Lesson Plan
Cardio Lab Plan
Students will design and carry out a heart‐rate experiment, analyze their data to identify trends, and create a personalized plan to improve cardiovascular fitness.
This lesson builds scientific inquiry skills, deepens understanding of cardiovascular physiology, and empowers students to apply data‐driven strategies for lifelong health and wellness.
Audience
9th Grade Students
Time
160 minutes
Approach
Hands‐on experiment, data analysis, and personalized planning
Materials
Heart Rate & Exercise Science Slide Deck, - Rest vs. Exercise Pulse Test Activity, - Experiment Analysis Rubric, - Personal Cardio Improvement Plan Project, - Stopwatch or Timer, - Data Recording Sheets, and - Access to Physical Activity Space
Prep
Teacher Preparation
20 minutes
- Review Heart Rate & Exercise Science Slide Deck
- Preview Rest vs. Exercise Pulse Test Activity
- Print data recording sheets and Experiment Analysis Rubric
- Ensure stopwatches or timers are ready
- Reserve a safe space for exercise trials
Step 1
Introduction & Overview
15 minutes
- Present cardiovascular system basics using Heart Rate & Exercise Science Slide Deck
- Outline session objectives and agenda
- Define key terms: resting heart rate, target zone, variables
Step 2
Experiment Design
30 minutes
- Guide students to state a research question and hypothesis
- Identify independent (exercise intensity), dependent (heart rate), and control variables
- Sketch the procedure and data recording format on sheets
- Refer to Rest vs. Exercise Pulse Test Activity for protocol details
Step 3
Conducting Heart-Rate Trials
40 minutes
- Measure and record baseline (resting) heart rate
- Perform the exercise protocol (e.g., 2 min of jumping jacks) using timers
- Record immediate post‐exercise and recovery heart rates
- Repeat trials per student design, ensuring consistency
Step 4
Data Analysis
30 minutes
- Transfer trial data to tables and calculate averages
- Create basic graphs to visualize heart‐rate changes
- Apply Experiment Analysis Rubric to evaluate data quality and conclusions
- Discuss observed trends and outliers
Step 5
Personalized Plan Development
25 minutes
- Use experiment findings to draft a Personal Cardio Improvement Plan Project
- Help students set SMART fitness goals based on their data
- Recommend specific exercises, frequency, and monitoring methods
Step 6
Reflection & Wrap-Up
20 minutes
- Prompt written reflection on factors affecting heart rate in trials
- Have students share one key insight and proposed improvement strategy
- Describe next steps for implementing and tracking their cardio plans outside class
Slide Deck
Heart Rate & Exercise Science
Welcome to Heart Rate & Exercise Science. In this module, we will explore how the heart works, how to measure your pulse, understand exercise intensity, and learn key concepts for designing your own heart-rate experiment.
Welcome students and introduce the topic. Explain that this deck will cover the structure and function of the heart, how to measure heart rate, the impact of exercise intensity, and key experimental concepts.
Anatomy of the Heart
- Four chambers: two atria (upper), two ventricles (lower)
- Right side pumps deoxygenated blood to lungs
- Left side pumps oxygenated blood to body
- Valves ensure one-way blood flow
Show or draw a simple heart diagram. Point out atria vs. ventricles and describe blood flow through pulmonary and systemic circuits.
Physiology of Heartbeat
- Sinoatrial (SA) node initiates electrical impulse
- Impulse travels through atrioventricular (AV) node
- Triggers coordinated contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole)
- Heart rate expressed in beats per minute (bpm)
Explain the electrical conduction system step by step. Emphasize the roles of SA and AV nodes, systole and diastole.
Measuring Heart Rate
- Locate pulse at wrist (radial) or neck (carotid)
- Use index and middle fingers; apply gentle pressure
- Count beats for 15 seconds, multiply by 4
- Record beats per minute
Demonstrate finding the radial pulse on your own wrist or a partner’s. Encourage practice counting for 15 seconds and converting to bpm.
Factors Affecting Heart Rate
- Age and overall fitness level
- Activity and exercise intensity
- Emotional stress and ambient temperature
- Medications and health conditions
Discuss how a variety of factors—both internal and external—affect resting and active heart rates.
Exercise Intensity and Heart Rate
- Light: 50–60% of max HR
- Moderate: 60–70% of max HR
- Vigorous: 70–85% of max HR
- Approximate Max HR = 220 − age
Present typical heart-rate percentages relative to maximum. Explain how to estimate max HR and classify intensity.
Target Heart Rate Zones
- Warm-Up Zone: 50–60% of max HR
- Fat-Burn Zone: 60–70% of max HR
- Cardio Zone: 70–80% of max HR
- Peak Zone: 80–90% of max HR
Show the different training zones and their goals (warm-up, fat-burn, cardio, peak).
Variables in Heart-Rate Experiments
- Independent: exercise type or intensity
- Dependent: heart rate measured in bpm
- Control: environment, duration, rest intervals
- Hypothesis: predicted relationship between intensity and HR
Clarify key variables for a clear, reproducible experiment. Provide examples of each.
Designing Your Experiment
- Define research question and hypothesis
- Select exercise protocol and measurement method
- Control external factors for consistency
- Plan trial sequence, data recording, recovery periods
- Prepare safety measures and consent
Walk students through the five steps of experimental design. Encourage note-taking for their own lab plans.
Next Steps
Use these concepts to design and conduct your heart-rate experiment in the Cardio Lab Plan. Apply accurate measurement techniques and control variables to ensure reliable, valid data.
Transition to the hands-on Lab Plan activity. Remind students to apply these principles as they design their own trials.
