Respiratory System Labs and Activities | High School Anatomy

Need low-prep, ready-to-use activities for your respiratory system unit? How about SIX activities, including three labs, a crossword, a diagram, and an article and questions on COVID-19.

Lab #1: Build-A-Lung

• Students will build a thoracic cavity, complete with a lung and diaphragm. They will push the diaphragm up (relax it) and pull the diaphragm down (contract it) to see first hand the impact that the diaphragm has on the lungs.
• Supplies needed: empty water 16-oz water bottles, balloons

Lab #2: Rate of Breathing

• Students will read about the role of the brainstem in respiration. After understanding how the respiration rate increases and decreases, they will do short exercises and count the number of breaths they take to investigate breathing rate changes.
• Supplies needed: stopwatch (or phone timer)

Lab #3: Pulse Oximetry & Hemoglobin

• Students will read about the involvement of hemoglobin in carrying oxygen through the bloodstream. After understanding the role of this protein, students will then apply what they have learned to the mechanics of a pulse oximeter. Students will use a pulse oximeter to measure their oxygen saturation under a variety of conditions.
• Supplies needed: pulse oximeter

Activities: respiratory system basics crossword puzzle, respiratory tract diagram, COVID-19 article and questions

What is included in this resource?

• Teacher Instructions
• 5 pages of labs plus a digital version of the labs through Google Slides™
• 1 page crossword puzzle
• 1 diagram plus a digital version through Google Slides™
• 1-page COVID-19 article and one page of questions plus a digital version through Google Slides™

Don’t want to use one of these activities or short on time? Skip it! The labs are all independent of each other. 

Need a few more activities for your respiratory system unit? Try out the Respiratory System Anatomy Coloring & Activity Packet or Respiratory System Scavenger Hunt.