Thermoregulation While Running: Skin, Heart Rate and Layers

With an infrared thermometer, students record forehead and forearm skin temperature, heart rate and thermal comfort before, during and after a continuous run, comparing runners in the sun and in the shade or with different clothing layers. They analyze how the body loses heat and how to prevent heat stroke.

How to play

1. Explain thermoregulation: skin vasodilation, sweating, radiation and convection; each group states a hypothesis (4 min).
2. In pairs, take forehead and forearm temperature, a 15-second pulse and a thermal comfort rating from 1 to 7 at rest (3 min).
3. Eight-minute continuous run at conversation pace on two cone loops: one in the sun and one in the shade; half the class wears a sweatshirt and half a T-shirt (8 min).
4. Measure again right after, then walk for 3 minutes of recovery and measure at the end (6 min).
5. Repeat for 5 minutes switching loops or clothing and measure again (5 min).
6. Pool the data in a class table and explain the differences (4 min).

Rules

• Water is available and students drink during breaks.
• Anyone who feels dizzy, nauseous or has very hot, dry skin stops, sits in the shade and tells the teacher.
• Don't run this activity on extremely hot days or in the middle of a summer day.
• The thermometer is used without contact and only on the forehead and forearm.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: do the loop pushing the wheelchair at a moderate pace or use an arm crank, and measure the same way.
• Asthma or heart conditions: easy self-paced effort with teacher supervision and an inhaler on hand if used.
• Autism: use the measurement sheet with boxes and keep the same measuring partner throughout.

Learning goals

• Understand how the body regulates temperature during exercise.
• Record and interpret one's own physiological data under different conditions.
• Take steps to prevent heat stroke during physical activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• thermometer: 4
• stopwatch: 14
• worksheets: 28
• cones: 16

Teacher tip

Forehead temperature often drops at first because of sweat and airflow: that's a great data point to discuss. Coordinate with biology.

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