Heart Rate Lab



Discovering Connections

As they make observations, scientists are always looking for patterns in the natural world.  For instance, researchers have observed that pregnant women who smoke cigarettes have a higher incidence of low-birthweight babies and that people with high-fat diets have a greater risk of developing heart disease.  Many similar medical discoveries are a result of the patterns that can be observed when studying people and their lifestyles.
Discovering and explaining connections is one of the basic methods by which our knowledge of the world advances.  It is what science is all about!  Sometimes the connections are not what we expect or would predict, and sometimes we may have a hard time explaining the connections.  Nevertheless, that is how science makes progress.
In this part of the laboratory activity, you will make a few observations about yourself and your classmates; then you will look for patterns or connections.

Safety

Safety is important during any laboratory activity.  Although no dangerous chemicals or heat sources are used in this investigation, be sure you are careful and behave responsibly.
Another concern is health.  If you have health reasons for not performing the exercises called for in this activity, tell your teacher so that other arrangements can be made for you to successfully complete the investigation.  If you are excused from gym class for medical reasons, for example, or if you have asthma, tell your teacher about it before beginning the laboratory activity.

New York State Standards

Lesson Plan
Heart Rate Lab Video
Heart Diagram
How to Find Pulse