Science at key stages 1 and 2 (Year 5)

Unit 5A: Keeping healthy
Section 7: Fast and slow pulse rates

Objectives

Children should learn:

to identify factors which could affect pulse rate and make predictions about the changes
to plan what evidence to collect including the number of measurements of pulse rate to take and the number of children to use
to present results in a line graph and explain what these show and whether they support the prediction

Activities		Outcomes
		Children:
Ask children to speculate about factors which could change the pulse rate eg exercise and to make a prediction eg if I run for two minutes it will increase my pulse rate, if I run for three minutes it will increase more and take longer to get back to normal and to investigate the relationship between exercise and pulse rate. Discuss with children what sort of exercise they think raises pulse rate most and why it is important to investigate the effect on several children, not just one. After children have carried out their investigation help them to represent their data as a line graph. Talk with children about what their graph shows and, if possible, show them other graphs or data relating to changes in pulse rate and ask them to interpret these. Ask children to think of additional questions eg would we have got the same results if we'd used adults instead of children? boys as well as girls? and to review their conclusions in the light of these questions.		plan an investigation to test the prediction make suitable measurements of pulse rate eg by carrying out the process on several children construct a line graph to show the effects of exercise on pulse rate eg pulse rate before and at intervals after exercise or pulse rate before and after exercise of different duration and describe what these show explain how exercise affects the heart beat in terms of the exercising muscles needing a better supply of blood describe some limitations of their work, eg I only tested girls, I think it would be the same for everybody but I don't really know

Points to note

This activity offers children the opportunity to carry out a whole investigation. It may be helpful to concentrate on the aspects of investigation highlighted in the learning objectives.

Children could be asked to interpret line graphs showing changes in pulse rate during and after exercise.

SAFETY - Children should undertake usual PE activities, not attempt to 'test' their stamina or strength. Careful supervision is needed to ensure this.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.


	1. Introduction
	2. A poor diet
	3. A varied diet
	4. Exercising
	5. The heart and lungs
	6. Measuring pulse rate
	7. Fast and slow pulse rates
	8. Exercise and pulse rate
	9. Drugs, tobacco, alcohol and health

Science at key stages 1 and 2 (Year 5)

Objectives

Activities

Outcomes

Points to note

Sections in this unit