Introduction
Grade: 9-12th
Duration (45 - 60 Minutes)
Objective: Students will understand the importance of cardiovascular fitness and help them understand their fitness levels.
Students will learn about their resting heart rate and how quickly their heart rate recovers after exercise.
Students will engage in the three-minute step test that will work their cardiovascular system.
Students will learn about taking their pulse from the inside of their wrist and the side of their neck.
Task
Materials:
Step platforms that are 12 inches high
Stopwatch or timer
A metronome that is set to 96 beats per minute for participants to listen to keep a steady rhythm during the test. This will most likely be played on a speaker through an app on a phone so the whole classroom can follow along.
A projector and screen for videos to show students the benefits of cardiovascular activity and the negative effects of not performing cardiovascular activity. Also, show students a video of how to perform the three-minute step test.
Process
Introduction: (10-15 Minutes)
Have a group discussion with students about what they currently know about cardiovascular exercise and aerobic capacity.
Show an educational video about the benefits of cardiovascular activity and the negative effects of not performing cardiovascular exercise.
Teach Students How to Take Their Pulse: (5-10 minutes)
Teach students how to take their pulse on their wrist or below their neck by demonstrating. If students are having trouble, offer advice and give tips to help them with this skill.
Three-Minute Step Test Demonstration and Activity: (25-30 Minutes)
Show another educational video to the students on how to perform the three-minute step test, and to help students grasp a deeper understanding of the test, I will perform the test for the students as an example.
The three-minute step test will consist of students determining their resting heart rate before the test and then having the students step on and off a 12-inch step platform seventy-two times in three minutes. After that, students will sit down immediately and monitor their heart rate for one minute by taking their pulse. Rest for five minutes after the test.
Cool Down (5 minutes)
Have students engage in some static stretches and do a light walk around the gymnasium.
Discussion (5 minutes)
Have students discuss what they noticed during the test. Ask them how they felt before, during, and after the test. Ask them if they think their heart rate correlates to how tired they were when performing the test.
Evaluation
To evaluate student performance, I will make sure that students understand the importance of engaging in cardiovascular exercise and can take their pulse after demonstrating how to properly do the three-minute step test. After I am sure that all students can take their resting heart rate and heart rate after the test, I will record both. Throughout the semester, I will have students engage in cardiovascular exercise, and then we will go back to this test and see how their heart rates change at the end of the semester.