Implementation and integration notes: Energy and the Human Body

These notes will help educators implement the activities for the heart health activities associated with this phase and theme. The notes are included to provide an idea of the scope of the activities. In order to have full access to the detailed activities, please register with the Everest 2000 education program.

The notes included below are grouped by grade level.

Division I (grades K - 3) | Division II (grades 4 - 6)
Division III (grades 7 - 9) | Division IV (grades 10 - 12)

DIVISION I

A. Learner Outcomes

Students will:

• Measure their own heart rate (pulse).
• Describe the effect exercise has on heart rate.

Please Note:
Teachers are encouraged to visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's website for additional information and activities. (www.hsf.ca)

Each province in Canada has its own branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Teachers are encouraged to visit their provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation's websites to learn more about programs such as "Jump Rope for Heart" and "Fit for Heart."

B. General Information:
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. Blood is forced through the arteries in waves called a pulse. The blood transports oxygen and nutrients to all cells of the body. The oxygen is used by all cells to produce energy.
MORE: Background on the circulatory system.

Byron must have a constant supply of oxygen to all of his cells. When he is actually climbing, his heart must be able to pump more blood to his muscles. In this activity, you will take your own pulse at rest and after exercising. Byron's doctor on Mt. Everest will be taking Byron's pulse at various times and putting this information on the Everest 2000 Website.

C. On-line Opportunities:
Students will have an opportunity to listen to live broadcasts from Mt. Everest. Dr. Virginia Robinson will be discussing the impact of high altitude on heart rate. She will be outlining some of the problems that are associated with high altitude climbing including Acute Mountain Sickness.

Be sure to check out the Everest 2000 Website. Registered schools will have an opportunity to submit human physiology questions to members of the expedition. Some questions will be answered by one or more members of the Everest 2000 expedition and posted in the Results and Submissions section.

D. Preview of Activities
Teachers are encouraged to view the Heart Health activities for all the divisions in Phase 3. Although these activities may not be specific to the grade level of your students, they can be modified and adapted to fit your needs.

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DIVISION II

A. Learner Outcomes

Students will:

• Measure their own heart rate (pulse).
• Describe the effect exercise has on heart rate.
• Calculate their average pulse rate before and after exercise.
• Compare human pulse rate to that of another animal.

Please Note:
Teachers are encouraged to visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's website for additional information and activities. (www.hsf.ca)

Each province in Canada has its own branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Teachers are encouraged to visit their provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation's websites to learn more about programs such as "Jump Rope for Heart" and "Fit for Heart."

B. General Information:
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout the body. Blood is forced through the arteries in waves called a pulse. The blood transports oxygen and nutrients to all cells of the body. The oxygen is used by all cells to produce energy.
MORE: Background on the circulatory system.

Byron must have a constant supply of oxygen to all of his cells. When he is actually climbing, his heart must be able to pump more blood to his muscles. In this activity, you will take your own pulse at rest and after exercising. Byron's doctor on Mt. Everest will be taking Byron's pulse at various times and putting this information on the Everest 2000 Website.

C. On-line Opportunities:
Students will have an opportunity to listen to live broadcasts from Mt. Everest. Dr. Virginia Robinson will be discussing the impact of high altitude on heart rate. She will be outlining some of the problems that are associated with high altitude climbing including Acute Mountain Sickness.

Be sure to check out the Everest 2000 Website. Registered schools will have an opportunity to submit human physiology questions to members of the expedition. Some students may have an opportunity to be involved in a live, moderated chat with one or more members of the Everest 2000 expedition.

D. Preview of Activities
Teachers are encouraged to view the Heart Health activities for all the divisions in Phase 3. Although these activities may not be specific to the grade level of your students, they can be modified and adapted to fit your needs.

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DIVISION III

A. Learner Outcomes

Students will:

• Measure their own blood pressure.
• Describe the effect exercise has on blood pressure.
• Calculate their average blood pressure before and after exercise.

