Cardio Matters

by Jeffrey Williams

Cardio Matters, is a unit based on determining how cardio impacts your life.  For example: does walking, running, swimming, climbing, riding a bike, or dancing begin to affect how active I am, can be, or want to be?  Does it affect how I feel?  Does it affect my relationships with others?  Can it affect my family and friends?  Many questions like these can be answered by the research contained in this webquest.  This page can also show you how to determine these answers for yourself.

Introduction

CARDIO MATTERS

Cardiovascular health can be a very important factor in how a person feels.  The human body is made to move.  It is the most natural thing in the world.  Do you remeber the joy you felt when you took your first steps?  Probably not, but I would be willing to bet that you had a smile on your face when it happened.  Ask a parent or someone who was present when it happened.  That was just the beginning, though, soon you were probably running.  It is the natural progression among human beings that have normal physical function.  There are exceptions for those who were either born with or developed a physical obstacle.  However, those with challenges still developed physically in some manner; and each achievement is enjoyed internally by all.  This unit will help you explore those good feelings that all of us have felt, but some have forgotten.  With any luck, you'll find a little joy in exercise.  You may not even realize that you are exercising!

TASK

1. Identify what physical activities you enjoy, or at least you don't mind performing.  (identify 3)
2. Identify when is the best time for you to perform this activity. 
3. Identify how often you will perform these activities.  (no more than twice per week, per activity)
4. Find your target heart rate.  (the procedure is in the process section)
5. Monitor heart rate during exercise.  (procedure is in th process section)
6. Journal your general mood and energy level before and after exercising.
7. Encourage family and friends to exercise with you each time.  (journal their responses, positive or negative)
8. Create a timeline of your exercise regimen.  (list exercises, times, dates, participants, mood, and energy levels)
• use some type of digital presentation media to create your timeline
9. Create and post to my site a blog about your exercise experience.  (likes and dislikes)

The following link may help give you some cardio ideas.  You aren't limited to these, however.  Let your imagination run WILD!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_A_HjHZxfI

PROCESS

• Pick three exercises that get your heart rate up (EXAMPLE: walking, running, stair climbing, biking)

• Find a time each workout day (at least 20 minutes) that fits into your schedule

• Decide which exercises you will perform on which days and create a calender

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/basic.html

or, you can use the calender application on your computer

make sure none of the exercises are more than twice per week

exercise days should total 5 days per week

• Find target heart rate and monitor heart rate during exercise
  

http://www.active.com/fitness/calculators/heartrate

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/monitoring-your-heart-rate-during-cardio-exercise.html

• Create a journal (hand written or digital)

https://penzu.com/

document your mood and energy level before and after each workout

• Encourage family and friends to exercise with you each time

http://www.nextavenue.org/encourage-someone-toward-physical-fitness/

journal their responses, both positive and negative

• Create a timeline of your exercise regimen

www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/

or, use a template from your computer's office suite

list exercises, times, dates, participants, mood, and energy levels

• Post a blog entry to my website

http://wiljef0307.wix.com/chiefer1

blog post should include a summary of your exercise experience

include your likes and dislikes

EVALUATION

This is how your work will be evaluated.

CONCLUSION

Students; the conclusion for this entire project was that you, your family, and your friends might find enjoyment in cardiovascular exercise.  It is my sincere hope that at times you began getting in shape while having fun and not even realizing that it was a workout.  The term 'work' has such a negative connotation that I am hesitant to use the word 'workout.'  This is unfortunate, however, if enough young people put their mind to it, maybe we can come up with a term that draws people in.  I challenge each of you to attempt a word or phrase, that describes an exercise activity, which inspires people instead repelling them.  Give it a try.  Submit your idea at the following link.

http://wiljef0307.wix.com/chiefer1

Credits

Aging, N. I. (2012, April 19). How To Encourage Someone Toward Physical Fitness. Retrieved from www.nextavenue.org: http://www.nextavenue.org/encourage-someone-toward-physical-fitness/

Association, I. R. (2015). Timeline. Retrieved from www.readwrtiethink.org: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/timeline_2/

Calender. (2015). Retrieved from www.timeanddate.com: http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/basic.html

Clancy, M. (2016). Target Heart Rate Calculator. Retrieved from www.active.com: http://www.active.com/fitness/calculators/heartrate

Create Your Free Journal. (n.d.). Retrieved from penzu.com: https://penzu.com/

Jones, M. (Director). (2014). Kids Workout Video [Motion Picture].

