LUNGS – The Diaphragm 6th Class

by Ayomikun  Ajibade

We have been learning about our respiratory system and investigating how our lungs work in 6th class. The diaphragm is a dome shaped muscle found underneath our lungs. It is a very important muscle and helps us breathe. We made a model of a lung and diaphragm in class. Check out our method, some pictures and a short video below.

Materials:  empty plastic bottle, two balloons and an elastic band, scissors.

Instructions to make your model:

Method:  

      1. 

      Get your bottle and remove the lid. Next, using a scissors cut the bottom off the bottle.

            2.  

      Then, put the opening of the balloon onto the mouth of the bottle. This will represent a the lung. (The balloon should be inside the bottle).

      3.

      After that cut the mouth of the other balloon and place the balloon over the bottom of the bottle. Wrap an elastic rubber band around the base of the bottle to keep the balloon in place. This balloon represents the diaphragm. Try not to make a hole in the balloon, if you do you can use a piece of a plastic bag instead.

How to use your model:  

When you pull the end of the balloon around the base of the bottle, air goes into the balloon on the top. After you let go of the balloon it contracts (tightens) and the air goes out of the balloon.

This shows when we breathe in (inhale), the diaphragm moves down making the chest expand. This causes air to be sucked into our lungs. The diaphragm then relaxes and moves up causing air to be pushed out of the lungs (exhale).