Huff & Puff – Explore the role of a Respiratory Therapist

Overview

In this activity, students will learn how breathing works in their bodies and discuss the important role and responsibilities of a respiratory therapist.

NB Curricular Connections

K-2 Explore Your World

• Strand: Well Being – Big Idea: Emotional Health and Positive Identities – Skill Descriptors: Explore activities that foster enjoyment and well-being.
• Strand: Well Being  – Big Idea: Physical Health and Active Participation – Skill Descriptors: Analyze personal safety and healthy practices
• Strand: Play & Playfulness – Big Idea: Play & Inquiry – Skill Descriptors: Engage in activities that introduce elements of risk, novelty, and the unknown.

What you’ll need

• 2 different colors of paper cone hats or headbands

Instructions

1. Discuss: How does breathing work?
2. Action: Follow along in this Bunny Breath Tutorial.
3. Movement: In this simple movement activity, students will explore how breathing works.
   • Divide your classroom into 3 groups and each group will be lungs, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.
   • Differentiate your Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen group by wearing different color hats (paper cone hats) or headbands.
   • The Lungs group will join hands and form a big circle. The Carbon Dioxide group will start by standing inside the circle and the Oxygen group will be outside of the circle.
   • Whenever you announce “Inhale”, the circle will get bigger and on “Exhale”, the circle will get smaller.
   • On “Inhale”, the Oxygen group will move to the inside of the circle.
   • On “Exhale”, the Carbon Dioxide group will move to the outside of the circle.
   • Try increasing the speed and see if all the Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide are able to move correctly and on time.
4. Watch a short animation video on the Respiratory System and have the students re-iterate how breathing works.
5. Discuss: Where do you go when something is wrong with your respiratory system? What is Respiratory Therapy? What does a Respiratory Therapist do?
6. Wrap-up: Discuss with the students the skills and knowledge needed to becoming a successful Respiratory Therapist

Reflection Activity

Please see the attached PDF for several choices on how you and your learners can reflect upon today’s activity.

Global Competency

1. Collaboration.pdf (gnb.ca)
2. Communication.pdf (gnb.ca)
3. CriticalThinking.pdf (gnb.ca)