Please Note:
Teachers are encouraged to visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's website for additional information and activities. (www.hsf.ca)

Each province in Canada has its own branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Teachers are encouraged to visit their provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation's websites to learn more about programs such as "Jump Rope for Heart" and "Fit for Heart."

B. General Information:
If blood is to reach the hands, feet, brain and all other parts of the body, it must be pumped out under great pressure. The highest pressure occurs in the aorta - the large artery leaving the left side of the heart. As the blood is forced into smaller vessels, and the distance from the heart becomes greater, the pressure becomes greatly reduced.

Human blood pressure is measured by an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. The usual blood pressure for a young adult is given as a ratio - somewhere around 120/70 or 115/70 mmHg.

The numbers refer to the pressure in millimetres of mercury. The numerator of this fraction represents the highest pressure generated when the ventricles contract. It is known as systolic pressure or systole. The denominator shows the diastolic pressure recorded when the ventricles relax and the elastic walls of the arteries offer the least resistance.

Dr. Virginia Robinson, the Everest 2000 team doctor, will be measuring and keeping track of Byron's blood pressure at various times during the expedition. One of the things students might want to ask Dr. Robinson is, "How does high altitude affect human blood pressure?"
MORE: Background on the circulatory system.

C. On-line Opportunities:
Students will have an opportunity to listen to live broadcasts from Mt. Everest. Dr. Virginia Robinson will be discussing the impact of high altitude on heart rate. She will be outlining some of the problems that are associated with high altitude climbing including Acute Mountain Sickness.

Be sure to check out the Everest 2000 Website. Registered schools will have an opportunity to submit human physiology questions to members of the expedition. Some questions will be answered by one or more members of the Everest 2000 expedition and posted in the Results and Submissions section.

D. Preview of Activities
Teachers are encouraged to view the Heart Health activities for all the divisions in Phase 3. Although these activities may not be specific to the grade level of your students, they can be modified and adapted to fit your needs.

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DIVISION IV

A. Learner Outcomes

Students will:

• Describe the effects of high altitude on the human circulatory system.
• Describe how the human body acclimatizes to high altitude.
• Research the adaptations people living in Aconquilcha, Chile have to survive, at an altitude of 5340 metres above sea level.

Please Note:
Teachers are encouraged to visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's website for additional information and activities. (www.hsf.ca)

Each province in Canada has its own branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Teachers are encouraged to visit their provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation's websites to learn more about programs such as "Jump Rope for Heart" and "Fit for Heart."

B. General Information:
Dr. Virginia Robinson, the Everest 2000 team physician, will be concerned with the acclimatization of Byron, and other members of the expedition, to high altitude. One feature of blood that will be tested during the Everest 2000 expedition is the hematocrit.

Hematocrits can be sketched best by drawing a test tube of spun blood. The red blood cells (RBCs) settle to the bottom of the test tube while the straw coloured plasma stays on top.

The height of your red blood cells is your hematocrit. i.e. if the RBCs and straw measure 5 cm and the RBCs alone measure 2.5 cm, your hematocrit is 50 per cent or 0.5.

Dr. Robinson is hoping to take a hemoglobinometer with her as it would be fascinating to compare Byron's hemocrit as he acclimatizes to his natural hemocrit as well as to the hematocrits of the Sherpa people.
MORE: Background on the circulatory system.

C. On-line Opportunities:
Students will have an opportunity to listen to live broadcasts from Mt. Everest. Dr. Virginia Robinson will be discussing the impact of high altitude on heart rate. She will be outlining some of the problems that are associated with high altitude climbing including Acute Mountain Sickness.

Be sure to check out the Everest 2000 Website. Registered schools will have an opportunity to submit human physiology questions to members of the expedition. Some questions will be answered by one or more members of the Everest 2000 expedition and posted in the Results and Submissions section.

D. Preview of Activities
Teachers are encouraged to view the Heart Health activities for all the divisions in Phase 3. Although these activities may not be specific to the grade level of your students, they can be modified and adapted to fit your needs.

BACK TO: Top