Toothbrush Time! Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will sequence the steps of how toothbrushes are made in a factory.

 

Social Studies Focus:

economics/production of goods

 

Science Focus:

dental health

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, text evidence, writing, sequencing

 

Page 4 Skill:

text features

 

Vocabulary:

bristles, inspects

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.3, RI.2.4, RI.2.8, RI.2.10, L.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level:

K

 

Lexile level:

470L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on dental health.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “How to Have a Healthy Smile.” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • How can you keep your teeth healthy?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

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

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue and discuss the cover. What do children think happens in a toothbrush factory?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 3: “Think about what machines do to help make toothbrushes.” 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. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

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

  • The “Brush the Teeth” game lets kids brush up on key details! For each correct answer, a happy tooth gets a dab of toothpaste!

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 bristles and inspects.

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

  • The A Letter From Norbert Know-It-All skill sheet give kids practice with text evidence in a super-fun way. After reading Norbert’s “expert knowledge” of how toothbrushes are made, kids will want to prove him wrong!
  • You can write to Norbert at [email protected]. Norbert will write back!

ELA Focus: Sequencing (15 min.)

  • The From the Factory to You skill sheet details each step in the process of making toothbrushes—in mixedup order! Children cut and paste to sequence the steps.

 Here are past issues you can use to extend your lesson on dental health:

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

  • Higher Lexile level: 590L
  • Lower Lexile level: 450L