Bottled Ballons: A Respiratory System Activity

Objectives:

• Explain how the lungs work.
• Describe how the movement of the diaphragm helps the air go in and out of the the lungs.

Materials:

   1 two-liter empty plastic bottle 

   3 balloons (1 big, 2 small)

   1 sturdy straw

   1 pair of scissors

   5 rubber bands

Procedure:

• Using a pair of scissors, cut the bottom out of the 2-liter plastic bottle.
• Create two holes that are apart from each other in the cap pf the plastic bottle. Make sure the each hole is just big enough for a straw to fit through.
• Stick the two straws through the two holes of the bottle cap.
• Place one balloon on the end of each straw, and secure them with rubber bands, as shown in the figure below.

• Stick the balloon on ends of the straws through the bottle opening and screw the lid on tightly.
• Stretch out the larger balloon and place it over the open bottom of the bottle. Secure it with the rubber band as tightly as possible. Refer to the diagram of the finished lung model below. 

• Pull the larger balloon down; that is, away from the bottle, in order to blow up the two small balloons.
• Push the larger balloon towards the bottle in order to let the air out of the two small balloons.

Try the activity and discover how the lungs work! Have fun and learn!

Source: Bottled Balloon Activity