The Cardiovascular System: Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Exercise

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Physical Education
Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Students will demonstrate their knowledge of aerobic and anaerobic exercises by completing a two-question pre-test. After the pre-test, the teacher will discuss the answers provided by the students and the main differences between the two types. A graphic organizer such as a Venn Diagram or a T-chart could be used to accommodate visual learners. By the end of the introduction, the students should understand that aerobic exercise uses oxygen and increases the heart rate and anaerobic exercise doesn’t use oxygen and is high intensity, but that both types are important in how the heart performs and strengthens the body.

This learning activity was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science (GEMS) Resource Development Project, in partnership with Dothan City Schools.

Phase

Before/Engage
Science (2015) Grade(s): 09-12 - Human Anatomy and Physiology

SC15.HAP.7

Use models to determine the relationship between the structures in and functions of the cardiovascular system (e.g., components of blood, blood circulation through the heart and systems of the body, ABO blood groups, anatomy of the heart, types of blood vessels).

UP:SC15.HAP.7

Vocabulary

  • blood pressure
  • blood vessels
  • circulatory system
  • heart
  • pulse
  • vascularization
  • arteries
  • veins
  • lymphatic vessels
  • hydrostatic pressure
  • microcirculation
  • tunica adventitia
  • tunica media
  • tunica intima
  • lumen
  • constriction/ vasoconstriction
  • dilation/ vasodilation
  • arterioles
  • venules
  • capillaries
  • circulation (systemic, pulmonary)
  • pericardium (fibrous, serous, epicardium)
  • myocardium
  • endocardium
  • coronary arteries, veins
  • cardiac infarction
  • vasculature
  • septum
  • chambers
  • atrium
  • ventricle
  • valves (atrioventricular, semilunar, mitral, bicuspid, tricuspid)
  • Papillary muscles
  • venae cavae
  • superior/ inferior vena cava
  • aorta
  • pulmonary artery, valve, veins
  • SA node, AV node
  • bundle of His
  • Purkinje system
  • diastole
  • systole
  • heart rate
  • stroke volume
  • cardiac output
  • electrocardiogram
  • plasma
  • RBC's/ erythrocytes
  • hemoglobin
  • reticulocytes/ erythroblasts
  • complete blood count (CBC)
  • blood type
  • ABO blood group system
  • Rh factor
  • erythroblastosis fetalis
  • WBC's/ leukocytes
  • neutrophils
  • lymphocytes
  • eosinophils
  • monocytes
  • basophils
  • differential white blood cell count
  • granulocytes/ polymorphonuclear WBC
  • agranulocytes/ mononuclear WBC
  • B or T lymphocytes
  • platelet/ thrombocyte
  • megakaryocyte
  • percent saturation
  • carbon dioxide intoxication
  • phagocytosis
  • macrophages
  • kupffer cell
  • prostacyclin
  • clotting factors
  • prothrombin
  • thrombin
  • Fibrinogen/ fibrin
  • plasminogen
  • erythropoiesis
  • hematopoietic stem cell
  • Myeloid stem cell
  • lymphoid stem cell
  • myocardial infarction
  • mitral valve prolapse
  • varicose veins
  • arteriosclerosis,
  • anemia
  • hypertension
  • angina
  • systolic
  • diastolic
  • electrocardiogram

