Activity 2B: Cardio Kickers & Heart Bodies

Your students will marvel at the heart model made from plastic bottles and tubes! In doing this activity, students will understand how the heart keeps blood circulating through our bodies. While listening to heart sounds, students will use the heart model to pump “blood” at the proper rate and rhythm. As they work the model, your students will begin to better grasp the abstract concept of blood pressure. While squeezing the “ventricles” students will feel the pressure they are working against. As the activity progresses and a clamp is applied to simulate blood vessel blockage, students will feel how much harder it is for the heart to pump. This leads to discussion on how hard the heart must work when healthy, let alone when vascular disease is present.