Are You Going to Eat THAT? Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will follow a science experiment testing how safe it is to eat food dropped on the floor.

 

Health and Safety Focus:

healthy habits

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, text evidence

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

myth, experiment

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.3 describe steps in a technical procedure; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.2 write informative texts; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Lexile level: 

480L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on germs.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video "No More Germs.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • Why is it important to cover your sneezes and coughs?

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Can students predict what scientists found out? Is food OK to eat after it is dropped on the floor?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 2: “Think about the steps the scientists took to test their idea.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

 

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

 

Review vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are myth and experiment.

 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

It’s Disgusting and We Ate It! by James Solheim (20 min.)

This book will give readers a taste of culinary creations from all over the world. How do dryroasted crickets sound? How about salted earthworms? Maybe alligator meat is more your thing! Your students will be fascinated by the different foods in this nonfiction text.

Students practice decoding high frequency words by popping bubbles and getting rid of germs in the “Pop the Bubbles” game.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important ELA skills. Here's how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words myth and experiment.

Editor’s Pick: Text Evidence (15 min.)

  • Introduce our beloved character Norbert Know-It-All! Norbert doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does. Print out his letter and put it in an envelope addressed to your class.
  • Then read the letter aloud. Norbert says he’s an “expert” on the five-second rule, but students will disagree! As a class, write your own letter proving him wrong and send it to norbert@scholastic.com. Norbert will write back!

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Students will review vocabulary by hunting for words from their issue with the Healthy Word Search skill sheet.

Here is a past issue you can use to extend your lesson on germs:

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 570L
  • Lower Lexile level: 430L