LESSON: Ready, Set, Test!
CONTENT AREA: Personal & Consumer Health
GRADE LEVEL: 4-5
ACTIVITY TYPE: ARTICLE DISCUSSION
About this Lesson

Description

Students will participate in jigsaw discussions to draw inferences
from health texts

Estimated Time

20 minutes

Standards Alignment

National Health Education Standards
  • NHES Standard 1 - Concepts
Common Core Standards
  • Common Core--ELA Reading Informational Text:
    • RI.4.1
    • RI.5.1
Materials, Teacher Resources and Handouts
Materials Needed
  • Test Readiness Exercise (1 per group of 4)
  • Test Readiness Sleep (1 per group of 4)
  • Test Readiness Breakfast (1 per group of 4)
  • Test Readiness Deep Breathing (1 per group of 4)
  • Test Readiness Worksheet (1 per student)
Teacher Resources
Student Handouts
Key Vocabulary

Help students expand their vocabulary by:

  • incorporating these key words into the classroom discussions;
  • providing context clues as you use them; and
  • encouraging students to use these words in their speaking and writing activities.

Vocabulary
  • CONCENTRATION - the ability to pay attention to a task, like taking a test Getting 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night can improve my concentration.
  • GLYCOGEN - the main form of carbohydrate stored by the body and used by the brain and muscles for energy I had a bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and raisins to get the glycogen my brain needs for energy.
  • NUTRIENT-RICH - describes a food that has lots of important substances that give us energy as well as help us grow and be healthy The morning before a test, I will eat a nutrient-rich breakfast that includes whole grains, a protein and fruits or vegetables.
  • TEST ANXIETY - when uncomfortable feelings prevent you from performing well on tests Paco practiced deep breathing to help him overcome test anxiety.

Place these words and definitions on the class "word wall," on an easel or chart, or use some other visual cue.

Teaching Steps
Step 1: Review “Test Readiness” articles: Exercise, Sleep, Breakfast and Deep Breathing, the student “Worksheet” and the “Worksheet Answers”
Step 2: Review lesson concepts with students

Have you shown your class the Interactive Presentation yet? If not, start there. If you taught the Interactive Presentation on a different day, then remind students of these key concepts:

  • Exercising, getting enough sleep, eating breakfast and practicing deep-breathing are four healthy habits that can prepare you to perform well on tests.
  • Your body needs 60 minutes of physical activity every day. But even short bursts of physical activity can get your blood flowing and activate your brain.
  • Your body needs 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. For most elementary-aged students, that means going to bed around 8:00 p.m.
  • Eating breakfast can help you do better in school. A nutrient-rich breakfast includes a whole grain, a protein (meat, nuts or dairy) and a fruit or vegetable.
  • Deep breathing can reduce the anxiety you might feel before or during a test. To practice deep breathing, breathe in slowly through your nose and then slowly breathe out through your mouth.
Step 3: Introduce the steps (A to C) for the Test Readiness Jigsaw activity

In this activity, students will work in groups to read articles, become “experts,” and then share their findings with others. Each student will complete a worksheet based on the shared reports.

A: Divide the class into groups of four and distribute the four articles
  • Give each group copies of one of the four articles to read. Students in each group will become “experts” on the information in one of the following articles:
    • "Test Readiness Exercise"
    • "Test Readiness Sleep"
    • "Test Readiness Breakfast"
    • "Test Readiness Deep Breathing"
  • Students in each group are responsible for reading the assigned article and working together to answer the questions at the end of the article.
B: Distribute the “Test Readiness Worksheet” grid to record findings
  • Provide each student with the “Test Readiness Worksheet.”
  • Ask students in each group to count off by the number of students in the smallest group. Form new groups by gathering all the 1’s, all the 2’s, etc. These new groups should include at least one “expert” on each article.
  • Each student should take turns summarizing their article and reporting the answers to the questions for that article.
  • As students share their “expert” knowledge, the other students listen and record information on their “Test Readiness Worksheet.”
C: Review answers as a class
  • Using the “Test Readiness Worksheet Answers,” do a quick review of students’ responses from the grid.
  • Since the last column of the grid asks students to apply the reading to a testing situation, pay particular attention to those responses. Using the answer sheet as a guide, reinforce the importance of practicing healthy habits as a way to improve test success.