Flying High & Beating Diabetes - Level 29-30

Flying High and Beating Diabetes present a powerful blend of fiction and non-fiction that addresses personal change and resilience in the face of health challenges. In Flying High, a young athlete faces a life-altering diabetes diagnosis, shifting his passion from basketball to the creative art of kite-making. The fictional recount uses descriptive language and a first-person voice to reflect emotional depth and personal growth over time. Paired with this, Beating Diabetes charts the historical and scientific journey of diabetes treatment, from the discovery of insulin to modern innovations. Through timelines, labelled diagrams, and specialised vocabulary, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the disease. Together, these texts offer a rich platform for exploring physical health, adaptation, and the value of perseverance.

Educational Benefits:

• Enhances empathy and emotional literacy through narrative text.
• Builds scientific understanding of diabetes and medical treatments.
• Encourages interpretation of timelines and labelled illustrations.
• Develops summarising skills and visual-text comprehension.

Classroom Ideas:

• Create a timeline tracking diabetes discoveries mentioned in Beating Diabetes.
• Design a poster raising awareness about living with diabetes.
• Write a personal narrative about overcoming a challenge like the character in Flying High.
• Discuss the role of science in improving health outcomes.

Safety & Information:

• Ages: 9+
• Book size: 210mm x 148mm
• Printed with non-toxic inks, suitable for school environments
• No loose or hazardous parts