Last updated: July 29, 2024
Lesson Plan
On the Beatin’ Path
The Big Sink trail is one of many options!
National Park Service
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- State Standards:
- Kentucky
Health
3.3.PF2. Identify the components of health related fitness.
4.3.PF2. Identify physical activities that improve the components of health related fitness.
5.3.PF2. Identify the benefits associated... health-related fitness.
Science
4-LS1-1 - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words.
Essential Question
How does physical activity benefit your body?
Objective
Students will describe benefits of physical activity while exploring nature and show how the heart functions within one of the human body’s internal organ systems by measuring their heart rate.
Background
Preview trails, distances, and time frame for hike prior to visit.
Hiking Trails - Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Preparation
Explore the different trails with your class to choose which trail your class wants to hike. https://www.nps.gov/abli/planyourvisit/hiking-trails.htm
Procedure
Teach students how to take their own heart rate through physical activity exercises in the classroom. Discuss the function of the heart in the cardiovascular system.
Prior to walking the trail, have students take their resting heart rate. While walking the trail, periodically have students feel their pulse to see if they can feel their heart pumping faster. Have students take their heart rate after walking the trail.
Talk about the differences in heart rate. Why does your heart pump faster during physical activity? How is your heart helping your body?
Vocabulary
- Cardiovascular system
- Heart rate
Assessment Materials
Questioning techniques, observationsEnrichment Activities
Excelling students could create a chart of heart rates for the class of students.
Related Lessons or Education Materials
Meets Kentucky K-2nd grade Health standards, and Kentucky 4th grade science standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project.