Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the basics of the respiratory system and how it works by exploring the concept using balloons.
Materials and Prep
- Balloons (2 per student)
- Straws (1 per student)
- Scissors
- Tape
- Marker
- Chart paper or whiteboard
Before starting the lesson, make sure you have a basic understanding of the respiratory system and how it functions.
Activities
- Inflate two balloons and tie them off.
- Attach a straw to the opening of one balloon using tape.
- Use the marker to label the balloon without the straw as "Lungs" and the balloon with the straw as "Mouth".
- Hold the "Lungs" balloon and try to blow air into the "Mouth" balloon through the straw. Observe what happens.
- Discuss how the lungs work in our body and how we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide.
- Explain that when we blow air into the "Mouth" balloon, it represents inhaling or breathing in, and when we let the air out, it represents exhaling or breathing out.
- Repeat the activity multiple times to reinforce the concept.
- Encourage the student to ask questions and discuss their observations.
Third Grade Talking Points
- "Our respiratory system helps us breathe."
- "We have two lungs in our body, just like the two balloons we used."
- "When we breathe in, our lungs fill up with air, just like the 'Mouth' balloon when we blow air into it."
- "When we breathe out, our lungs push the air out, just like when we let the air out of the 'Mouth' balloon."
- "Our body needs oxygen from the air to stay alive, and we release carbon dioxide when we breathe out."
- "The straw represents our windpipe, which helps air go in and out of our lungs."
- "Breathing is an automatic process that our body does without us thinking about it."