Heart structure and cycle
Students will describe heart chambers, vessels, and the cardiac cycle using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
Annotated heart diagram with blood path traced from right atrium through the pulmonary and systemic circuits, labeled with chamber names, major vessels, and cardiac cycle phases.
- 1Do thisStudents will describe heart chambers, vessels, and the cardiac cycle using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisNotebook check: Annotated heart diagram with blood path traced from right atrium through the pulmonary and systemic circuits, labeled with chamber names, major vessels, and cardiac cycle phases.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems) › Unit 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection: Cardiovascular and respiratory systems, blood vessels, heart structure, EKG interpretation. › Notebook checkOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: The heart is a two-sided pump; understanding chamber sequence and valve function is prerequisite knowledge for interpreting EKG and blood-pressure data.
- 0-10Warm-up: label blank heart diagram from memory
- 10-28Guided notes: four chambers, major vessels, arteries vs. veins vs. capillaries, cardiac cycle phases
- 28-45PLTW online cardiac-cycle activity
- 45-58Trace blood path through heart and lungs on annotated diagram
- 58-70Write one question about the cardiac cycle; peer-answer
- 70-80Submit annotated diagram and PLTW completion confirmation
- • Tomorrow you will measure your own EKG and blood pressure, so today you need the structural foundation.
- • Knowing exactly which chamber contracts when will let you interpret each wave on the EKG trace.
- • The blood-path tracing you do today is a skill directly assessed in the Evaluate Body Systems WebXam domain.
- • Leave with a correct blood-path trace and a completed PLTW activity.
- 1Take notes on the four chambers and major vessels.
- 2Compare arteries, veins, and capillaries.
- 3Complete the PLTW online cardiac-cycle activity.
- 4Trace a drop of blood through the heart and lungs.
- 5Write one question about the cardiac cycle.
- • Blood path through the heart is traced correctly.
- • PLTW online task is submitted complete.
- • Blood flows: right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary circuit, left atrium, left ventricle, systemic circuit.
- • Systole is ventricular contraction (pumping); diastole is ventricular relaxation (filling).
- • Arteries carry blood away from the heart; veins return blood to the heart; capillaries are the site of exchange.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection: Cardiovascular and respiratory systems, blood vessels, heart structure, EKG interpretation. · Heart structure and cycle
Day 2 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Complete the cardiac-cycle online activity in Lesson 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection on myPLTW; work through all chamber, vessel, and cycle-phase screens during the 28-45 minute window.
Mark the cardiac-cycle activity complete in myPLTW after submitting your annotated blood-path diagram.
Monday's task is done; today the cardiac-cycle task should show complete.
Screenshot or note of completion status for your tracker.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection: Cardiovascular and respiratory systems, blood vessels, heart structure, EKG interpretation. · Heart structure and cycle
Complete the cardiac-cycle online activity in Lesson 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection on myPLTW; work through all chamber, vessel, and cycle-phase screens during the 28-45 minute window.
Monday's task is done; today the cardiac-cycle task should show complete.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Students will describe heart chambers, vessels, and the cardiac cycle using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
- Take notes on the four chambers and major vessels.
- Compare arteries, veins, and capillaries.
- Complete the PLTW online cardiac-cycle activity.
- Trace a drop of blood through the heart and lungs.
- Write one question about the cardiac cycle.
Notebook check: Annotated heart diagram with blood path traced from right atrium through the pulmonary and systemic circuits, labeled with chamber names, major vessels, and cardiac cycle phases.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Take notes on the four chambers and major vessels. | _______ |
| Compare arteries, veins, and capillaries. | _______ |
| Complete the PLTW online cardiac-cycle activity. | _______ |
| Trace a drop of blood through the heart and lungs. | _______ |
| Write one question about the cardiac cycle. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- Blood path through the heart is traced correctly.
- PLTW online task is submitted complete.
Resources & readings
Vetted readings and references for this unit. Use them to prepare, to catch up if you were absent, or to go deeper on today's target.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your Notebook check.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
MedlinePlus: Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)Optional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Tue, Nov 17, 2026 · Heart structure and cycle here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
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