Make a lung model Follow FizzicsEd 150 Science Experiments: Comments 2 You will need: A clean dry plastic bottle (around 600mL works well but other sizes are OK too) Two balloons A straw Scissors Sticky tape, masking tape or electrical tape A rubber band Blu-tack, modelling clay, plasticine or firm playdough Copyright Instruction Video Instruction 1 Carefully cut the bottom off the plastic bottle and cut the top (the rounded part) off one of the balloons. 2 Stretch the cut part of the balloon over the bottom of the bottle so it forms a thin skin like the surface of a drum, with the neck of the balloon hanging free. Secure with tape. This balloon represents the diaphragm. 3 Put the straw inside the other balloon and attach them using the rubber band. Be careful to make it tight enough that it won’t slip off but not too tight to crush the straw (you need air to flow through). 4 Put the balloon inside the bottle. It should be hanging free and not touching the other balloon. This hanging balloon represents the lung. 5 Hold the straw in place using the blu-tack (or other modelling material) to create a lid. Ensure the entire neck of the bottle is covered to make an air-tight seal. 6 Your lung model is ready to use! 7 Carefully pull the balloon at the base of the bottle up and down and watch as the other balloon inflates. This represents the action of the diaphragm and the inflation of the lungs. 8 School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions. – Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from. – Designed by experienced educators. – Over 2 million students reached. – Face to face incursions & online programs available. – Early learning centre visits too! 9 Online courses for teachers & parents – Help students learn how science really works 10 Get the Unit of Work on the human body here! Learn about the major body systems Dive into the five senses How does digestion, respiration, circulation and many other processes work and more! Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more Why Does This Happen? When you breathe in, your diaphragm – the muscle at the base of your lungs, contracts. This expands your chest cavity, lowering the air pressure of the cavity below the air pressure outside, and inflating the lungs. You can see this same principle at work in this ‘homemade lung’. When you pull on the diaphragm balloon, it lowers the air pressure in the bottle. This pulls in air from outside the bottle, allowing the balloon at the top – the lung – to inflate. Variables to test More about variables here Change the size of the balloons. Change the size of the bottle. Can you make this work with more than one balloon as a “lung” Learn more! Teaching about the human body? From 5 senses to the skeletal system, the Human Body workshop has you covered! Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class. Human Body Years 3 to 6 Maximum 30 students School workshop (NSW only) 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now Liquid Nitrogen Show Years 7 to 10 Maximum 60 students Science show 45 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now Be Amazing! How to teach science, the way primary kids love. $29.95 inc. GST View Details Add to Cart Trustpilot
Carefully cut the bottom off the plastic bottle and cut the top (the rounded part) off one of the balloons.
Stretch the cut part of the balloon over the bottom of the bottle so it forms a thin skin like the surface of a drum, with the neck of the balloon hanging free. Secure with tape. This balloon represents the diaphragm.
Put the straw inside the other balloon and attach them using the rubber band. Be careful to make it tight enough that it won’t slip off but not too tight to crush the straw (you need air to flow through).
Put the balloon inside the bottle. It should be hanging free and not touching the other balloon. This hanging balloon represents the lung.
Hold the straw in place using the blu-tack (or other modelling material) to create a lid. Ensure the entire neck of the bottle is covered to make an air-tight seal.
Carefully pull the balloon at the base of the bottle up and down and watch as the other balloon inflates. This represents the action of the diaphragm and the inflation of the lungs.
School science visits since 2004! – Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions. – Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from. – Designed by experienced educators. – Over 2 million students reached. – Face to face incursions & online programs available. – Early learning centre visits too!
Get the Unit of Work on the human body here! Learn about the major body systems Dive into the five senses How does digestion, respiration, circulation and many other processes work and more! Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more
Teaching about the human body? From 5 senses to the skeletal system, the Human Body workshop has you covered! Get in touch with FizzicsEd to find out how we can work with your class.
Human Body Years 3 to 6 Maximum 30 students School workshop (NSW only) 60 or 90 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now
Liquid Nitrogen Show Years 7 to 10 Maximum 60 students Science show 45 minutes Online Class Available Read More Enquire Now
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials. Read More Enquire Now
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
Be Amazing! How to teach science, the way primary kids love. $29.95 inc. GST View Details Add to Cart Trustpilot
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
Thank you for looking to subscribing to our newsletter 🙂 Through this service you’ll be first to know about the newest free experiments, science news and special offers. PLUS: Get a free Kitchen Chemistry Booklet with >20 experiments, how to use variables plus a handy template!
Please fill out the details below and an email will be sent to you. Once you get that just click on the link to confirm your subscription and you're all done!