Simple Stethoscopes
Objective: to use a stethoscope to listen to the heart beat
Materials: Empty paper towel rolls (one roll per two students), blue construction or copy paper
Prep: Cover roll with blue paper- voila! Stethoscope! Double-sided tape works well for securing paper.
Student Information: Over 170 years ago, a man named Laennec invented the first stethoscope. It was a wooden tube about 1 inch in diameter and about 10 inches long. Students will use paper towel roll tubes as stethoscopes.
Procedure:
1. Have the students pair up and listen for their partner's heartbeat by placing the tube over the partner's heart. Make sure that they know where to find their heart (where their hand does during the Pledge of Allegiance).
2. Count the number of beats per 30 seconds. Add this number together twice to find out how many times each minute the person's heart beats.
3. Have one partner run in place for one minute, then listen again. Have the students write down what they hear and calculate the new beats per minute.
4. Have the partners switch.
Assessment: (Follow-up discussion) The heart beats faster after the exercise in order to pump more blood (oxygen) to the working muscles.
Source: My Body: The Inside Story
Materials: Empty paper towel rolls (one roll per two students), blue construction or copy paper
Prep: Cover roll with blue paper- voila! Stethoscope! Double-sided tape works well for securing paper.
Student Information: Over 170 years ago, a man named Laennec invented the first stethoscope. It was a wooden tube about 1 inch in diameter and about 10 inches long. Students will use paper towel roll tubes as stethoscopes.
Procedure:
1. Have the students pair up and listen for their partner's heartbeat by placing the tube over the partner's heart. Make sure that they know where to find their heart (where their hand does during the Pledge of Allegiance).
2. Count the number of beats per 30 seconds. Add this number together twice to find out how many times each minute the person's heart beats.
3. Have one partner run in place for one minute, then listen again. Have the students write down what they hear and calculate the new beats per minute.
4. Have the partners switch.
Assessment: (Follow-up discussion) The heart beats faster after the exercise in order to pump more blood (oxygen) to the working muscles.
Source: My Body: The Inside Story
