Check out this interesting video on blood flow.
Introduction
In this hands-on lesson plan, you will build a simple model to explore the effects of plaque buildup in arteries.
The model demonstrates what happens to blood flow when heart disease narrows a person’s arteries. As the arteries narrow over time due to plaque buildup, they cannot carry as much blood away from the heart. This can lead to heart attacks or strokes, in which the heart or brain does not get enough blood anymore.
Source: sciencebuddies.com
Materials and Prep:
- Scissors (1)
- Water (enough to fill 2 cups per group)
- Measuring cup
- Pitcher or container for storing the water, or access to a sink
- Masking tape or permanent marker
- Optional: red food coloring
- Plastic cups, 16 oz. (3)
- Two straws with different diameters (a 2-inch piece of each)
- Modeling clay
- Stopwatch
- Aluminum tray (big enough to fit 500 mL of water)
- Add 400 mL of water and mark the water level on the outside of one of the 16 oz. plastic cups using a permanent marker or masking tape. Then, make a mark on another 16 oz. cup at the same height. This marker will tell students the water level for the experiments. Each student group should have two cups with the water level marked and one unmarked cup.
- Prepare both marked 16 oz. cups for each group by poking or cutting a hole in their sides, about one inch from the bottom. The holes should be approximately the same distance from the bottom of each cup as shown in Figure 3. Widen the hole enough to comfortably fit each straw. The wider straw will need a bigger hole.
- Cut the straws to approximately 2-inch lengths; one piece of each diameter is needed for each group.
- If you do not have a sink available in the classroom, prepare enough water to fill two cups to the line for each group.
- Optional: add red food coloring to the water. This will make the water look more like blood and it will make it easier for students to observe what is happening.
Questions:
Discuss the function of the circulatory system (heart, blood, and blood vessels) with your students.
Which parts of our bodies do you think are most important for staying alive? Why?
Why is the heart so important—can you explain what it does?
How does blood flow inside our body?
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