Drinking Straw Pulse Measurer

Source Institutions

WGBH

Drinking Straw Pulse Measurer

In this health activity, learners create a device so that they not only feel their heartbeat, but also see it, using a straw and some clay. Learners calculate their pulse rate (beats per minute) while at rest and after exercise.

Preparation Time:: Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:: 10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:: 1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:: Ages 6 - 11
Resource Types:: Activity, Experiment/Lab Activity
Language:: English

Materials List (per student)

clay
straw
clock or stopwatch
mirror or friend

Keywords

Subjects

Life Sciences
- Human Body
  - Circulation
  - Health and Nutrition
  - Medicine
Mathematics
- Algebra
- Data Analysis and Probability
  - Data Analysis
  - Data Collection
  - Data Representation
- Measurement
  - Rate
- Number and Operations
The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
  - Conducting Investigations
  - Gathering Data
  - Formulating Explanations
  - Communicating Results

Informal Categories

Physical Activity
Sports and Exercise

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

see
read
be mobile
touch

Learning styles supported:

Uses STEM to solve real-world problems
Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

Web version

This resource is part of:

Zoom Activities Pages

Access Rights:

Free access

By:

WGBH Boston

Rights:

All Rights Reserved, WGBH Educational Foundation, ©2003

Funding Sources:

National Science Foundation, 0229796
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Arthur Vining Davis Foundation
PBS