NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - When fourth-grade students at Pequenakonck Elementary School delved into studying the human heart, their learning journey took an unforgettable turn with a unique activity featuring a special guest.
Dr. Steve Kopf, a cardiologist and grandfather to fourth-grader Blake, continued a family tradition by bringing real cow hearts into school, as he had done for his children’s classes. Wearing rubber gloves, students eagerly examined the organs, their initial hesitation giving way to curiosity.
“I thought it would be harder, not as jiggly,” said Addy, echoing the mix of fascination and revulsion shared by the class. “It feels weird because I’ve never touched anything like it before.”
“I didn’t know that muscles are like really big, like giant. I didn’t know that there were as many cords all over the heart that hold it in,” said Leo, who excitedly identified the left and right ventricles. He found it helpful to hold and touch the heart to see the parts they had learned about. “I’m imagining my heart now and wondering how big my heart muscles are.”
Alongside Dr. Kopf, his wife, Lisa Kopf, a registered nurse, guided the students through a comprehensive exploration of the heart. She showcased the heart’s chambers, valves, and blood flow through the circulatory system using handheld models and computer animations. Their son, Dr. Michael Kopf, assisted students in exploring the cow hearts.
“Our heart is the main station where the blood flows. It’s picking up oxygen in the lungs and dropping off carbon dioxide. It’s just pumping all day and all night,” said Tom Albano, a Somers PE teacher and Blake’s father. Albano led an activity for students to experience their heart rates changing. Students ran in place as they squeezed their fists rhythmically, mimicking their heartbeat as they changed from a slow resting pace to a fast, active beat.
“I found the heart to be just so fascinating. It was such an interesting organ that I never got tired of reading about it, learning about it, learning about things that make it work and what happens when it gets sick,” said Dr. Steve Kopf as he answered student questions about his inspiration, medical procedures, the speed of heart development, differences between human and animal hearts, and careers in the cardiology field. “It’s not just that you have a desire to do something, but you have to have an interest in it. You have to have something that keeps you interested on a daily basis.”
This culminating activity was part of the school’s new English Language Arts curriculum, Wit & Wisdom, which builds students’ knowledge and skills by integrating diverse texts across different subjects. This module focused on what makes a great heart through reading and activities.
“They spent the last few weeks studying the literal heart and how the circulatory system works, which culminated here,” said Beth Saverese, the school’s instructional coach. “Their next book is poetry and will continue their learning with a dive into what makes a figurative great heart. What does it mean to say that someone has a great heart?”
“When I decided to study the heart, I realized one of the things that fascinated me was all the good things I could do to help people. There’s lots of different things to do to make an impact on people’s lives,” said Dr. Steve Kopf. His family’s interactive lesson undoubtedly made an impact on these fourth-grade students in their future learning and exploration.
Article courtesy of North Salem Central School District.
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