Staying Fit

Objectives:

• Students will be able to describe three different types of exercise.

• Students will be able to describe why each type of exercise is good for the body.

• Students will be able to explain how to develop an effective personal exercise plan.

Suggested Grades:

3rd Grade - 4th Grade - 5th Grade

Lesson Procedure:

Print the reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions. Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt:

Exercise and physical activity can help keep your body strong. There are different types of exercise that do different things for your body. Muscle-building exercises like pull-ups, push-ups and rope climbing help build muscle, which keeps you strong and lean. There are also exercises for flexibility. You can stay flexible by stretching. This helps your body twist and bend easily and without hurting yourself. Some good stretching exercises are toe touches and forward bends. There is also endurance exercise. When you build endurance, you have lots of energy and will not get tired easily. Endurance exercises cause your muscles to work hard for a long time. Running, riding a bicycle and swimming can all build endurance if you do them for at least twenty minutes at a time.

Continued...