Next week’s theme is fun and fitness, so this week’s STEM Challenge is going to be focused on getting your heart rate up and exercising. In this activity you will learn how heart rate fluctuates and changes based on your activity.

Visit our blog every Thursday to see our latest STEM challenge and don’t forget share your creations on social media using #CMMSSTEMChallenge or by emailing marketing@childrensmanor.com. Be sure to submit your photos to us by Monday, July 26th!

Materials:

• • • STEM Challenge Worksheet
    • Pen or pencil
    • Clock or timer that shows seconds, or a helper to keep time

Directions:

1. 1. 1. Practice finding your pulse. Use the first two fingers of one hand to feel your pulse on the opposite wrist. You should find your pulse on the “thumb side” of your wrist, just below the base of your hand. You can also find your pulse by tucking your two fingers under your chin, on the right side of your neck. Practice finding your pulse until you can do it easily. This is your heart rate!
      2. Measure your resting heart rate, which is your heart rate when you are awake but relaxed, such as when you have been lying still for several minutes. To do this, find your pulse when you have been resting and count how many times you can feel your heartbeat. Continue counting for thirty seconds. Record this number in your worksheet.
      3. You will be measuring your heart rate during two types of exercises: squats and jumping jacks. Before you begin, make sure you have been resting for a few minutes beforehand.
      4. Perform 10 jumping jacks. Immediately after, feel your heart rate for thirty seconds. How many beats can you count?
      5. Let your heart rate go back to resting before repeating this exercise for 20 jumping jacks. Write both numbers down on your worksheet. How did you feel by the end of the exercise?
      6. Make sure to let your heart rate return to resting before moving on to Step 7.
      7. Repeat Steps 4 & 5 with 10 and 20 squats, and record your heart rate.  How did you feel by the end of the squats?
      8. Ask yourself the following:
         • Which exercise increased your heart rate the most?
         • Was your heart rate quicker when you performed 20 jumping jacks instead of 10?
         • What about squats?
         • Why do you think that is?

We can’t wait to see your results! Don’t forget to send your photos of your experiment to marketing@childrensmanor.com by Monday, July 26th!

Activity Credit: Science Buddies