Unit 3

How Does the Human Body Work?

Reader's Notebook

Body Organs: Your Skin

Pages 132 and 133 of Literacy in Action 5A.


Click each coloured row for information about the activity.
Anatomy of human skin

Reading Strategies


The three reading strategies Nancy uses to make meaning of scientific explanations are ask questions, pause and check, and summarize. You will practise using these strategies when you read the next selection.

All reading strategies are connected. For example, when you pause and check, you often ask questions. Good readers choose strategies that will best help them - they do not just work with one strategy at a time.

  1. Preview Your Skin on pages 132 and 133 of Literacy in Action 5A by reading the title and headings, and looking at the visuals and captions.
  2. Fill in the chart at the beginning of the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.
  3. Answer Questions 1 and 2 in the Before Reading section of the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.




Document: Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin
Click here to download

Download PDF


  1. Download the document Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.
  2. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the download screen opens:
      • Click the "Open with" button.
      • Select "Adobe Reader".
      • Click "OK".
      • You will then be able to view the document Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.

  3. Print the document.

Remember, as you read you should


  • think about what you know about the topic
  • ask questions as you read to find out more about the topic
  • remember details, and pause and check your understanding of the topic

Do the following:


  1. Read the first paragraph on page 130 of Literacy in Action 5A.
      • Answer Questions 1 and 2 of the During Reading section in the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin. Write down what the most important idea in the paragraph is, and one detail that surprised you.

    1. Reread the paragraph. Check to see if any of your own ideas about skin are correct.
        • Answer Questions 3 to 5 of the During Reading section in the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.
      1. Read the two paragraphs on page 133 of Literacy in Action 5A.
          • Answer Questions 6 to 9 of the During Reading section in the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin. Write down what you think the most important idea in each paragraph is, and one detail that surprised you for the second and third paragraphs.

        1. Reread each paragraph, making sure to pause and check your understanding of the important parts.
            • Answer Questions 10 and 11 of the During Reading section in the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.

        Video

        Video

        The skin is an essential part of the human body. Watch the Kids Heart Skin video for more information.

        Answer Questions 12 to 13 of the During Reading section in the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.

        Cause and Effect Words


        • If, then
        • because
        • when

        Do the following:


        1. Take out the Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer that you used to examine the poster Body Organs: Your Brain.
        2. Remember that Cause and Effect charts:
            • identify key ideas and specific details
            • show thinking about how one thing (cause) can impact another (effect)
            • use cause and effect words

          1. Review how you completed the Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer to analyze the poster Body Organs: Your Brain.
          2. Complete the worksheet Analyzing Body Organs: Your Skin to examine Cause and Effect relationships in this selection.




          Document: Analyzing Body Organs: Your Skin
          Click here to download

          Download PDF


          1. Download the document Analyzing Body Organs: Your Skin.
          2. IMPORTANT NOTE: When the download screen opens:
              • Click the "Open with" button.
              • Select "Adobe Reader".
              • Click "OK".
              • You will then be able to view the document Analyzing Body Organs: Your Skin.

          3. Print the document.

          Click each coloured tab for information about the activities.

          Reader's Notebook

          Answer the question in the After Reading section of the Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin.
          Vocabulary Chart

          Add any unfamiliar words you encountered when reading this selection to the Vocabulary Building Chart.
          KWL Chart

          Add any new questions you have about the heart to your KWL Chart.
          Think About It

          • What strategy/strategies did you use to read the selection and how did it/they help you?
          • When did you use the strategy - before, during, or after your reading?
          Extension Activity
          Websites

          Websites

          If you are interested in learning more about the different body systems and playing some interactive games related to the human body, check out the following websites:




          Save

          How to save a file:

          1. Scan the documents to your computer.
          2. Have the file open and select Save As from the File menu.
          3. Name your Reader's Notebook: Body Organs: Your Skin file in this format: jsmith_rnyourskin and save the file to your Documents folder.
          4. Name your Analyzing Body Organs: Your Skin file in this format: jsmith_analyzingyourskin and save the file to your Documents folder.
          Compare your responses with those in the Key by clicking here.