Working Lung Model for Kids

How to build a working lung model for kids.

Let’s talk breathing. We all need to do it. Fortunately, most of us do it without even thinking. But how exactly does it work?

Learning about the body is a great way to get kids interesting in science. Why? They have bodies, so really you are learning all about them. And kids generally like to learn about themselves.

Learning about how we breathe and specifically how our lungs work is a good starting place too because it is something they can readily experience. They breathe. They get it. (This is the same reason we made a pumping heart model.)

So let’s make a working lung model that will teach kids how our lungs work. It’s easier than you think.

How To Make a Working Lung Model

So why make a lung model? Well, as I said, it is something very clear for kids to understand even at a young age. It can be hard to understand what the liver or pancreas does. But the lungs we can actively experience.

So before you get started have your child take a few deep breaths with you. Encourage them to feel their chests expand with the breath. Can the feel the air moving through their mouth or nose?

(This is also good practice as a calming technique.)

Now that we have done that, let’s build our model.

(And be sure to check out all the interactive anatomy activities: Anatomy Activities for Kids!)

Supplies for a Working Lung Model

You don’t need anything fancy for this model. Just a few at home items.

• 1 Empty one liter bottle
• 3 Balloons
• 2 Straws
• Tape (preferably duct tape or packing tape)
• Play-Doh or Clay

How To Build Your Lung Model

Step 1:

Tape the end of a balloon around one end of each straw. Make sure the balloons are tightly in place.

Step 2:

Cut the bottom off of your empty 1 liter bottle.

Put the two straws into the bottle with the balloon end inside the bottle and the other end of the straws sticking out through the neck of the bottle.

Use your play-doh or clay to hold the straws sticking out the top in place. You don’t want any air to be able to get through except what comes through the straws.

Step 3:

Tie the opening of the 3rd balloon and cut the top part off.

Take this balloon and stretch the cut opening over the opening at the bottom of the 1 liter. You’ll have to be careful with this step because it can be a little hard to stretch the balloon into place. (It’s not a bad idea to have back up balloons for this part.)

Tape this balloon tightly into place.

How To Use Your Lung Model

Once you have your model put together you are ready to use it! It’s really simple.

Pull back on the balloon taped to the bottom of the bottle. As you do so the two balloons inside the bottle will start to inflate!

When you gently release the balloon the two balloons inside will deflate. You are making your model breathe!

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What is Happening Here? (The Science Part)

When we inhale, our diaphragm moves down, and this is what draws air into our lungs. When we exhale, the diaphragm moves back up and the air is pushed back our of our lungs.

In our model that we made the two inside balloons are our lungs (we have two of them), and the balloon you pull on is the diaphragm.

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Lung Facts and Information for Kids

Our lungs are the organs that help us get oxygen into our bodies. We get it from the air around us. Our lungs also help us eliminate carbon dioxide, a waste product, from our bodies.

But breathing has more to it than just our lungs. Here are the basics of how breathing works.

Mouth and Nose

We take in our through our mouths and nose. They have mucus and your nose specifically has tiny hairs that help filter out dust and other things we don’t want to breathe in.

Sinuses

Attached to your nose and your sinuses. These help regulate the temperature and humidity of the air you are breathing in. These, along with the hairs in your nose, make nose breathing the preferred way to breathe. But the mouth works too.

Trachea

Once through your nose/mouth and throat, the air enters your trachea. This is the tube that takes it to the bronchial passages of the lungs.

Bronchial Tubes

Your bronchial tubes bring the air into the lobes of the lungs. (The right lung has 3 lobes and the left lung has 2 lobes.)

Your bronchial tubes are lined with mucus and cilia. (Cilia are like teeny tiny hairs.) These work together to collect and dust or icky stuff that you might breathe in and get them out of your lungs.

Alveoli

The alveoli are tiny air sacs inside your lungs. These are where the actual transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

Printable Lung Model Instructions

You can print out the instructions to make this lung model at home to make it even easier!

And click here for more fun lung facts for kids!

Happy lung building!

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