Secondary Module 5: Human Powered Sailboats

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Learning Objectives

Describe and explain how the human body produces and uses energy through cellular respiration, and the role of nutrition, performance, and recovery in elite sailing athletes.
Design a fair test investigation to measure recovery time after exercise, ensuring variables are identified and controlled appropriately.
Collect, record, and analyse data on heart rate recovery, and interpret results using tables, graphs, and comparisons with peers.
Evaluate and communicate findings by comparing class results with professional America’s Cup athletes, and apply insights to training, nutrition, and wellbeing.

Lesson Description

This module is broken into five lessons :

Lesson 1 - Intro to the human body (cells, energy, nutrition):
Students will explore the world of professional sailing athletes (including Cyclors) and the science behind how they perform, what they do on AC75 yachts and how they recover. Concepts such cellular respiration, nutrition, performance measures and recovery will be explored. Students will learn about the science of recovery in America’s Cup athletes in the ‘STEM in Focus’ section.

Lesson 2 - Plan the fitness investigation (design a fair test):
Students will design an experiment to test how quickly a peer’s heartrate can return to normal after 1 minute of physical activity. This may require research and group work prior to implementing the experiment.

Lesson 3 - Exercise, record, analyse (data skills):
Students will spend a lesson executing their experiment and collecting data.

Lesson 4 - Apply + communicate (training, nutrition, wellbeing):
Students will have an opportunity to compare their results to other classmates and also that of America’s Cup athlete Luke Parkinson’s 1 minute stationary bike sprint. Students will also analyse their design using the STEM Challenge Analysis Questions section.

Lesson 5 - Optional 'Extra for Experts':
If time permits, students will begin the ‘Extra for Experts’ section. This is a series of application questions that are based on the reading and understanding of the entire module.

Please note - Lesson times are a pacing guide. You can adjust the pace depending on your school's timetable/students' abilities.

Educational Video

Resources

Access resources here

Secondary Teaching Program (Linked to Australian Curriculum
Secondary Module 5 Teacher Guide
Secondary Module 5 Student Workbook
Secondary Module 5 Student Workbook (Answers)
Secondary Module 5 Student PowerPoint
Secondary Module 5 Teacher PowerPoint
Secondary Module 5 Lab Request Form
Secondary Module 5 Assessment
Secondary Module 5 Assessment Answer Key

Other Modules

Module 1	Module 2	Module 3	Module 4	Module 5
Module 6	Module 7	Module 8	Module 9	Module 10