LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of exercise; distinguish exercise facts from myths; describe a variety of ways to feel better through exercise.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 7: Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors to avoid or reduce health risk.

 

CASEL: Self-management; responsible decision-making

KEY VOCAB

nervous system

hormones

efficient

Lesson Plan: Your Body on Exercise

Moving your body can do wonders for your mind, muscles, and mood.

Table of Contents:

1. Preparing to Read

2. Reading and Discussing

3. Building Comprehension and Vocabulary

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

1. Preparing to Read

Before you read the article “Your Body On. . . Exercise,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How can exercise boost my physical, mental, and emotional health?

2. Reading and Discussing

  • Have your students read the article “Your Body On… Exercise” independently; read the article out loud to them; or have students partner-read the article out loud.
  • After they’ve read the article, revisit the pre-reading question. Have their answers changed?
  • Next, have your students answer the Close-Reading and Critical-Thinking questions, either working in small groups or independently.


Close-Reading Questions
The following questions can be shared in printable or interactive form from the Resources tab. 

  1. How does exercise benefit your brain?
  2. Why should you always warm up before working out?


Critical-Thinking Questions

  1. Is it always necessary to work out for long periods? Why or why not?
  2. After reading the article, will you change anything about the way you exercise, even if it is only a small change? Explain.

3. Building Comprehension and Vocab

Check students’ comprehension of and engagement with the story with the following assessment tools:

  • Quiz

  • Vocab Builder

4. Expanding SEL Opportunities

Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:

In EXERCISE: BEFORE AND AFTER, students will track their mood, focus, and level of energy right before and directly after exercise over the course of a week. Encourage students to try out what they learned by choosing an exercise to fit their mood! At the end of the week, have them reflect on which exercises most improved the way they felt.

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