Heart and lungs

We use our heart and lungs all day every day!

Take some time to stop and relax.

Notice your breathing and put two of your fingers to the side of the neck to feel a pulse.

Those are things that tell you your heart and lungs are hard at work!

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

Pause and reflect on the following questions:

• Why do you think it is important to keep our heart and lungs strong?
• How do we use them every day?

What builds strength?

When we exercise, our heart and lungs work hard sending oxygen our muscles need! We can make our hearts and lungs stronger by doing activities that make our hearts beat faster and make us breathe hard.

Which activities help your heart and lungs? Pick True if they do, and False if they don't.

Select the correct answer, then press 'Check Answer' to see how you did.

Give it a try!

Let's try some activities that will make our heart and lungs strong!

Before you begin, let's do a safety check and warm up.

Warm Up

Warm up

Now it's time for a warm up!

Explore the following warm up activities. Choose 3 of the activities to perform on your own!

Cross over toe touch

1. Start by standing or sitting with your arms hanging loose.
2. Slowly move one arm and reach for your opposite foot.
3. Count to 5 and carefully move your body back up.
4. Repeat this step with your other hand.

Arm circles

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Stretch your arms out to the side.
3. Make circles moving your arms forward, count to 5 then stop.
4. Make circles moving your arms backwards, count to 5 then stop.
5. Repeat this stretch one more time.

Neck roll

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Keep your head straight.
3. Gently move your head to one side, then slowly roll it to the other side.
4. Bring your head back to the starting position and repeat the stretch.
5. Repeat this stretch 5 times.

Shoulder stretch

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Bring one arm across your body.
3. Use your other arm and hold your elbow, slowly pulling it to your chest.
4. Hold and count to 10.
5. Repeat on the other side.

Arms to the sky

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Slowly raise your arms up high.
3. Count to 10 then bring your arms down.
4. Repeat this stretch one more time.

Get moving!

You may do an activity of your choosing or explore the following video for an activity.

Check out the video entitled “Power Up: Outer Space 2” for a workout activity you can try out.

The instructor shows some great exercises you can do to stay fit no matter where you are. Follow along at a level you feel comfortable with. Try to identify the different area of your body that is at work.

Cool Down

Cool down

Now let's cool down from our activity.

Explore the following options. Complete three of these activities for your cooldown.

Body shake

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Gently shake one arm, the other arm, then both.
3. Shake one leg, the other leg, then both.
4. Gently shake your head, hips, and whole body.

Side arm circles

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. March on the spot, raise your arms out to your shoulders.
3. Slowly make circles going one way, do this 5 times.
4. Slowly make circles going the other way, do this 5 times.

Circles in the sky

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Marching on the spot, raise your arms in the air.
3. Slowly make circles going one way, do this 5 times.
4. Slowly make circles going the other way, do this 5 times.
5. Try and make different shapes.

Windstorm

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Pretend to be a tree in a windstorm, your arms are the branches.
3. The windstorm starts off strong blowing hard.
4. The windstorm then begins to blow softer and calm.

Sky high

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Reach up using your arms and touch the sky, count to 5.
3. Slowly reach down and touch your toes, count to 5.
4. Repeat this one more time.

Touch your toes

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Slowly move your body forward.
3. Reach and touch your toes, count to 5, then move your body back up.
4. Try to touch your toes one foot at a time.

Climb the ladder

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Pretend to climb a tall ladder.
3. Slowly move your arms and legs up and down climbing a ladder to the sky.

Deep breaths and self hug

1. Start by standing or sitting.
2. Slowly take a deep breath and breathe through your nose.
3. Breathe out through your mouth.
4. Repeat this 3 times.
5. Take your arms and wrap them around your shoulders and give yourself a big hug.

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

Take some time now to reflect after doing the warm ups, your chosen activity, and the cool downs.

• What did you notice about your breathing during the activities?
• Did your heart beat faster or slower?
• What body part worked hard?

Sharing activities

Think of two activities we do that make our hearts and lungs stronger. Then try the activities out if possible and reflect on how it affected your heart rate and breathing.

Share your activities using a method of your choice or by using the graphic organizer to write and/or draw about the activities. If possible, share your ideas with a partner.

Complete the Sharing Heart and Lung Activities in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.

Press the Activity button to access the Sharing Heart and Lungs Activities.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

I have an excellent understanding of the concepts I have a very good understanding of the concepts I have some understanding but need to review some more my understanding of the concepts needs a lot more work

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.