LESSON: Get Ready to Test Best
CONTENT AREA: Personal & Consumer Health
GRADE LEVEL: 2-3
ACTIVITY TYPE: ARTICLE DISCUSSION
About this Lesson

Description

Students will analyze key details in a text to learn how to get ready to take a test

Estimated Time

20 minutes

Standards Alignment

National Health Education Standards
  • NHES Standard 1 - Concepts
Common Core Standards
  • Common Core--ELA Reading Informational Text:
    • RI.2.1
    • RI.3.1
Materials, Teacher Resources and Handouts
Materials Needed
  • Test Readiness Basics
  • Dear Health Teacher: Am I Ready for Tests? (1 for each student)
  • Dear Health Teacher Worksheet (1 for each 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
  • CONCENTRATE - the ability to focus on a task Seth knows that if he eats a good breakfast, he can concentrate better when taking a test.
  • CREATIVE - the power to think of new or better ideas Sleep helps you think of more creative answers to test questions.
  • FOCUS - to give your attention to something or someone After running in place, James was able to focus on the test questions.
  • HABIT - something you do over and over Eating a nutrient-rich breakfast every morning is a healthy habit.
  • STANDARDIZED TEST - a test that is the same for everyone Children all over the U.S. take standardized tests every spring.
  • TEST ANXIETY - when uncomfortable feelings (like being nervous) 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 Basics”

As you prepare to teach this lesson, you may find it helpful to review the Teacher Resource called “Test Readiness Basics,” which explains why it’s helpful to learn the benefits of sleep, exercise, breakfast and deep breathing to get ready for a test. You don't have to share this with your students – it’s just background to make teaching the lesson easier for you.

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:

  • Practicing healthy habits can help you do better on standardized tests.
  • Your body needs ten to eleven hours of sleep to help you focus, concentrate and be creative.
  • Eating breakfast gives your brain the energy it needs to do well on tests.
  • A burst of exercise gets your blood flowing and powers up your brain.
  • Deep breathing is a good way to feel calm before a test.
Step 3: Introduce the steps (A to C) for “Dear HealthTeacher: Am I Ready for Tests?”

In this activity, students will read the “Dear HealthTeacher: Am I Ready for Tests?” article. Following the article, students will respond to questions to demonstrate their comprehension of the key ideas and details in the text.

A: Read the “Dear HealthTeacher: Am I Ready for Tests?” article
  • Since students will be referring back to the article, you will need to make a copy for each student or a small group of students.
  • You may read the article aloud or have students read it silently.
B: Distribute the “Dear HealthTeacher Worksheet” for students to complete
  • After reading the article, provide each student with a copy of the worksheet.
  • Students will need to refer back to their article to respond to the questions.
C: Review answers as a class

Have students share their responses to the worksheet. Using the “Dear HealthTeacher Worksheet Answers,” do a quick review of student responses. Many questions will have several correct responses that will depend on the students’ choices.

Step 4: Extend the learning

If you would like to extend learning to reinforce principles about sleep addressed in this lesson, you may want to use the following HealthTeacher lesson with your students: