Hannah Filling Grade 3-5

Engineers, particularly biomedical engineers, need to understand how our body systems work in order to help take care of our bodies on Earth and in space. The human body has many examples of joints, which engineers can mimic when designing machines. Chemical engineers, study the immune system in order to develop treatments for people with compromised immunity, and vaccinations, antibiotics, disinfectants, and sterilizers are designed by engineers in order to help keep people healthy.

Environmental engineers work on keeping the air we breathe and the water we drink free of toxins via air purifiers and water filters. Engineers play a huge part in keeping the human body safe and healthy!

Related Subjects: Biology Human Anatomy Related Activities Blood Cell Basics Do You Have the Strength? Just Breathe

Identify the different composites of blood and their functions. Describe the relative amounts and size of the components of blood. List several possible complications associated with the circulatory system and how engineers have helped combat such problems. Materials: red gelatin white rice sealable sandwich bag Blood Cell Model Worksheet Crayons

Why are there only a few white blood cells? (Answer: The rice represents the white blood cells, and as we learned, there are very few white blood cells in our blood-only about 1%.) Why is it so squishy? (Answer: The red blood cells, water and plasma are represented by the gelatin. The red blood cells, in particular, have to be very flexible in order to travel through tiny arteries, called capillaries.)

Cholesterol: Have students demonstrate themselves as blood and cholesterol. More students will act as cholesterol to block the students who are blood from passing through.

Explain the heart as a pump. Use data analysis and graphing to describe and model the strength of the heart. Describe engineers as creating devices to keep the heart strong and functioning. Materials: Paper and pencil 1 tennis ball Tennis Ball Squeeze Worksheet

Squeeze the ball as hard as possible; then, release the grip without dropping the ball. Tell students that this is very similar to the force of one pump of the heart, but the difference is that the heart does not get tired. Now, have the student squeeze the tennis ball as fast and as hard as they can for ten seconds, 30 seconds, and one minute. Their partner should count the number of squeezes, and record the results on the Tennis Ball Squeeze Worksheet.

Describe the function of the respiratory system. Create a model of the lungs and explain what happens to them when you inhale and exhale. Give examples of engineering advancements that have helped with respiratory systems. Materials: 2-liter empty plastic bottle with cap 2 plastic drinking straws (available inexpensively at restaurant supply stores or donated by fast-food chains; do not use the flexible drinking straws) 2 9-inch balloons 1 larger balloon (for example, for a punch ball) 2 rubber bands Lung Worksheet, one per student

The activities were meaningful and easily accessible. Objectives were clear and concise. Each activity connected to the overall unit of Engineering and the Human Body.