HOW GOOD OF A CAR ARE YOU?

Your job here as the facilitator is to demonstrate ways the students can compare the body to a car.  Explain to them further how a computers and other devices are similar and aid in beginning their creative component.  The students need to focus on being unique in their ideas.  As long as they have a good understanding of blood pressure and the way it affects the body, they should not have any trouble with this analogous assignment.

It is often thought that when humans create many technological advancements, the logic behind the functionality of the inventions is based on the functionality of humans.  For example, computers are built very similar to a human.  The mouse and keyboard serve as senses that take in information put it into the storage devices which operate similar to the human brain.  Cameras operate similar to a person's eyes with the lens being the eye, the shutter and ability to increase depth of the shot works like the iris and pupil, and human memory can be compared to film. 

When thinking about the heart and blood pressure and the important role they play in maintaining human life, it can also be compared to an automobile. Many of the parts of an automobile just like human parts.  For example, many people compare the fuel pump in a car to the heart because they both pump the most vital component throughout the body and recycles it as it passes through the cycle. 

You are to use the links below to get a better understanding of the comparisons of human parts (those affected by the heart and blood pressure) to automobile parts.  Use "Link 1" as the guide to comparing the parts.  Print out the sheet from "Link 1" to refer to for the remainder of the assignment.  Use the sites under "More Resources" to guide you in analyzing the comparisons. (You are free to utilize other web resources, just make sure you site them) Once you have all the information you need:

• Create a 2 column table comparing at least 8 car parts to 8 human parts (See Example Below)

  • Describe how they compare in relationship to the blood and blood pressure

  • Similar attributes

  • Use your results from monitoring your blood pressure to analyze your status as a person and a car

  • In the space for "Synopsis", write whether the mechanic would consider you Excellent, Good, Fair, Bad, or Junk

  • If there is an area where you need improvement, put how it can be achieved

  • The example below is just an example of how to prepare your situation.  The two criteria are not very realistic but wanted to touch on both situations (Good and Bad).  Feel free to describe however you please, but be thorough and creative.

  • Email your table to your teacher

• For an additional 20 points, draw (freehand or using the computer) a diagram of a car and label the components and describe what body part they are functioning as. 

Let students know that there is no true right or wrong way to analyze as long as they demonstrate understanding of blood pressure (from lessons and other resources throughout the webquest).

It is recommended that some type of incentive be offered for students who really go above and beyond.  Have a contest where students vote on the best ones without them knowing whose is whose, etc.

Link 1:

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/0876284764_24.pdf

More Resources:

http://www.omsi.edu/visit/physics/ww/background/science/realworld/Heart.html

http://www.omsi.edu/visit/physics/ww/background/science/realworld/FuelPump.html

http://www.medicineatmichigan.org/magazine/2003/summer/bioengineering/

Grading Scheme for this Assignment:

Grading Criteria

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