Text Type:
Fact / Informational Text
Reading Level:
M
Word Count:
634
Pages:
16
Text Summary
Inside Your Body teaches children about some of the wonders of the human body. It explains the various systems that keep the body functioning like an amazing machine, from the skeletal system to the digestive system and more.
Suggested Lesson Focus
The following skills are suggested for the lesson focus and strategies will be provided for these skills throughout the lesson. Most likely, other skills will be addressed in the course of reading and discussing the book.
Comprehension
How to read informational text.
Phonics
r controlled vowels
Word Work
Syllables
Mechanics/Word Structure
Commas in a series
Visual Learning
Visual learning is a very important comprehension strategy. Model this strategy through teacher think aloud, sharing with children what you see in your mind as you read through the text. Using pictures to aid in deciphering text can help children develop an understanding of the relationship between picture details and the text for increased word recognition (for example, the one-to-one correspondence between words and pictures on each page).
Targeted vocabulary words
High Utility Words
there, give
Content Words
systems, skeletal, muscular, respiratory, circulatory
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.
During Reading
Explain to children that when we read informational text, we are reading to learn something new or gather information. Lead children through a page-by-page or chapter-by-chapter reading of the text.
Say: Reread the introduction and find out what this text will be about (page 4). Read and find out two important facts about our skeletal system (pages 5 and 6). Before reading, point out the bold face print and ask: Why do you think skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle are in bold type (page 7)? Have children read and find two important facts and write them down to share with the class in the After Reading section of this lesson.
Have children read and find out two important facts about the nervous system and add these to their organizer (pages 8 and 9). Have children read and find out two important facts about the respiratory system and add them to their organizer (page 10). Have children read and find out two important facts about the circulatory system and add them to their organizer (page 11). Have children read and find out two important facts about the digestive system and add them to their organizer (pages 12 and 13). Have children read and find out an important fact about the reproductive system (page 14). Have children read the conclusion together and discuss the purpose of a conclusion page (page 15).
After Reading
Have a discussion to find out what each student picked to focus on while they read. Have them explain what they picked by telling about it, and then by explaining why they thought their two topics were interesting.
Return to the KWL and have children share what they have learned about the systems of the body. Add the information to the KWL chart in the L column.
Building Skills
Phonics
r Controlled Vowels
Review the various r controlled vowels. Have children look in the text for words with the r controlled vowel. Make a chart of the various words. If children have a words notebook, they might want to add some of these r controlled words. A words notebook is any notebook in which children can write new vocabulary words.
Word Work
Syllabication
Say the names of various children and clap the syllables in their names. Give them the syllable worksheet and have them look for two, three, and four syllable words.
Mechanics/Grammar
Commas in a Series
Have children look at the last sentence on page 6 and point out how the commas are used to separate the words walk, run, and swim. Then have them look at page 7 to find an example of commas in a series. Look at page 8 to find an example. Explain that commas help us to separate words and ideas within sentences. The comma is like a pause in speech. It tells the reader where each word ends and the next begins. It could be very confusing if no one paused between their words.
Expand the Reading
Writing Connection
Have children use the information from the book to write a report about the systems of the body. Have them use the same headings of the book, and write brief descriptions of each. The paper should include interesting facts about the body and should utilize new vocabulary from the text.
Science Connection
Have a doctor or nurse come in to give a lecture about how people can stay healthy. Have each child come up with a question they would like the guest speaker to answer so that children can learn about things that interest them, and to give the guest speaker ideas. Have children write what they have learned from the guest speaker to their KWL chart. If no speaker is available, bring in books that children can read about ways to keep the systems in your body healthy.
Reading Independently
Have children read the book independently or with a partner. You can also encourage them to read other books of their choice at the appropriate level.
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