Health

          Health texts discuss the basic health concepts to enhance personal, family, and community health. Health text gives students insight on how to live a healthy life. It gives students the information that is needed to live a healthy life style. Health texts inform students of important health practices they should be implementing in their daily life. The first criterion I look at when selecting a health text is purpose. Health covers a broad range of subjects, when selecting a text make sure it covers the correct topic. It is also important to make sure the text aligns with Common Core Standards for your specific grade level. The second criterion I look at when selecting a health text is accuracy.  Healthy practices are always changing and new practices for being healthy are always being introduced. When selecting a text make sure the information is accurate and up to date. This way we are teaching students the correct practices. 

          When selecting health text to be used with in the classroom its important to make sure the text aligns with Iowa Common Core Literacy standards. It is also important to make sure the text aligns with the specific subjects in health that will be covered in class. Health texts can be implemented into the classroom when introducing new health practices to students. In my classroom, I will use health texts for read aloud and shared readings. I plan to have multiple health texts available in my classroom library for students to read on their own time. Lastly, I want to make sure my health texts are appealing for my students. Students are more likely to grab a book off a shelf if it is appealing to them.

Cole, J. (1989). The magic school bus: Inside the human body. New York, New York: Scholastic.

Complex Text Level

• First and second grade
  

Grade level for read-aloud

• First and second grade

The major themes discussed throughout this text is the digestive system. It also talks about cells, muscles, and the brain. This text would be great to use in the classroom when introducing students to the human body. The illustrations used in the text guide the readers along with the text. If students are struggling with understanding the text the illustrations can help them understand difficult terms. The text includes side bars that help explain difficult concepts that are discussed in the text. The side bars break down the information into kid-friendly terms. The text includes speech bubbles that are comical and guide students throughout the human body. Students may need assistance with complex vocabulary terms discussed throughout the text.

Showers, P. (1991). Your skin and mine. New York, New York: Harper Collins.

Complex text level

• First and second grade
  

Grade level for read-aloud

• Kindergarten

The major themes discussed throughout this text is the basic properties of skin, how skin protects the body, and how skin can vary in color. This text would be great to use when teaching students hygiene along with diversity. The text gives definitions of difficult words that are being discussed. You can find the definitions on the page the word appears along with at the end of the text in the glossary. The illustrations used in this text correlate directly to what is being said in the text. This can help struggling readers understand what the text is discussing. Students may need assistance with complex vocabulary words such as melanin, epidermis, dermis, follicles.