Cover That Sneeze, Please! Lesson Plan

Academic Standards

Reading Objective:

Children will identify ways to stay healthy and avoid spreading germs.

Health and Safety Focus:

healthy habits

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, nonfiction text features, writing

Page 4 Skill:

read a chart

Vocabulary:

germs, pediatrician

CCSS:

RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.5, RI.2.10, L.2.1, SL.2.3

Provide students with some background on jobs and workers.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

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

Why is it important to cover your sneezes and coughs? (Germs spray everywhere.)
If you have to sneeze or cough, how can you cover it? (Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue.)
What is one way to get rid of germs? (Wash your hands with soap and water.)

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured words are germs

and pediatrician.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. How is the girl covering her sneeze? Why do students think it is important to cover a sneeze? Then read the cover text to lead into the issue.
Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 3: “Think about ways you can stay healthy this year.” 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.

Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point!

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

Exit Ticket: Show What You Learned (5 min.)

Use our new Show What You Learned printable as a quick exit ticket! It asks students to revisit the As You Read prompt after they are done reading. If you are teaching remotely, this page is a great way to check students’ comprehension.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words germs and pediatrician.

Editor’s Pick: Write About Germs (20 min.)

The Spread Facts, Not Germs printables provide a fun way for students to retell the science content they learned in the magazine. Students have three “germ” cartoon designs to choose from. Have students choose a design and complete the sentences. Then they can decorate their germs.

ELA Focus: Nonfiction Text Features (15 min.)

The Text-Feature Hunt printable is a great way to help students recognize and use nonfiction text features, including headlines, photos, captions, and bold words. Children can hunt for each text feature in the magazine, circle it, and then fill in the answers on the sheet.

Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on community workers:

Too Much Toothpaste?, February 2019. In this issue, a dentist answers important questions about maintaining dental health.
Bugs in Your Hair, April 2018. This issue addresses the common problem of head lice and explains how to get rid of them.

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