Staying in Shape Level 21-22

Staying in Shape is an informative non-fiction text that encourages students to consider how exercise and nutrition contribute to overall health and wellbeing. Building on ideas introduced in Taking Care of Yourself, this text explores how different types of physical activity support various parts of the body and how maintaining a balanced diet can fuel energy and recovery. With features such as bulleted lists, a fitness plan, charts and tables, a glossary, and a preview question to spark curiosity, the text supports students to think critically about their own lifestyle choices. Question-style headings and subheadings help break the information into digestible sections, while contractions and multisyllabic vocabulary offer opportunities to strengthen fluency and decoding skills. This book supports guided or independent reading for students learning to make healthy life choices. Its clear visuals and structure make it ideal for developing content literacy and building connections between personal health and scientific understanding.

Educational Benefits:

• Promotes understanding of personal health and the benefits of regular physical activity.
• Supports reading comprehension through non-fiction text features such as headings, lists, and glossaries.
• Introduces health-related vocabulary including technical terms like "nutrients" and "carbohydrate".
• Encourages critical thinking and self-reflection with a fitness plan and practical suggestions.

Classroom Ideas:

• Create personal fitness plans and compare goals in small groups.
• Chart healthy meals using food group categories discussed in the text.
• Practise reading aloud bulleted lists and headings for fluency and understanding.
• Use the book to launch a health unit or inquiry on nutrition and exercise.

Safety & Information:

• Ages: 6+
• Book size: 210mm x 297mm (A4)
• Suitable for guided, shared or independent reading.
• No small parts or hazardous materials - safe for classroom use.