Active and Resting

Group Names: ______

Please discuss these questions. There is no reason to record the answers. Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.

What is your pulse?

Why is your pulse so important?

What do you need to check your pulse?

How do you check your pulse?

Activity One

Make sure one group member is watching the second hand of the clock time the group members for 15 seconds. Take your number of beats and multiply it by 4. Record your group results in the table below. There is no need to record group names. However please make note of your BPM so you can use to compare it in activity two.

Male/Female / Beats Per Minute (BPM)

When all of the groups have finished send one group member to the board to graph the group results. Use the correct colored sticker for either male or female to graph their BPM.

Please discuss the following questions with your group. Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.

Do you notice any differences or similarities in either male or female BPM?

Was it hard to find your pulse?

Why do you think pulse rates can be so different?

Do you think it is better to have a slow pulse rate or fast?

Activity Two

In this activity you are going to ask two volunteers to run in place for one minute. Please make sure to have one group member watch the clock and another recording the results. This activity can move quickly! After they have ran in place for one minute immediately have them find their active pulse rate. Let them rest 30 seconds after they have recorded their first pulse rate. Continue recording pulse rates until both group members have returned to their original resting rate. Record the results on the table below

Resting Pulse Rate / Active Pulse Rate / Second Reading 30 seconds after / 3rd Reading / 4th Reading / 5th Reading / 6th Reading / 7th Reading / 8th Reading
Group Member 1
Group Member 2

After both your group members have returned to their resting pulse rates please discuss the following. Be prepared to share with the class your answers.

How long did it take for your group members pulse rates to return to resting?

Based on your results does gender play a role in active pulse rates?

What do you think would happen if you continued to run in place for 5 minutes? 15 minutes?

What can your resting and active pulse tell you about your health?

What can you do to improve your pulse and keep your heart healthy?