The Astronaut in Me

Correlations to National Science Standards

Grades K–4
Science as Inquiry – Content Standard A
Abilities Necessary to do Scientific Inquiry

• Communicate investigations and explanations.

Life Science – Content Standard C
The Characteristics of Organisms

• Organisms have basic needs. For example, animals need air, water, and food. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their needs can be met.

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives – Content Standard F
Personal Health

• Nutrition is essential to health. Students should understand how the body uses food and how various foods contribute to health.
• Individuals have some responsibility for their own health. Students should engage in personal care — including exercise — that will maintain and improve health.

Changes in Environments

• Environments are the space, conditions, and factors that affect an individual's and a population's ability to survive and their quality of life.

Grades 5–8
Science as Inquiry – Content Standard A
Abilities Necessary to do Scientific Inquiry

• Communicate scientific explanations.
• Think critically and logically to make the relationships between evidence and explanation.

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives – Content Standard F
Personal Health

• Regular exercise is important to the maintenance and improvement of health. The benefits of physical fitness include having energy and strength for routine activities, good muscle tone, bone strength, strong heart/lung systems, and improved mental health. Personal exercise is the foundation of physical fitness.
• Food provides energy and nutrients for growth and development. Nutrition requirements vary with body weight, age, sex, activity, and body functioning.

Risks and Benefits

• Individuals can use a systematic approach to thinking critically about risks and benefits.
• Important personal and social decisions are made based on perceptions of benefits and risks.

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives – Content Standard F
Personal Health

• Regular exercise is important to the maintenance and improvement of health. The benefits of physical fitness include having energy and strength for routine activities, good muscle tone, bone strength, strong heart/lung systems, and improved mental health. Personal exercise is the foundation of physical fitness.
• Food provides energy and nutrients for growth and development. Nutrition requirements vary with body weight, age, sex, activity, and body functioning.

Risks and Benefits

• Individuals can use a systematic approach to thinking critically about risks and benefits.
• Important personal and social decisions are made based on perceptions of benefits and risks.

National Health Education Standards
Grades 3–5
Standard 1 – Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.

• Describe the relationship between healthy behaviors and personal health.
• Identify examples of physical health.
• Describe ways to prevent common childhood health problems.

Standard 5 – Demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health:

• Identify health-related situations that might require a thoughtful decision.
• List healthy options to health-related issues or problems.
• Predict the potential outcomes of health-related decisions.
• Choose a healthy option when making a decision.
• Describe the outcomes of a health-related decision.

Grades 6–8
Standard 1 – Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health:

• Analyze the relationship between healthy behaviors and personal health.
• Analyze how the environment impacts personal health.
• Explain how appropriate health care can promote personal health.
• Describe the benefits of and barriers to practicing healthy behaviors.
• Examine the potential seriousness of injury or illness if engaging in unhealthy behaviors.
• Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy alternatives to health-related issues.
• Choose healthy alternatives over unhealthy alternatives when making a decision.
• Analyze the outcomes of a health-related decision.
• Develop a goal to adopt, maintain, or improve a personal health practice.
• Apply strategies and skills needed to attain a personal health goal.

Standard 5 – Demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health:

• Determine when health-related situations require the application of a thoughtful decision-making process.
• Distinguish between healthy and unhealthy alternatives to health-related issues.
• Predict the potential short-term impact of each alternative on self and others.
• Choose healthy alternatives over unhealthy alternatives when making a decision.
• Analyze the outcomes of a health-related decision.
• Develop a goal to adopt, maintain, or improve a personal health practice.
• Apply strategies and skills needed to attain a personal health goal.