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Goal

Use stationary bikes and pulse oximeters to explore real-world math and science 

What will be done with my students

This project provides students with a series of scientific investigations involving pulse oximetry and data collection. Students will measure and graph heart rate and oxygen saturation levels during varying levels of exercise. Students will work in small groups to pedal the stationary bike and record data such as distance, time, heart rate and oxygen saturation. The equipment in this project was selected to demonstrate the need for accurate data collection in science. This provides students with an engaging way to review experimental design methods. Groups of students can record, graph and share data with their peers – modeling the scientific review process. This project will be incorporated into our unit on human body organs because there are a limited number of hands-on experiments. We will investigate how the brain, heart, lungs, digestive organs, muscles and bones must all work together to create movement. The kinesthetic activities can also be extended to review topics like energy, electricity, and forces. Ultimately, these activities reveal practical ways to apply math and science concepts in real life. 5th grade students have tons of energy - let's see them do some work and cause a change.  

Benefits to my students

Our district data from last year indicated that students struggled with “Practice of Science” standards on the Florida Statewide Science Assessment. These standards are focused on how science experiments are set up, conducted, and replicated by other scientists. They also focus on how experimental data is collected and presented to peers. Students need more hands-on practice to better understand independent variables and control groups. I think that students become disconnected from these standards because the majority of examples are about finding out which plant fertilizer made the plants grow the most. However, these proposed activities involve bicycles, energy and motion, which is a more engaging way of demonstrating science. There is another practical aspect of the lesson which involves the quantitative analysis of calories burned during exercise. Health and fitness are engaging ways to make the science relevant and personal to each student.
Project Outcomes:
Incorporate the activities and lesson with all 5th grade math/science teachers. We have over 100 5th grade students that could be impacted this year and the materials can be reused each year to help future classes.
Improve classroom test scores on the district science benchmark test
Improve SSA performance in the “Practice of Science”, “Forms of Energy” and “Organization of Living Things” science domains.
Project Outputs:
Each student will create a science journal that tracks the amount of time and miles pedaled on the bike. Heart rates and saturation will be recorded in tables. This data will be used to create lines graph and bar graph posters to display results.  

Budget Narrative

The items listed will be used by multiple teachers in 5th grade classrooms. Items on the list can be reused for future classes.
2 stationary bikes (adjustable seating and transport wheels)
5 Children size pulse oximeters

Other materials for graphing, coloring, measuring will be provided by the teachers 

Items