LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Identify health benefits associated with spending time in nature; distinguish facts from myths about how to reap the health benefits of being outdoors.

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 1: Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention.

CASEL: Self-management, responsible decision making

Lesson Plan: Your Body on Nature

There are plenty of ways to reap the benefits of being outdoors.

PREPARING TO READ

Before you read the article “Your Body on Nature,” ask your students the following pre-reading question:

How does spending time outdoors benefit your body, mind, and mood?

READING AND DISCUSSION

  • Have your students read the article “Your Body on Nature” 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?

BUILDING COMPREHENSION

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

  • Comprehension Quiz

EXPANDING SEL OPPORTUNITIES

Continue the learning journey with the following extension activity:

In MY GREAT OUTDOORS, have your students create a poster depicting their favorite natural environment. Before they start creating, have them answer the questions in the skills sheet to plan their poster. Once they start their posters, encourage them to be as creative as possible by using magazine clippings, construction paper, or any other craft supplies they may have access to. They should give their posters a title and be prepared to share about how being in their favorite natural environment makes them feel.

Print the Lesson Plan

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