Sons, J. W. (2016). Monitoring Your Heart Rate During Cardio Exercise. Retrieved from www.dummies.com: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/monitoring-your-heart-rate-during…

Williams, J. (2015). Chiefer1. Retrieved from wiljef0307.wix.com: http://wiljef0307.wix.com/chiefer1

Author Biography

Jeffrey WIlliams

Undergraduate student Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (preK-12)

Permissions

We all benefit by being generous with our work.  Permission is granted for others to use and modify this WebQuest for educational, non-commercial purposes as long as the original authorship is credited.  The modified WebQuest may be shared only under the same conditions. 

This WebQuest was created in createwebquest

by Jeffrey Williams, Undergraduate Student

Cardio Matters is a unit based on acknowledging how increased cardiovascular activity can impact a person.  Those who currently have a low physical activity level will typically see the most dramatic differences at the end.  The point is to explore physical activity and possible enjoyment of the activities.  People who enjoy what they are doing tend to do it often.  This unit will also require you to journal your thoughts and provide a timeline.  This allows a person to reflect on how the activities have truly affected them.

Teacher Introduction

The first process is to introduce the unit.  Discuss what the unit is all about.  You will need to explain the importance of cardio and give examples of ways that students can do cardio activity.  Explain each step of the unit as plainly as possible.  It is important that all the students understand your intention.  Discuss the Calenders, Timelines, and Blog posts specifically.  Explain that a presentation will be made at the end which includes all of the students submissions.  This is so that all the studetns can see how others conducted the assignments.

Learners

This units assignments address all learners because they can choose their own activities to perform.  From ELL students to special needs it is up to them.  Each student controls the space and structure of their chosen activity.  THey can pick something they enjoy.

this unit is best used for grades 6-12th.

Subject area: Physical Education

Standards

6.3    The student will use personal fitness tools and data to improve physical fitness.

a)      Use measurement and assessment tools and data (e.g., criterion-referenced health-related fitness standards, Internet, software data-management systems, heart-rate monitors, pedometers, skinfold calipers) to develop goals for improvement in at least two fitness components.

b)      Describe and apply basic principles of training (e.g., FITT [Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type], overload, progression) and their relationship to implementing safe and progressive personal fitness programs.

6.5    The student will identify and seek opportunities to participate in regular physical activity at school, at home, and in the community.

7.3    The student will apply concepts and principles of training to improve physical fitness.

c)      Identify safe practices for improving physical fitness.

d)      Develop a comprehensive personal fitness plan, including goals, strategies, and timeline, for improving at least three self-selected components of health-related fitness.

e)      Use a variety of resources, including available technology, to monitor fitness improvement.

f)       Analyze the relationships among physical activity, calorie intake, and body composition.

g)      Demonstrate correct form when performing physical fitness activities.

8.4    The student will apply self-assessment skills to improve or maintain personal fitness.

h)      Self-assess level of physical activity and personal fitness on all components of health-related fitness, and develop a plan, including goals, strategies, and timeline, for maintenance or improvement.

i)        Investigate and self-assess the relationship among body composition, nutrition, family history, and levels of physical activity, and develop a plan for maintenance or improvement.

j)        Use a variety of resources, including available technology, to assess, monitor, and improve personal fitness.

k)      Demonstrate the ability to calculate resting and target heart rate.

l)        Monitor heart rate before, during, and after vigorous physical activity.

8.6    The student will demonstrate a physically active lifestyle, including activity within and outside of the physical education setting.

m)    Participate regularly in health-enhancing and personally rewarding physical activities during unscheduled times.

n)      Analyze and evaluate personal behaviors that support or do not support a healthy lifestyle.

PROCESS

Discuss with your class the importance of being physically fit.  Explain each step of your unit in detail.  Be sure to spend extra time clarifying the intention of the digital assignments.  Go over the rubric for grading and give examples of good, fair, and poor work.  Ensure the students know how to navigate the WebQuest.

Resources

Students will need access to a computer that has internet connection and some sort of basic office suite installed.  This is available at the school computer lab and the public library, if it is not available in the home.  

Students will have access to some school equipment to perform their cardio activities.  However, it may be necessary for students to use items from their home, or from friends and relatives.  Activities that do not require equipment are always an option.