Feel your heartbeat: a 15-minute 1st grade health and movement activity
What it is: a 1st grade health activity where students feel their heartbeat while sitting, move for 30 seconds, and feel it again. Students learn that the heart works harder during exercise and that moving every day keeps it strong.
Time: about 15 minutes. Grade: 1st grade.
Materials: a timer, open space, and a chart with two columns: resting and after moving.
- Ask: "What does your heart do?" Show where it is: in the middle of the chest, a little to the left.
- Students sit quietly and put a hand flat on their chest. Can they feel it? Is it fast or slow?
- Everyone jumps, jogs in place or does arm circles for 30 seconds.
- Hands back on chests. Ask: "What changed? Why do you think it got faster?"
- Sit and breathe slowly for one minute. Feel it again and talk about how the heart slows down when we rest.
Safety: students choose a move that is safe for their bodies. Anyone who feels dizzy sits down right away.
Differentiation: students who need support can feel the beat on a partner's back with permission, or on their neck with your help. Students who are ready can count beats for 10 seconds. Students who use a wheelchair can do fast arm moves.
Quick check: ask a student to explain why their heart beat faster after jumping.
For more ideas at this grade, browse the other free activities on the Hub.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Science, Life skills & money
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.