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

Description

What healthy habits did students practice to prepare for testing day?

Estimated Time

2 minutes each day of standardized test administration

Standards Alignment

National Health Education Standards
  • NHES Standard 7 - Self Management
Materials, Teacher Resources and Handouts
Materials Needed
  • Test Readiness Checklist (1 per student)
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 the “Test Readiness Checklist”

When assessing the NHES Standard 7 – Self Management, a checklist is used instead of a rubric to verify whether or not students are performing the health behavior. The checklist for this lesson is used to determine if students applied the four healthy habits that can enhance test taking: getting adequate sleep, eating breakfast, getting exercise and deep breathing.

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: Ask students to complete the “Checklist”

Distribute the “Test Readiness Checklist” to students. On each day of standardized testing, have students record their responses on the checklist after they’re finished with their test(s) for the day.

Step 4: Collect the checklists and discuss