Set-up Directions:
The teacher should have a computer with Internet access. The Brain POP Web site should be bookmarked for easy access: http://www.brainpop.com/health/respiratory/respiratorysystem/index.weml?&tried-cookie=true
An overhead projector with transparency (Milliken Publishing Co., Human Respiratory System) and materials for each student (empty one liter plastic bottle, ten inch round balloon, latex or rubber glove, masking tape) for the lesson should be ready, but not distributed initially. Teacher should arrange for the removal of the bottom of each plastic bottle prior to this lesson.
Teacher Presentation & Motivation:
The teacher will explain to the students that they are about to view a very brief video on the human respiratory system. Review the parts of the respiratory system: lungs, diaphragm, chest cavity. Explain to the students that they will be taking notes while viewing the video clip. Tell students that they will then make a model of the respiratory system after viewing the video.
Activity 1 - Respiration Video
Teacher and students should view the Brain POP movie, Respiration, to review the function of the respiratory system. Prior to viewing, teachers should review the parts of the respiratory system: lungs, diaphragm, chest cavity. After viewing the video, begin model construction.
Viewing Activities
What will your students be responsible for while viewing this piece of multi-media or video?
After students click on the video titled Respiration, students may answer the quiz questions which appear while the video is loading. While viewing the video, students should list the parts of the respiration system and their functions on a piece of lined paper. The video may be paused or rewound in order to help students with note taking.
Post Viewing Activities
How will students utilize the information they gathered while viewing the multi-media or video?
After the students have viewed the Respiration video, have the students name the parts of the respiration system and their functions based on the notes they took while viewing the video.
Activity 2 - Model Construction
The students will construct their working model by following these steps: 1. Place balloon into bottle neck. 2. Secure the neck of the balloon around the rim of the bottle with the balloon hanging inside of the bottle. It should look as if you hope to blow up the balloon inside the bottle. 3. Cut a piece of the latex glove that is big enough to cover the cut end of the bottle when stretched. Secure the latex over the cut end of the bottle as tightly as possible. It should be as tight as a drum head if done correctly. The tighter it is the better the model will work. Students should work cooperatively with one student stretching the latex and another student taping it around the circumference of the bottle. 4. When the model is complete, students should note that if you pull down on the latex the balloon inflates, while pushing up on the latex causes the balloon to deflate. For closure, students should be asked the following questions: In our model, what does the balloon represent? (a lung) What does the bottle represent? (the chest cavity) What does the latex sheet represent? (the diaphragm)
Wrap Up:
Teacher will bring closure by referring back to the class challenge question. Students should list the steps taken to construct the model on notebook paper and they should write a paragraph that compares the parts of the model to the human respiratory system.