn could compare the results before and immediately after exercise of different durations. Breathing rates per minute could also be measured before, immediately after and during recovery from exercise and graphs drawn of the results too. Discuss with children what their graphs show. Would children have got the same results if they had measured the pulse rates of just girls or just boys, adults or athletes? Explain that the fitter you are the quicker your pulse rate returns to normal resting state. Return to Discussion Drawing from Session A and discuss how the pulse rate would rise as the heart works harder to pump the blood around an upside down person! Fascinating fact: Do children realise that their heart beats over a 100,000 times a day? Ask children to try clenching and unclenching their fist for one minute - tiring for the muscles isn’t it! The heart is an amazing muscle.
Take a class tally of the average pulse rates. Group the data, e.g. 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94, 95-99. Create a class bar chart with the grouped data (see resources – bar chart to use with IWB or Excel file). Ask children questions the bar chart, e.g. Which was the most common range pulse rate? What were the highest and lowest pulse rates? The range of normal pulse rates for children is from 75 to 100. Babies have much higher pulse rates – 130 to 140, an elephant has a pulse rate of 20 to 30 and a mouse of 450 to 550 beats per minute. Normal adult rates are between 60 & 100, the fitter you are, the lower the rate. Why do children think animals have different pulse rates? Explain that children are to investigate the factors that change their pulse rate. Ask children what might affect it, e.g. sleeping, watching TV, cycling, swimming, reading and/or running. Ask children to make some predictions, e.g. if I run for two minutes it will increase my pulse rate; if I run for 3 minutes it will increase more and take longer to get back to normal. Chn could compare the results before and immediately after exercise of different durations. Breathing rates per minute could also be measured before, immediately after and during recovery from exercise and graphs drawn of the results too. Discuss with children what their graphs show. Would children have got the same results if they had measured the pulse rates of just girls or just boys, adults or athletes? Explain that the fitter you are the quicker your pulse rate returns to normal resting state. Return to Discussion Drawing from Session A and discuss how the pulse rate would rise as the heart works harder to pump the blood around an upside down person! Fascinating fact: Do children realise that their heart beats over a 100,000 times a day? Ask children to try clenching and unclenching their fist for one minute - tiring for the muscles isn’t it! The heart is an amazing muscle.