Inquiry Activity - Respiratory System Introduction

Purpose:

As a true inquiry lab, students are asked to use the knowledge they currently have in a collaborative and creative way to discover a possible solution to a question or problem. They will then share what they created with the rest of the class.

Introduction:

This introductory exercise is most appropriate to do after finishing the muscular and cardiovascular system. Students have learned the pathway blood takes and the need for gas exchange in the lungs. They may need to be reminded that muscle tissue contracts and relaxes.

Teaching Procedure:

1.  Give each lab group (2-3 students) a tray with the following material:

·  Small plastic water bottle

·  One hole rubber stopper (#3 or #4)

·  1 plastic disposable pipette

·  scissors

·  1 med. size balloons

·  1 very large balloon

·  Masking tape

2.  Explain to the students that they are to:

  1. “Build a working lung. You do not have to use all of the materials.”
  2. “Choose a recorder who will write down the “sequence of ideas” following each idea with a “worked=will use” or “didn’t work because …” after it has been tried or debated.”
  3. Create a key that explains what each part represents.

3.  Set a time limit that fits your schedule (I gave them 30-45min)

4.  After 15min. (if it looks like a few groups are struggling) announce that each group may send an ambassador to travel around the room and collect visual hints without talking to any member of any of the other groups. Make extra material available.

5.  When time is up, allow students to rotate around the room and visit each station to try out that group’s model. Anonymous helpful suggestions and feedback can be made by visitors to each station on index cards.

6.  Lead a whole group discussion about the project. Think of two things they liked about the process. Two things they would change in order to improve the exercise.

Students will have different solutions, but most often, they will have to cut the bottom off of the water bottle, slit open the large balloon to stretch over the bottom of the bottle (tape very securely in place) to represent the diaphragm. Cut the end of the bulb part of the pipette off to represent the trachea. Insert the pipette into the stopper. Tape the larger balloon to the pointy end of the inserted pipette to represent a lung. Insert the lung into the “chest cavity”. If the diaphragm was securely taped to the bottle, when you push up on the diaphragm, the lung will empty of any air. When diaphragm returns to relaxed position, lung will inflate slightly. You can feel the air move in and out if you put it near your cheek. More dramatic effects can be seen by pulling down on the diaphragm to increase the volume of the chest cavity and cause air to rush into the lung.