The heart is a muscular organ in humans and other animals, which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients, as well as assists in the removal of metabolic wastes. In humans, the heart is located between the lungs, in the middle compartment of the chest.

The heart functions as a pump in the circulatory system to provide a continuous flow of blood throughout the body. This circulation consists of the systemic circulation to and from the body and the pulmonary circulation to and from the lungs. Blood in the pulmonary circulation exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen in the lungs through the process of respiration. The systemic circulation then transports oxygen to the body and returns carbon dioxide and relatively deoxygenated blood to the heart for transfer to the lungs.

Tennis Ball Heart

Drill a hole in a tennis ball and dunk it in a bucket full of water. Once the ball is full of water, pump it with your fist with the hole facing upwards. (and many other cool things that demonstrate how the heart works)

Heart rate exercise :

Your Beating Heart Exercise:

Objectives:
Students will:
• Feel their pulse, at rest and after exercise
• Count and compare heart rates
• Understand how exercising is one way to keep the heart healthy
Materials:
• Stopwatch or clock
• “Healthy Heart” handout
• Jump ropes (optional)
Class Time:
20 minutes
Activity:
Every time your heart beats, it pushes oxygen-carrying blood through your body. You can feel your heart beat – it’s
called finding your pulse. Hold two fingers gently against your wrist or the side of your neck, where you can feel
(and maybe even see) a blood vessel. (You have to be very still and quiet. If you have trouble, ask your teacher for
help.) Then, as your teacher times 30 seconds, count how many times your heart beats. Double that number (or add
it to itself). This is how many times your heart beats in 1 minute at rest. When you move around a lot, blood needs
to move oxygen around your body even faster so your heart pumps faster. Sometimes you can even feel your heart
pounding in your chest. For 1 minute, run in place or do jumping jacks (or if there’s space, jump rope). After a
minute, stop, find your pulse, and count how many times your heart beats. Double that number.

How does it
compare to when you were at rest?

Healthy Eating Habits :