Build Your Own Lung Model

Material

liter pop bottle, Scissors, 2 straws, 2 balloons, 3 rubber bands, piece of clear wrap paper, binder clip, clay

Procedure

Carefully, cut the bottom off the 2 liter bottle, and then set the bottle aside. The bottle represents your chest).Turn the straw upside down so the bend is facing down, and attach a balloon to the bottom of the straw using the rubber band.Repeat step two but with the second straw and second balloon. The straws and balloons represent your trachea and lungs.Place the two straws together, the balloons turned to the outside. Position the straws so the end that is not attached the balloon is roughly  above the rim of the bottle.Place clay around the top of the bottle and surrounding the sides of the straws to hold them in place. No air should be able to get into the bottle from the top Take the piece of clear wrap and place it carefully over the bottom of the bottle. Secure it in place using a rubber band. The plastic wrap represents your diaphragm. Pull a bit of the clear wrap and attach the binder clip. Pull on the binder clip to inflate the balloons.

Science

In this model, the straws represent your trachea and bronchial tubes, the balloons represent your lungs, the bottle is your chest, and the plastic sheet is your diaphragm – a sheet of muscles under your chest. When you breathe in, or inhale, your diaphragm contracts and moves down, creating more space in your chest for your lungs to fill with air. When you exhale (breathe out), your diaphragm relaxes back up. The space inside your chest gets smaller forcing the air out of your lungs.