Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understand the structure and function of the human respiratory system:

   • Identify the major organs of the respiratory system and describe their functions.
   • Relate the structure of respiratory organs to their functions.

2. Comprehend the process of human respiration:

   • Explain what respiration is and why it is essential for life.
   • Describe the process of inspiration and expiration, including the actions of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles.

3. Recognize the effects of the environment on the respiratory system:

   • Discuss how air pollution, smoke, and other substances can impact the health of the respiratory system.
   • Identify ways to protect and maintain a healthy respiratory system.

Secondary Objectives

• Promote critical thinking and problem-solving:

  • Encourage students to think critically about the importance of the respiratory system and how to care for it.
  • Develop problem-solving skills through exploration of environmental issues affecting the respiratory system.

• Stimulate inquiry and self-directed learning:

  • Motivate students to seek out additional information about the respiratory system beyond what is presented in class.
  • Foster self-directed learning by guiding students to use various sources of information, such as textbooks, the internet, and educational videos.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of previous concepts:

   • The teacher begins the lesson by reviewing the basic concepts of cells, tissues, and organs, which are foundational to understanding the structure and function of the respiratory system.
   • Next, the teacher asks students to briefly describe what they recall about the circulatory system and the function of the heart to introduce how these systems relate to the respiratory system.

2. Problem situations:

   • The teacher presents two problem situations to spark students' interest and initiate discussion on the topic:
     • "What happens to our bodies when we run very fast and become out of breath?"
     • "How can people who live in areas with heavily polluted air protect their respiratory health?"

3. Contextualizing the topic:

   • The teacher contextualizes the importance of the respiratory system by explaining that all of our bodily activities, from the simplest, like sleeping, to the most complex, like playing sports, depend on breathing.
   • Additionally, the teacher emphasizes the health relevance of the topic by highlighting that respiratory problems, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.

4. Topic introduction:

   • The teacher introduces the lesson's topic, the respiratory system, with two fun facts:
     • "Did you know that, on average, a person breathes about 20,000 times a day? That means by the end of the day, we will have inhaled and exhaled approximately 11,000 liters of air!"
     • "And here is another interesting fact: if we were to unfold all the alveoli in our lungs, which are the functional units of respiration, they would cover an area of about 80 square meters, which is equivalent to a tennis court!"

5. Attention grabber:

   • To grab the students' attention, the teacher shares two impactful images:
     • The first, an aerial photo of a highly polluted city to illustrate the impact of air pollution on respiratory health.
     • The second, a picture of a marathon runner at the moment of arrival to represent the importance of the respiratory system in physical activity.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity: Building the Respiratory System (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Materials needed: Cardboard organ models (lungs, trachea, bronchioles, diaphragm), straws, balloons, tape.
   • Students, in groups of five, will each get a set of materials and will build a model of the respiratory system.
   • Each group follows a visual guide (provided by the teacher) to put the model together, connecting the organs (straws) and representing the passage of air (inflated balloons) through the system.
   • As students build, the teacher circulates, clarifying questions and guiding a discussion on the function of each organ and the process of respiration.

2. Activity: Gas Exchange Role-Play (5 - 7 minutes)

   • Materials needed: "Oxygen" and "carbon dioxide" cards.
   • Still in their groups, students will participate in a role-play to understand the gas exchange process in the alveoli of the lungs.
   • Each student will receive either an "oxygen" card (represented by a blue circle) or a "carbon dioxide" card (represented by a red circle). The objective is to have students act out the movement of oxygen from the alveoli into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide from the bloodstream into the alveoli.
   • Students simulate the gas exchange by passing the "oxygen" and "carbon dioxide" cards between each other until all the "alveoli" (represented by the students) have made the exchange.
   • During the activity, the teacher checks in with students to ask what they are doing and why it is important for the human body.

3. Activity: Lung Health Debate (5 - 6 minutes)

   • To wrap up the Development stage, there will be a debate on lung health, where students will be divided into two groups, "Risk Factors" and "Preventative Measures".
   • The "Risk Factors" group will discuss how air pollution, smoke, and other substances can impact the health of the respiratory system.
   • The "Preventative Measures" group will discuss ways to protect and maintain a healthy respiratory system, such as avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke and air pollution, exercising regularly, among others.
   • Each group will have time to prepare their arguments and then present them to the other group. The teacher will moderate the debate, ensuring that all students have a chance to participate and share their perspectives.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes)

   • The teacher will invite each group to share the solutions or conclusions they came up with during their group activities.
   • Each group will have up to 2 minutes to present their findings and conclusions.
   • The teacher will encourage other groups to ask questions or provide comments, thus promoting a rich and collaborative discussion.

2. Connecting to Theory (2 - 3 minutes)

   • After all the presentations, the teacher will connect the hands-on activities to the theory.
   • The teacher will highlight how the activities helped the students better understand the structure and function of the respiratory system, the process of breathing, and the importance of taking care of their respiratory health.
   • The teacher will also reinforce key concepts and correct any misconceptions that may have come up during the discussions.

3. Individual Reflection (3 - 4 minutes)

   • The teacher will ask students to individually reflect on what they learned during the class.
   • To facilitate reflection, the teacher will ask the following questions:
     1. "What was the most important concept you learned today?"
     2. "What questions do you still have?"
   • Students will take a minute to think about their answers.
   • Then, the teacher will call on a few students to share their reflections with the class, encouraging idea-sharing and collaborative learning.

4. Teacher Feedback (1 minute)

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher will provide general feedback on the students' participation and performance throughout the lesson.
   • The teacher will also reinforce the importance of the respiratory system to health and life and encourage students to continue learning about the topic and taking care of their respiratory health.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Content Summary (2 - 3 minutes)

   • The teacher reviews the main points covered in the lesson, reinforcing the structure and function of the respiratory system, the process of breathing, and the importance of protecting and maintaining this system.
   • They highlight the significance of each organ in the respiratory system, from the nose and mouth, where air enters, to the alveoli, where gas exchange takes place.
   • Additionally, the teacher reiterates the vital role of respiration for life, explaining how, through the respiratory process, our bodies obtain oxygen, necessary for carrying out its functions, and expel carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism.

2. Connecting Theory and Practice (1 - 2 minutes)

   • The teacher highlights how the hands-on activities, such as building the respiratory system and the gas exchange role-play, helped to solidify students' understanding of how the respiratory system works.
   • They emphasize that, through participation in the activities, students were able to visualize and simulate the processes that take place inside their own bodies, making the learning more concrete and meaningful.

3. Supplementary Materials (1 - 2 minutes)

   • The teacher suggests a few additional resources for students who would like to further their knowledge of the respiratory system. These may include textbooks, educational websites, explanatory videos, and interactive learning apps.
   • They also encourage students to do their independent research on the topic, emphasizing the importance of self-directed learning and active knowledge-seeking.

4. Relevance of the Topic (1 minute)

   • To conclude the lesson, the teacher reinforces the relevance of the respiratory system to the students' daily lives.
   • They highlight that understanding the respiratory system is not only important to know how our bodies work but also to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of our respiratory health, especially in an increasingly polluted world.
   • The teacher ends by reiterating that the knowledge gained in the lesson can be applied to real-life situations, aiding students in making more informed decisions about their health and well-being.