Activity
Rest vs. Exercise Pulse Test
Purpose: Compare resting and post-exercise heart rates and practice accurate pulse measurement techniques.
Materials:
- Stopwatch or timer
- Data Recording Sheet
(See table below) - Pencil
- Safe open space for light exercise
Safety Precautions:
- Perform a 2-minute warm-up (e.g., arm circles, gentle marching in place)
- Ensure clear floor space; remove trip hazards
- Have a partner or teacher nearby in case of dizziness
- Stop immediately if you feel light-headed, nauseous, or excessively fatigued
Procedure
- Resting Heart Rate Measurement (Baseline)
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes. Relax your arms and back.
- Find your radial pulse on your wrist or carotid on your neck.
- Use index and middle fingers to press gently.
- Count beats for 15 seconds; multiply by 4 to get bpm.
- Record your Resting Heart Rate (RHR) in the table.
- Exercise Protocol
- Perform 2 minutes of continuous moderate-intensity exercise:
• Jumping jacks or brisk marching in place - Immediately return to seated position.
- Within 5 seconds, locate your pulse and count for 15 seconds; multiply by 4. Record as Exercise Heart Rate (EHR).
- Sit quietly and measure recovery heart rate at 1-minute and 3-minute post-exercise (15-sec count ×4).
- Perform 2 minutes of continuous moderate-intensity exercise:
- Repeat Trials
- Rest fully for 5 minutes between trials.
- Perform at least 3 full trials to compare consistency.
Data Recording Sheet
| Trial # | Resting HR (bpm) | Exercise HR (bpm) | 1-min Recovery HR (bpm) | 3-min Recovery HR (bpm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 |
Reflection Questions:
- How did your Exercise HR compare to your Resting HR?
- Did your recovery HR return toward baseline equally fast after each trial? Why or why not?
- What factors (e.g., intensity, fatigue, hydration) might explain any differences between trials?
Use your results to inform the design of your own heart-rate experiment in the Cardio Lab Plan.
Project Guide
Personal Cardio Improvement Plan
Purpose:
Use the data from your heart-rate experiment to create a targeted, realistic fitness plan. You will set SMART goals, choose cardio activities, establish a tracking system, and reflect on how to maintain or improve your cardiovascular health.
1. Summarize Your Experiment Findings
Refer to your data from the Cardio Lab Plan and the Rest vs Exercise Pulse Test.
• Average Resting Heart Rate (bpm): ________________________
• Average Exercise Peak Heart Rate (bpm): __________________
• Average 1-min Recovery Rate (bpm): _______________________
• Key Observations (e.g., trends, anomalies):
2. Set SMART Fitness Goals
For each element below, write a clear statement.
Specific (What exactly will you do?):
Measurable (How will you track progress?):
Achievable (Is it realistic given your current fitness and schedule?):
Relevant (How does this connect to improving your cardiovascular health?):
Time-bound (What is your deadline?):
3. Define Your Action Steps
List the specific cardio activities, frequency, duration, and intensity. Use target zones from Heart Rate & Exercise Science.
| Activity | Frequency (days/week) | Duration (min) | Target HR Zone (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | |||
| 2. | |||
| 3. |
4. Monitoring & Tracking Plan
Create a log to record your workouts and heart-rate data. Aim to review weekly.
| Date | Activity | Duration | Avg HR (bpm) | Notes (how you felt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5. Reflection & Evaluation
After 2–4 weeks, evaluate your progress using the Experiment Analysis Rubric.
• Did you meet your SMART goals? Why or why not?
• Which action steps were most effective?
• What adjustments will you make moving forward?
Next Steps: Implement your plan consistently, track your data, and revisit your goals to continue improving your cardiovascular health.
Rubric
Experiment Analysis Rubric
Score each criterion from 1–4. Total possible points: 20.
| Criterion | 4 Exemplary | 3 Proficient | 2 Developing | 1 Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypothesis Clarity | States a clear, testable hypothesis that precisely links exercise intensity to expected heart-rate response. | States a testable hypothesis with a clear relationship between variables. | Hypothesis is stated but is somewhat vague or only loosely testable. | Hypothesis is missing, unclear, or not testable. |
| Experimental Design | Design thoroughly controls variables, has multiple trials, safety measures, and a logical procedure. | Design controls most variables, includes safety and a clear step-by-step procedure. | Design controls some variables; procedure is incomplete or lacks detail in places. | Design lacks controls, safety considerations, or a coherent procedure. |
| Data Collection Accuracy | Data are recorded consistently with units, proper intervals; measurements repeatable and free of errors. | Data are recorded with minor inconsistencies; units generally noted; few measurement errors. | Data recording has several inconsistencies, missing units, or some calculation errors. | Data are incomplete, inconsistent, or contain major errors in recording or units. |
| Analysis Depth | Thorough analysis: correct calculations, clear graphs, identification of trends/outliers, and statistical notes. | Good analysis: correct averages and graphs; identifies major trends but may miss some details. | Basic analysis: calculates averages but graphs are unclear or trends only loosely described. | Little or no analysis: calculations missing or incorrect; no graphs or trend identification. |
| Conclusions & Applications Quality | Draws insightful conclusions directly linked to data; proposes realistic, data-driven improvement strategies. | Draws reasonable conclusions based on data; suggests relevant improvement ideas. | Conclusions are simplistic or only partially supported by data; applications are generic. | Conclusions are unsupported by data or missing; no practical applications proposed. |
Scoring Key:
4 = Exemplary work exceeds expectations,
3 = Proficient meets expectations,
2 = Developing approaches expectations,
1 = Beginning needs significant improvement.
Use this rubric to evaluate the quality and rigor of your heart-rate experiment and to inform your Personalized Cardio Improvement Plan.