B. Active Living / C. Movement Competence · Active, Fit and Skilful

DPA and a Healthy Heart and Lungs

B2 A1.5 A1.1About 35 minutes

Learning goals

I can take part in at least 20 minutes of daily physical activity with a warm-up and a cool-down.
I can explain how my heart and lungs work together when I move.
I can name activities that make my heart and lungs stronger.
I can take a deep breath to calm down and get ready to move.

Words to know

daily physical activity (DPA)
At least 20 minutes of moving hard enough to breathe faster, every school day, with a warm-up and a cool-down.

heart
A strong muscle in your chest that pumps blood all around your body.

lungs
Two soft organs in your chest that fill with air when you breathe in.

oxygen
A part of the air that your body needs. Your lungs take it in and your blood carries it to your muscles.

moderate to vigorous
Moving hard enough that you breathe faster (moderate) or huff and puff (vigorous).

endurance
Being able to keep moving for a long time without stopping.

Remember from Grade 1

You learned that DPA has three parts: a warm-up, an active part and a cool-down, and that it lasts at least 20 minutes every school day. You also learned the signs of exertion, like a fast heartbeat and fast breathing.

This year, let's find out why your heart and breathing speed up, and how moving makes them stronger.

Your heart and lungs are a team

Put one hand on your chest and take a big breath in. Feel your chest get bigger? That is your lungs filling with air.

Your lungs take in air. The air has oxygen in it.
The oxygen goes into your blood.
Your heart is a muscle that pumps the blood all around your body.
Your muscles use the oxygen to get the energy to move.

When you run or jump, your muscles need more oxygen. So your lungs breathe faster and your heart pumps faster. That is why you huff and puff!

Your lungs take in air, your heart pumps blood with oxygen, and your muscles use it to get energy to move.

Moving makes your heart and lungs stronger

Your heart is a muscle. Just like your leg muscles get stronger when you use them, your heart gets stronger when you move hard often. Your lungs get better at their job too.

Then you can play longer without getting so tired. This is called endurance.

Activities that make you breathe faster for a while are great for your heart and lungs:

Great for heart and lungs	Why
Running games like tag	You keep moving fast
Skipping rope	Lots of jumps in a row
Dancing to a few songs	You keep moving for minutes
Biking or scootering	Your legs keep pushing
Swimming	Your whole body works
Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing	You move for a long time in the snow

These activities keep you moving for a while, so your heart and lungs work hard.

Breathe, then move

Sometimes you feel upset or worried before playing. Try balloon breathing:

Breathe in slowly through your nose and fill your tummy like a balloon (count 1, 2, 3, 4).
Breathe out slowly through your mouth (count 1, 2, 3, 4).
Do it 3 times.

Now your body is calmer and ready to focus and play.

Just for fun

Your heart beats more than 100,000 times every day, even while you sleep. Talk about a muscle that never takes recess!

Worked example

Let's build a heart-pumping DPA

Plan 20 minutes of activity for the backyard or living room that is good for the heart and lungs.

Warm-up (4 minutes): march on the spot, arm circles, a gentle jog on the spot, side steps.
Active part (12 minutes): 3 rounds of: skip or jump on the spot for 1 minute, dance for 2 minutes, then walk for 1 minute to catch your breath. 3 rounds × 4 minutes = 12 minutes.
Check: Is your heart beating faster? Are you breathing faster? Good. That means your heart and lungs are working.
Cool-down (4 minutes): slow walking, then gentle stretches and 3 balloon breaths.
Add it up: 4 + 12 + 4 = 20 minutes.

A 20-minute plan: 4-minute warm-up, 12-minute active part that keeps you breathing faster, and a 4-minute cool-down.

The 20-minute plan as a timeline (numbers are minutes). The active part repeats skip, dance, walk three times, so your heart and lungs keep working.

Worked example

Let's find out which activity works the heart harder

Which makes your heart work harder: walking slowly for 1 minute or jumping jacks for 1 minute?

Guess first: Which one do you think?
Test it: Walk slowly for 1 minute. Hand on your chest. Is it beating slow or fast?
Rest until your breathing is back to normal.
Test again: Do jumping jacks for 1 minute. Hand on your chest.
Compare: After jumping jacks, your heart is faster and you breathe harder.

Jumping jacks. They use more muscles and more energy, so your heart and lungs work harder.

Hands-on activity

Heart and lungs scientist

You need: a timer and a grown-up.

Sit still for 1 minute. Put a hand on your chest. Count your breaths for 30 seconds while your grown-up times you. Write the number.
Do a heart-pumping move for 1 minute: skipping, running on the spot or dancing.
Count your breaths again for 30 seconds right away. Write the number.
Which number is bigger? (It should be the one after moving!)
Do balloon breathing for 1 minute and count once more. Is your breathing slowing down?

Tell your grown-up: Why did your breathing speed up?

Your turn

What does your heart do?

What do your lungs do?

Why do you breathe faster when you run?

Name two activities that are great for your heart and lungs.

How many minutes of DPA should you do every school day?

Do it and check: Do balloon breathing 3 times.

True or false: Your heart is a muscle.

More practice: warm-up

Where are your heart and lungs?

Does your heart beat faster when you sleep or when you skip rope?

What part of the air does your body need?

What comes first in DPA: the warm-up or the cool-down?

Do it and check: Run on the spot for 30 seconds, then put your hand on your chest.

More practice: on your own

Which is better for your heart and lungs: playing catch standing still or playing tag? Why?

What does endurance mean?

Your DPA warm-up is 5 minutes and your cool-down is 5 minutes. How long must the active part be to make 20 minutes?

Jamal feels nervous before a relay race. What could he do to calm down?

Why does moving often make your heart stronger?

Challenge

Explain to a grown-up, in order, how air helps your leg muscles run.

Plan a snowy-day DPA outside that is good for the heart and lungs. Include all three parts and make it add to 20 minutes.

Two children play. One stands in goal the whole time. One runs around the whole time. Whose heart and lungs work harder? What could make the game fairer for both?

Check your understanding

Quiz

What does your heart do?

What do your lungs take in?

Why does your heart beat faster when you run?

Which activity is best for your heart and lungs?

How long should DPA be every school day?

You feel upset before a game. What can help you get ready?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Grade 2 students continue to take part in daily physical activity (at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each school day, with a warm-up and cool-down) and learn that this kind of activity builds a healthy heart and lungs. They begin to understand the simple link: lungs take in oxygen, the heart pumps blood carrying it, muscles use it.

How to help at home:

Try the Heart and lungs scientist activity together. Counting breaths before and after makes the idea concrete.
Choose family activities that keep everyone moving for a while: a brisk walk, a bike ride, snowshoeing.
Practise balloon breathing at calm times so your child can use it when upset.

Common difficulties:

Mixing up heart and lungs. Heart = pump (blood), lungs = balloons (air).
Thinking fast breathing is bad. It is a normal sign of exertion. Dizziness, chest pain or trouble breathing are not normal: stop and get help.
Children with asthma or other conditions should follow their care plan and keep their medication nearby.

Social-emotional link (strand A): using deep breathing to manage emotions before activity (A1.1) and noticing how the body responds to exercise (A1.5).