Heart Helpers Lesson PlanHeart Helpers Tier 3 Individual Tutorial • 8th Grade Health 25 Minutes Learning Objective Students will learn how the heart and cardiovascular system function and will develop a personalized, heart-healthy exercise plan. By the end, they can measure their resting heart rate, identify beneficial exercises, and set goals in their health log. Why This Matters "Understanding cardiovascular health empowers students to make informed choices about their fitness and lifestyle. Creating a personalized exercise plan fosters responsibility and promotes lifelong habits." Preparation Preview the Cardio Care Slide Deck to ensure familiarity. Review the My Heart Health Log Journal prompts. Examine the Heart Rate Chart Worksheet. Prep Time: 5 mins Instructional Plan 1. Introduction & Objectives 3 MINS Greet the student and explain the session’s goals. Present the lesson objectives on Slide 1 of the Cardio Care Slide Deck. Emphasize what they will measure, learn, and plan by the end of the tutorial. 2. Cardiovascular System Overview 7 MINS Use Slides 2–5 to describe heart structure and blood circulation. Ask the student to summarize each function in their own words. Clarify any questions about how the heart and vessels work together. 3. Measure & Record Heart Rate 5 MINS Explain how to find the pulse at the wrist or neck. Have the student measure their resting heart rate using a timer. Record the rate on the Heart Rate Chart Worksheet and discuss the significance of the number. 4. Personalized Exercise Plan 7 MINS Introduce heart-healthy exercises (brisk walking, cycling, etc.). Ask the student to choose 2–3 activities they enjoy. Guide them to set frequency and duration goals in the My Heart Health Log Journal. 5. Reflection & Next Steps 3 MINS Prompt reflection on heart rate and exercise choices. Encourage daily log entries and summarize key takeaways. Advise on when to re-measure and adjust goals. Session Materials Cardio Care Slides Health Log Journal Heart Rate Worksheet
Cardio Care SlidesHeart Helpers One-on-one Session: Understand your heart and plan heart-healthy exercises. Objectives 1 Measure your resting heart rate 2 Identify 2–3 heart-healthy activities 3 Set frequency and duration goals in your health log Heart Structure 2 Atria (upper) Receive blood entering the heart. 2 Ventricles (lower) Pump blood out of the heart. Valves Keep blood flowing in one direction. Blood Circulation Right Side Heart LUNGS Left Side Heart Body Tissues Oxygen-poor blood enters the right side, goes to lungs for oxygen, then the left side pumps it to the body! Heart Rate Basics What is it? Beats per minute (BPM) when your body is calm and at rest. Teen Healthy Range 60 – 100 BPM Influenced by: Fitness Level Stress & Emotion Hydration Sleep Quality Measuring Your Pulse 1. FIND Locate your pulse at your wrist or neck. 2. COUNT Count beats for 15 seconds. 3. CALCULATE Multiply by 4 to get your BPM. Record your results on your Heart Rate Chart! Heart-Healthy Activities Walking / Jogging Cycling Swimming Jump Rope Dancing Pick 2-3 Favorites Set Your Goals How Often? Example: 3x per week How Long? Example: 20 mins / session Daily Habit "What you do today determines your heart health tomorrow." Update Your Health Log Daily
Heart Helpers ScriptHeart Helpers Script Instructional Guide for One-on-One Tutorial Teacher Script 1 Introduction & Objectives (3 mins) TEACHER: "Hello [Student Name]! I'm excited to work with you today. We're going to explore how your heart works, measure your resting heart rate, and create a personalized exercise plan to keep your heart healthy." TEACHER: "Let's look at our goals on Slide 1 of the Cardio Care Slide Deck. (Advance slide) By the end of our session today, you will be able to measure your resting heart rate, identify 2–3 exercises that support heart health, and set frequency and duration goals in your health log. Does that sound good?" Student Response: 2 Cardiovascular Overview (7 mins) TEACHER: "We’ll use slides 2 to 5 to learn about the heart’s structure and how blood circulates. Ready? (Advance to slide 3) Tell me, what are the main parts of the heart?" TEACHER: "The heart has two upper chambers called atria, and two lower chambers called ventricles. Valves keep blood flowing in one direction. Can you name the two types of chambers?" Student Response: TEACHER: "Exactly—atria and ventricles. Next, slide 4 shows the blood circulation pathway. Walk me through how blood travels through your heart and body." Student Response: TEACHER: "Wonderful! Oxygen-poor blood enters the right atrium, moves to the right ventricle, then to the lungs. There, it picks up oxygen, returns to the left atrium, and gets pumped by the left ventricle to the rest of the body. Now slide 5: let's talk about heart rate basics." TEACHER: "Resting heart rate is your beats per minute when you’re calm. A healthy range for teens is about 60–100 bpm. What factors might cause your heart rate to rise or fall?" Student Response: 3 Measure & Record Heart Rate (5 mins) TEACHER: "Great discussion! Now let's find your pulse. Slide 6. You can feel your pulse on your wrist or neck. I’ll show you how. Place two fingers here and count for 15 seconds. Then multiply by 4. Would you like to try wrist or neck?" Student Response: TEACHER: "Excellent. Let’s record that on the Heart Rate Chart Worksheet. Write today’s date and your bpm. How do you feel about that number?" Student Response: 4 Personalized Exercise Plan (7 mins) TEACHER: "Now, let’s talk about exercises. Slide 7. Brisk walking, cycling, swimming, jump rope, or dance. Which 2 or 3 activities sound fun to you?"
My Heart Health Log JournalMy Heart Health Log Track your progress and strengthen your heart. Student: Start Date: My Heart-Healthy Goals Activity 1 Frequency (days/week) Duration (minutes/session) Activity 2 Frequency (days/week) Duration (minutes/session) Activity 3 Frequency (days/week) Duration (minutes/session) Daily Log Entry Date Resting Heart Rate (BPM) Activity Name Duration (Min) Intensity Level Low Moderate High How did you feel before, during, and after this activity? Use this format to log each workout session. Weekly Check-In Week of: Avg. Resting Heart Rate: What went well this week? What challenges did you face? Will you adjust your goals? If yes, how?
Heart Rate Chart WorksheetHeart Rate Chart Cardiovascular Fitness Tracking Name: Date: Instructions Measure your resting heart rate once each day at about the same time (e.g., right after you wake up). 1 Find your pulse (wrist/neck) 2 Count beats for 15 seconds 3 Multiply count by 4 (BPM) 4 Record data in the table Date15-sec CountBPM (×4)How did you feel?Average Resting Heart Rate (BPM): Reflection: Cardiovascular Fitness What does your average resting heart rate tell you about your cardiovascular fitness? Plan Adjustment Based on these measurements, what might you adjust in your personalized exercise plan? Tip: Consistency is key! Measure at the same time every day. Keep it steady
