Lesson
2
:

Learning Optimism from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 2

UNIT

1

Optimism

Last Updated:

June 5, 2025

Unit 1, Lesson 2, “Learning Optimism from a Nonfiction Text,” reinforces the vocabulary word optimism. Students will learn an example of optimism from the life of a real person. Students will also have the opportunity to practice their reading comprehension skills by reading independently and hearing a reading from the teacher. Finally, students will create their own sentences that demonstrate their reading comprehension.

SUGGESTED TIME:

20 minutes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Practice reading aloud to a partner to support reading comprehension 
  • Spell, define, and give an example of optimism
  • Compose 2 sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word optimism 
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar  
  • Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

  • Video: CNN Hero: Yash Gupta by CNN (~2 min)
  • Prohuman Grade 2 Unit 1 Worksheet 2: Learning Optimism from a Nonfiction Text

VOCABULARY:

  • Optimism: I have hope and believe that my actions will help things to turn out well

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.1

Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.2

Identify the main topic of a multiparagraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.6

Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3.A

Distinguish long and short vowels when reading regularly spelled one-syllable words.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3.C

Decode regularly spelled two-syllable words with long vowels.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3.D

Decode words with common prefixes and suffixes.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3.E

Identify words with inconsistent but common spelling-sound correspondences.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.3.F

Recognize and read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.4

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.4.A

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.4.B

Read grade-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.2.4.C

Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1.A

Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1.B

Build on others' talk in conversations by linking their comments to the remarks of others.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.2

Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.1

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.2

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.3

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.4

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of strategies.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.4.A

Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

Moral Character A

Know, understand, and practice the character strengths of honesty and integrity, caring and compassion, gratitude, and the courage to take initiative

Moral Character A5

Understand why caring and being concerned for the well-being of others is a character strength

Moral Character B

Apply and demonstrate the character strengths of honesty and integrity, caring and compassion, gratitude, and the courage to take initiative

Self-Management A3

Explain the different ways people respond to problems and challenges (e.g., ask for help, try harder, learn from mistakes)

Social-Awareness A

Demonstrate the ability to empathize and take the perspective of others, including demonstrating awareness of cultural differences and respect for human dignity

Social-Awareness A3

Demonstrate the ability to listen carefully and intentionally to others

Social-Awareness A6

Be able to tell stories and listen to stories told by others

Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills 1

Initiate and engage in conversation and social interactions with classmates, peers, and adults

Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills 7

Play games and appropriately participate in small group classroom activities

Responsible and Ethical Decision-Making 1

Describe a rule or principle that everyone should strive to live by (e.g., be kind, be honest, try your best)

Civic Character A

Know, understand, and practice the character strengths of fairness, respect, volunteering and contributing to the common good

LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will continue to learn about optimism.

  1. Write optimism on the board. 
  2. Ask students to spell optimism on their worksheets
  3. Play the video: CNN Hero: Yash Gupta by CNN (~2 min)
  4. Tell students that Yash Gupta’s group Sight Learning has now collected and distributed more than 2 million dollars worth of used eyeglasses to students around the world in Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, and India. (Source: Sight Learning website)
  5. Ask students if anyone knows where those countries are on the map.
  6. Show students those countries on the map.
  7. Have students read the nonfiction text on their worksheets independently, quietly to themselves. Circle the room to support the students.
  8. After giving the students 10 minutes to practice reading, then read the text aloud to the whole class.
  9. Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions.
  10. Ask students to share their sentences with a classmate, and to discuss the reasons for their answers.

GRADE 2 UNIT 1 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING OPTIMISM FROM A NONFICTION TEXT

Optimism: I have hope and believe my actions will help things turn out well.

NONFICTION TEXT: YASH’S OPTIMISM

Yash Gupta has worn glasses since he was 5 years old. When he was in the 9th grade, he broke his glasses in a martial arts class and had to go to school without them for about a week as a new pair was made. He began to value glasses and their impact on his education.

Yash found that, without his glasses, it was not possible for him to focus, see, or learn in the classroom. He learned the importance that glasses had on his life. After some research, he learned that there were millions of children who lacked a pair of glasses, even though millions of pairs were thrown out each year. 

Yash believed that his actions could make a difference. He started Sight Learning, a non-profit organization that collects and gives out used eyeglasses to students around the world who need them and makes sure that every child has the chance to receive a good education. Sight Learning has now collected and given out more than $2 million worth of used eyeglasses—that is over 60,000 pairs of glasses—to students around the world in Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, and India

Source: https://sightlearning.com/ 

ACTIVITY: 

Write a sentence that explains how Yash showed optimism.

Write a sentence that explains how Yash’s optimism helped others.

Prohuman K-12 Curriculum © 2025 by Prohuman Foundation is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

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