Heart Hero Teacher Guide Heart Hero Teacher Guide
Building Strong Hearts through Play & Discovery
Duration
45 Minutes
Audience
Grades K - 3
Goal
Cardio Health Awareness
Mission Supplies
Cones, hoops, & jump ropes
Red, blue, and pink paper
Scissors and glue sticks
Markers (red and blue)
"Beat Booster" Handouts
Stopwatch or Timer
Action Plan
1
The Heart Briefing
5 Mins
Introduce the heart as the body's super-pump.
Have students place their hands on their chest to feel their resting pulse.
Explain that the heart is a muscle—the more we use it, the stronger it gets.
Define "Cardiovascular" as "Heart (Cardio) and Pipes (Vascular)".
2
Beat-Boost Obstacle Course
20 Mins
Get the heart pumping with high-intensity movement.
Set up stations: Zig-zag cones (Arteries), Hoop hops (Blood cells), Jump rope (Pulse beats).
Have students run the course in intervals.
Key Check: Immediately after running, have students feel their chest again. How is it different? (Faster, louder, "thumping").
3
Heart Maker Lab
15 Mins
Visualizing how blood moves through the heart.
Pass out the "Beat Booster" handouts for the diagram.
Guide students in building a layered paper heart (Red for Oxygen-rich, Blue for Oxygen-poor).
Discuss: Why do we need oxygen in our blood? (To power our muscles!).
4
Heart Hero Pledge
5 Mins
Review key facts and encourage a healthy habit for the week.
"I promise to keep my heart strong by playing hard and eating smart!"
Heart Power Slides Heart Power
Meet your body's amazing super-pump!
A Healthy Heart Hero Lesson
What is your Heart?
It's a Muscle!
Just like your arms or legs, your heart is a muscle that works hard all day and night.
The Super-Pump
It pumps blood to every single part of your body—from your nose to your toes!
Make a fist! That's about the size of your heart.
Amazing Heart Facts
100,000
Times your heart beats in a single day!
Never
Your heart never takes a break, even when you sleep!
Strong
Exercise and healthy food keep your pump powerful.
Feeling the Beat
When you run, jump, or play, your muscles need more energy.
Your heart beats FASTER to send them more blood!
MISSION: After our obstacle course, we will check our "Pulse" to see our heart in action!
"Pound! Pound! Pound!"
Obstacle Time!
We are going to move like blood cells racing through the body. Get ready to boost those beats!
Step 1
Warm Up
Step 2
Race Course
Step 3
Check Pulse
Beat Booster Worksheet Beat Booster Worksheet
Healthy Heart Hero Mission
NAME:
DATE:
Amazing Heart Facts
The heart is a strong muscle that pumps blood to your whole body.
It beats about 100,000 times every single day!
Exercise like running and jumping helps keep your heart powerful.
Healthy foods like fruits and veggies are fuel for your heart.
Heart Hero Habits
Check the boxes of things you will do this week:
Play outside for 20 minutes
Try a new fruit or vegetable
Drink plenty of water
Get a good night's sleep
The Anatomy Lab
Color the different parts of the heart to see how it works!
Color Key
ARTERIES (Oxygen Rich)
VEINS (Oxygen Poor)
HEART MUSCLE
Color Me!
Pipes to Lungs
Pipes to Body
"A healthy heart is a happy heart! Keep moving, Hero!"
Heart Maker Instructions Heart Maker Instructions
Building a 3D Paper Heart Model
1
Cut Your Base
Cut a large heart shape out of pink paper. This is your heart muscle!
2
Add the Pipes
Cut two strips of paper: one red and one blue. Glue them to the top of your heart.
3
Layer the Magic
Cut a slightly smaller heart and glue it only in the center to make it "pop" out. This is the inside!
4
Label Your Work
Write "Oxygen-Rich" on the Red strip and "Oxygen-Poor" on the Blue strip.
"I'm a Heart Hero!"
Hero Hack!
Can't find red or blue paper? Use white paper and color it in with markers or crayons!
Keep your pump powerful!
Obstacle Course Protocol Beat-Boost Obstacle Course
Heart Hero Training Protocol
Course Setup
Station 1: Zig-Zag
Representing twisty arteries. Speed through the cones!
Station 2: Cell Hops
Jump in and out of hoops like blood cells traveling.
Station 3: Pulse Jump
10 high-jumps to simulate a fast heart beat!
Heart Hero Log
Record how your heart feels during training.
Resting Heart (Before Course)
QUIET
SLOW
CALM
Pumping Heart (After Course)
THUMPING
FAST
LOUD
My Favorite Part:
POWER UP!
Every time you breathe hard, you are making your heart muscle stronger!
How to find your pulse:
Two fingers on your neck or wrist.
Press gently until you feel a thump-thump.
Count how many beats in 10 seconds!
Try it with a partner!