Hands-On Body Systems ACTIVITY: The Network Behind the EKG

This module empowers students with body system lessons that are proven to increase student learning and application of material, help make difficult content easier to learn, and can be immediately implemented into medical skills and terminology…and they are affordable!

This module contains many fun & successful teaching tricks by having students build the major components of the heart's electrical system, sympathetic and parasympathetic control, and how pacemakers can help failures of the electrical system. Students can 'see' how these structures of the heart determine its function to keep the heart beating to sustain quality of life. Textbooks show these structures in a two denominational pictures and students miss too much of how amazing this electrical system really is. This activity puts your students ahead and is great for implementing basic EKG understanding.

This activity provides the opportunity to discuss the diagnostic procedures to determine what part of the electrical system is failing, examine the latest pacemakers, and when they should be used.

Great windows for more pathology application can added along with the examination of lifestyle effects on cardiac health (nutrition and exercise).

Students will love learning through this activity and will gain confidence in their ability to apply knowledge to heart physiology, effects of high intakes of caffeine, and what type of exercise benefits the cardiovascular system.

This module contains time frame, lesson plans, supply list, classroom organization, step-by-step building instructions with pictures.

The following is a list of the table of contents:

Lesson planning, Supplies, & Clay Technique…………pg. 3-6

Objectives and Goals: .......................................................... pg. 7

I. Building the Electrical Components of the Heart…pg. 8-19

II. Building the Major Blood Vessels A. Aorta……………………….…………… pg. 20-23

(Optional) Advanced Lesson: Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic Control ……......... pg. 23-36

B. Superior Vena Cava…………………………….. pg. 37-38

C. Left and Right Subclavian Veins…………………. pg. 39-42

III. Pacemakers: Helping the Heart’s Electrical Coordination.........… pg. 43-53

Grading and Honoring Your Students’ Work…………… pg. 54

Picture Day & Hall of Fame…………………………………………………… pg. 55

Store Student Work……………………………………….. pg. 56

This Activity goes very well with the Star's Notes Module VIA: Heart where you will find the hand movements that go with the electrical system and the EKG. (The Star's Notes Heart Module provides the content notes, helping students locate their heart, flashcards for the blood flow & coronary arteries, etc.)