Before Reading
Building Background
Begin a KWL chart with the class (K—What do we know?, W—What would you like to know?, L—What did we learn?). Brainstorm with children to record several things that they know about the human body. Ask: What moves your arms and legs? What controls your whole body? Ask other questions to elicit information children already know about what makes our bodies work.
Now children can complete the second section. Ask: What do you want to learn from this book? Do you know what the circulatory system is? Write down the questions children have in the W section, for things they want to learn from reading this text. After children have read the book, they can go back and see if their questions were answered.
Introducing the Book
Show the class the book and ask: What do you notice (title, illustrator, author, pictures)? What do you think this text will be about? Why? What type of text will it be (fiction/nonfiction)? How do you know that?
Explain that this book tells us some things about how the human body works. Make sure they understand that this book is true. If possible, show them a few other examples of nonfiction books, and some examples of fiction books. Make sure children understand that a fiction book is made up, and a fact book is about things in real life.
Book Walk
Write Table of Contents on the board. Ask: What is the purpose of the table of contents? Make a transparency of page 3 and explain how a reader uses a table of contents. Look at page 4. Ask: What is an introduction? Have children read page 4 to see if their predictions were correct. Continue with the Book Walk, having children focus on the chapter headings and the illustrations and predicting what each chapter might be about. Discuss the purpose of an index (page 16) and have children practice looking up some of the words.
Setting the Purpose
Explain to children that the purpose for reading today will be to learn about the things that make the human body work. Have children listen for two things they think are interesting in the reading to share with the class during the After Reading section of this lesson. If children have a focus as they read, they will be able to concentrate on what is being said rather than simply listening passively to the story. This improves comprehension and recall.
Go to During Reading
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