Oh, the Things you can Do that are Good for You

Randomhouse Publishers in unison Seussville.com created a series of Dr. Seuss-themed stories called the "The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library". Being  a Wegman's veteran, I was in the aisle one day and picked up two books from the series as the writing approach in both subject areas is usually dryer and boring, and Tish Rabe's rhyming rendition was much more appealing, and memorable as rhyming schemes seem to stick in our heads better. Oh the Things you can Do that are Good for You! covers topics of health ranging from healthy foods, to exercise, to hygiene and taking care of your body. It can sometime be difficult to incorporate themes of health into elementary lessons as everyone has become increasingly more focused on curriculum goals and we all know how limited our time is in school. This is definitely a good classroom library candidate, and again I think it could be a useful teaching tool.

As a pre-activity, we could have students evaluate their day from when they wake up to when they go to bed. They could write up a schedule, working with components of time and organizing. Later they after reading how healthy Seussville characters lead their lives, they could go through their schedules and use a high lighter to find what they do in a day that is healthy (i.e. brushing teeth before bed, eating a piece of fruit at lunch). As a post activity, they could re-write their schedules, using the already healthy things that they do, and making changes to the not-so healthy behaviors and having a guide to take home and follow for a healthier living style.