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Arteries and arterioles carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
  • Veins and venules carry blood from the body to the heart.
  • Capillaries are small blood vessels that exchange materials with tissues.
  • Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of a vessel while vasodialation is the widening of a vessel.
  • The heart is made of mycardium covered by pericardium and is composed of four chambers.
  • The left half of the heart controls systemic circulation while the right half controls pulmonary circulation.
  • One pumping action of the heart is called the cardiac cycle—diastole is the filling of the atria and ventricles and systole is the emptying of the ventricles.
  • Blood is composed of plasma and formed elements and transports materials needed to maintain body homeostasis.
  • Blood cell types: 1) RBC's—contain the protein hemaglobin which transports oxygen and carbon dioxide 2) WBC's—granulocytic (basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils) produce secretions that kill micoorganisms and agrnulocytic (lymphocytes and monocytes)—lymphocytes produce an immune respons and monocytes are phagocytic. 3) Platelets—assist with blood clotting.
  • Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow by hematopoiesis and are derived from a multipotent stem cell.
  • Blood type is a way of categorizing RBCs according to variations in proteins on the cell membrane surface—these proteins can be classified as types A, B or D.
  • Diseases of the cardiovascular system affect either blood vessels or the heart and are either congenital, produced by lifestyle factors, or produced by microorganisms.
  • Common vascular diseases interrupt blood flow while common heart diseases prevent the chambers and/or valves from working properly.
  • Electrocardiography measures the electrical activity of the heart.
  • Pulse is an indicator of heartbeat and heartbeat is produced by blood pressure.
  • Heart rate is the number of cardiac cycles per minute.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Gather, read, and interpret scientific information about the cardiovascular system, including its structures and their function.
  • Use a model to predict and show relationships among variables between the cardiovascular system and its components.
  • Gather, read, and interpret scientific information about the ABO blood groups.
  • Use models to relate structure to function for the components of blood.
  • Gather, read and interpret scientific information about pathological conditions that may affect the cardiovascular system.
  • Gather, read and interpret scientific information about possible prevention options related to the pathology of the cardiovascular system.
  • Gather, read and interpret scientific information about possible treatment options related to the pathology of the cardiovascular system.
  • Use evidence to form an argument about possible prevention or treatment options related to the pathology of the cardiovascular system.
  • Use evidence to defend an argument about possible prevention or treatment options related to the pathology of the cardiovascular system.
  • Evaluate counter-claims and revise argument based on evidence.
  • Gather, read and interpret scientific information about common tests that can be used to monitor cardiovascular function.
  • Design a experiment to collect data in relation to cardiovascular function.
  • Determine how the change in the variables will be measured or identified.
  • Determine how the response within the cardiovascular system will be measured or identified.
  • Use a tool to collect and record changes in the external environment (variables) and the organism responses.
  • Evaluate experiment for accuracy and precision of data collection, as well as limitations.
  • Make revisions to experiment if needed to produce more accurate and precise results.
  • Manipulate variables that will cause changes in cardiovascular test investigation results.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The cardiovascular system's main function is to transport various items throughout the body (oxygen, digested nutrients, systemic waste, etc.).
  • Various cardiovascular organs serve in different capacities to move blood (its transport agent) around the body.
  • Cardiovascular organs are made up of various tissues that work together to carry out the organs' functions.
  • Several variables such as exercise, diet, disease, caffeine, etc. affect cardiovascular health.
  • Lifestyle changes can be used to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease.
  • Several variables such as exercise, diet, disease, caffeine, etc. change cardiovascular output.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models; Planning and Carrying out Investigations; Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect; Structure and Function

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to clearly explain the difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise by giving at least two specific characteristics of each type. 
  • Students will be able to describe to a partner how aerobic and anaerobic exercise are vital parts of a properly functioning cardiovascular system

 

Activity Details

  1. The teacher will present the pre-test from mentimeter.com to the students by projecting it on a digital interactive board. The teacher will tell the students they can write one word or a short phrase as their answer. They can type one to three answers. 
  2. After everyone has entered a response, the teacher will read responses aloud and add them to the selected graphic organizer (Venn diagram or t-chart) on the whiteboard. 
  3. The students will read the differences. 
  4. Next, the teacher will ask the students to choose a partner. The partners will explain to one another how aerobic and anaerobic exercise are important to the cardiovascular system. 
  5. Finally, the teacher will provide paper and pencils to the students and ask them to list at least two specific characteristics of each type of exercise. Alternatively, the students could record their answers in a digital format, such as on word processing software. The teacher should look for answers such as aerobic exercise uses oxygen, endurance, and increases heart rate. Anaerobic exercise breaks down glucose for energy without oxygen, is for a short period of time, and high intensity. The teacher will take the papers up at the end of class to review.

Assessment Strategies

  • The teacher will observe the conversations between partners about aerobic and anaerobic exercise to evaluate the level of understanding.
  • The teacher will use the students’ lists with specific characteristics as a method of evaluation. 
  • The teacher will ensure that students are able to accurately identify two characteristics of each type of exercise (aerobic and anaerobic). In addition, students should be able to describe how both types of exercise are important for a properly functioning cardiovascular system.

 

Acceleration

To accelerate students, the teacher can require them to list at least five specific characteristics of each type. If they do not know five characteristics, allow them to use their digital device to research each type and read articles to find more characteristics. 

Another idea for acceleration is to allow the students to illustrate an example of aerobic and anaerobic exercise. For example, aerobic exercise could be swimming. Anaerobic exercise could be weight lifting. The teacher can post these pictures around the room to support students who need a visual reminder of the differences between the two types.

 

Intervention

If the teacher observes students struggling with the partner of their choice, the teacher could partner two groups together to form groups of four students to assist the struggling students.

Variation Tips

The GEMS strategy used for this activity is Capitalize on Natural Interest in Science and Math. The goal is to get girls excited about making connections between these two subjects. This beginning activity allows them to have exposure to a science topic that they will experiment with in more detail during the next part of the lesson and provide mathematical data that correlates with the science topic.

Background / Preparation

The teacher can create a free account on mentimeter.com so that Mentimeter can be used to record students' results and track data. The teacher can also reset the information so the pre-test can be presented to multiple classes with no previous student answers showing. The teacher can also create notes for discussion on the slides by clicking the three dots beside the title and choosing open “mentimote”. Only the owner of the presentation has access to these options. The teacher will need to know how to project a website on a digital interactive board for students to access. The teacher should decide whether to collect student answers on a Venn diagram or a T-chart and select a method to record answers (whiteboard/chart paper/etc.).

The students will need to know how to use a digital device and type in answers.

Total Duration

0 to 15 Minutes

Materials and Resources

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