Have fun building your own working lung using a few simple materials all while exploring and learning the function of each part of the respiratory system!
What is the Respiratory System?
The respiratory system is responsible for breathing oxygen into our body. Important body parts for breathing include your mouth, nose, trachea, lungs, and diaphragm!
Materials
- Scissors
- 2 balloons
- 1 elastic band (should be fairly thick)
- Modeling clay
- 2L plastic bottle
- 1 straw
- Tape
How to Build Your Own Working Lung
Step 1
Use the scissors to cut the plastic bottle in half, with a parent’s help. You will use only the top half of the bottle with the lid for this activity.
Step 2
Cut the smaller end of one of the balloons off so that you only have the wider, top part of the balloon.
Step 3
Stretch the balloon to fit tightly around the bottom of your cut plastic bottle. If it is not tight, use the thick rubber band to secure the balloon onto the bottle.
The balloon will represent the digaphragm.
Step 4
Place the straw into the other balloon and use the tape to ensure that the balloon is tightly secured to the straw. If you blow into the straw, the balloon should fill with air.
The balloon attached to the straw represents the lungs!
Step 5
Put the straw through the opening at the top of the bottle so the balloon is inside of the bottle.
The straw represents the trachea!
Step 6
Use modelling clay to close off the top of the bottle so no air can get in between the straw and the opening.
The plastic bottle represents the chest cavity. It is important as it protects the lungs.
Step 7
Make a prediction! If you pull on the balloon attached to the bottom of the bottle, what do you think will happen?
Grab onto the balloon attached to the bottom of the bottle and pull in a downward motion.
STEM Q for You: What happened when you pulled down on the balloon? Was your prediction correct?
What is the Diaphragm?
The balloon attached to the bottom of the bottle represents your diaphragm which is a muscle that helps you breathe.
When your diaphragm relaxes (moves down), your lungs fill with air, just like the balloon on the inside of the bottle does. When your diaphragm contracts (moves back up), you breathe air out and your lungs get smaller, just like the balloon!
What Does the Trachea Do?
The trachea acts as a pathway for air to enter and exit your body.
What Molecules Do You Breathe in and Out?
We breathe in oxygen (O2) and we breathe out carbon dioxide (CO2).
Where Does Air Go After We Breathe it in?
Inside of your lungs there are small sacs called “alveoli”. These alveoli are the site of “gas exchange” which means that this is where the oxygen that we breathe in moves into the bloodstream so that it can get to all of the different cells in our body!
This is also where carbon dioxide is brought from the bloodstream back to the lungs so that it can exit our body.
