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This audio-integrated reading passage introduces fourth-grade students to the protective functions of skin, aligned with NGSS standard 4-LS1-1. Students discover how skin serves as the body's armor, keeping harmful germs and dirt outside while retaining essential fluids like water and blood inside. The passage explains how skin protects soft tissues from physical damage and regulates body temperature through sweating. Students also learn about the skin's remarkable ability to heal itself after injury. Written at a Grade 4 reading level, this passage uses accessible language and relatable examples to build foundational understanding of how body structures support survival and protection. The content includes differentiated versions for diverse learners, Spanish translations, comprehension activities, writing prompts, and graphic organizers. Audio integration supports reading fluency and comprehension for all learners, making complex biological concepts accessible to elementary students exploring life science.
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Skin is the largest organ of your body. It covers you completely from head to toe. Skin acts like a suit of armor that protects everything inside your body. Without this protective covering, your body would be in danger from many things in the environment.
Skin has several important jobs that keep you safe and healthy. First, it forms a barrier that keeps harmful things out. Germs, dirt, and other dangerous materials cannot easily get inside your body because skin blocks them. Second, skin keeps important things in. It holds water and blood inside your body where they belong. Without skin, these fluids would leak out.
Skin also protects the soft tissues underneath from bumps and scrapes. When you fall on the playground, your skin takes the impact and protects your muscles and bones. Additionally, skin helps control your body temperature. When you get hot from running or playing, tiny drops of water called sweat come out through your skin. As the sweat dries, it cools you down, just like water evaporating from a wet towel makes it feel cooler.
When you get a cut, your skin works hard to heal itself. Special cells rush to the injury to close the opening and form a scab. Under the scab, new skin grows to repair the damage. This healing process keeps germs from entering your body through the cut.
Interesting Fact: Your skin completely replaces itself about once every month! Dead skin cells fall off, and new cells grow to take their place.
What is the largest organ of your body?
HeartSkinBrainStomach
How does skin keep you safe?
It blocks germs and dirtIt makes you tallerIt helps you see betterIt makes food digest
What does skin hold inside your body?
Air and dirtWater and bloodFood and toysGerms and bacteria
Why does your body make sweat?
To make you smell badTo cool you down when hotTo keep you warmTo help you grow taller
What happens when you get a cut?
Skin stops working foreverBlood turns into waterSkin heals itself and closes openingGerms help fix the cut
How does skin protect soft tissues underneath?
It takes the impact from bumpsIt makes tissues harderIt removes all the tissuesIt changes tissues into bones
Skin replaces itself completely every month.
TrueFalse
What is a barrier?
A type of foodSomething that blocks thingsA kind of exerciseA body temperature
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