1. Muscle Activities to Test Your Muscle Strength!
How much stamina do
your muscles have?

2. Turn to a page in your science notebook. Write the title as shown
Turn to a page in your science notebook. Write the title as shown. When you get to each activity, make a heading as shown below.
Activity #1 – The Cups
Activity #2 - Strength
Biceps
Triceps
Forearm
Activity #3 – The Book
Activity #4 – Wall Sit
Activity #5 – Clothespin Squeeze
MUSCLE LAB
Muscle Lab

3. Activity #1 – Which one is Heavier
Work in pairs of 2
One person will hold the two cups labeled A and B while closing their eyes!
Each cup will weigh about the same
The other person will then take the cups away and add weight to one of the cups. (use the pennies at your table but keep track of how many you add)
The person closing their eyes will have to guess which cup now weighs more.
Continue until the person can tell which cup is heavier.
When done, remove the extra pennies for the next class.
Class Discussion: How much extra weight was needed for the muscles to send the message of more weight to the brain?
***In your notebook, write down your partners name and how many extra pennies it took to send the message to the brain.

4. 1 2 3 Repeat each exercise 3 times. Activity #2 – How strong are you?
Working with a group complete the following exercise to measure the strength of your arms.
Biceps: Hold the measuring scale under the desk and push up (make sure you are able to see the number of Kilograms).
Triceps: place scale on desk; press with your hands – not your arms.
Forearms: Grab scale as hard as you can – do not use your thumbs
***Each person must document their scores on their papers.
Repeat each exercise 3 times. 1 2 3

5. Now let’s measure muscle fatigue

6. Muscle Fatigue What causes muscle fatigue?
Can you do anything to prevent it?
How long can your muscles endure?
Muscle fatigue is a muscle’s reduced ability to generate power and force.
In other words, when your muscles feel tired and can’t do a task anymore, you are experiencing muscle fatigue!

7. Timer Activity #3 – How long can you last? Stand up.
Each person take 1 textbook.
When the timer starts, hold a World History textbook in your hands, palms should be flat and facing; arms should be straight and held in front of you at shoulder length.
Sit down when your arms get too tired to hold the book out in front of you.
**In your notebook, document the amount of time you were able to hold the book out in front of you.
Timer

8. Timer Activity #4 – Too Tired to Sit
Get into a sitting position against a wall so that your back is flat against the wall and your thighs are parallel with the floor.
Time how long you can remain in this position.
Repeat 3 times.
How did it feel when you tried to walk after this exercise?
The funny feeling in your legs is muscle fatigue which is when the muscles are tired and lack energy.
**In your notebook, document the amount of time you were able to sit against the wall.
Timer

9. Timer Activity #5 – Clothespin Squeeze
Hold a clothespin between your thumb and your index finger.
Count how many times you can squeeze a clothespin in one minute.
Repeat 2 more times in a row.
Record the number each time
What did you notice about the number of times you were able to squeeze the clothespin each time?
**In your notebook, document the amount of time you were able to squeeze the clothespin for each try:
1st minute:
2nd minute:
3rd minute:
Timer

10. Before the next slide…
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If you are not, click “Slide Show”, then “from current slide”.

11. Which sport is the toughest?
ESPN ranked these sports in order of toughness based on endurance, strength, power, speed, and eye-hand coordination. How would you rank them?
Basketball Baseball/Softball Boxing Football Gymnastics Ice Hockey Martial Arts Skiing: Alpine Soccer Tennis Wrestling
Here are ESPN’s answers
1. Boxing 2. Ice Hockey 3. Football 4. Basketball 5. Wrestling 6. Martial Arts 7. Tennis 8. Gymnastics 9. Baseball/Softball 10. Soccer 11. Skiing: Alpine
CLICK FOR ANSWERS
Click here to see ESPN’s ranking of the toughest sports