Learning Grit from Literature
Grade
Grade 2
UNIT
2
•
Grit
Unit 2, Lesson 1, “Learning Grit from Literature,” reinforces the vocabulary word grit. Students will learn examples of grit from a contemporary work of children’s literature. Additionally, students will create their own sentences that demonstrate their comprehension of the word grit and their understanding of what it means to be a volunteer to help one’s community. Finally, students will practice their reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates.
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SUGGESTED TIME:
20 minutes
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Listen to a read aloud to reinforce understanding of English sentence structure, syntax, and grammar
- Practice reading aloud to a partner to support reading comprehension
- Spell, define, and give an example of grit
- Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word grit
- Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word volunteer
- Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar in writing and speaking
- Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- An empty garbage can and some child-safe balls or bean bags
- Book: Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil Bildner and/or
- Video: Read aloud of Marvelous Cornelius by Vooks (~8 min)
- Prohuman Grade 2 Unit 2 Worksheet 1: Learning Grit from Literature
VOCABULARY:
Grit: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don't give up.
Volunteer: A person who freely helps others.
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
LESSON PROCEDURE
Today we will learn about grit and about being a volunteer.
- Write grit on the board and ask students to write the word grit on their worksheets.
- Read the definition of grit.
- Write the word volunteer on the board and ask students to write the word volunteer on their worksheet.
- Read the definition of volunteer.
- Read Marvelous Cornelius: Hurricane Katrina and the Spirit of New Orleans by Phil Bildner and/or play the
- Video: Read aloud of Marvelous Cornelius by Vooks (~8 min).
- Ask students how Cornelius in the story showed grit.
- Ask students how Cornelius was a volunteer.
- Have students complete their worksheets, and tell them we will do a fun activity if they complete all the questions.
- Have students read their sentences to a partner.
- Activity: Let’s do an activity where we will show grit. In the book we read, Cornelius was a garbage collector who showed grit. Set up an empty garbage can and have each student take turns attempting to toss their bean bag or child-safe tennis ball into the garbage can.
- Ask the students how they showed grit in this activity.
GRADE 2 UNIT 2 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING GRIT FROM LITERATURE
Grit: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.
Volunteer: A person who freely helps others.
ACTIVITY:
Write 1 sentence that explains how Cornelius showed grit.
Write 1 sentence that explains a time when you showed grit.
Write 1 sentence that explains how Cornelius worked as a volunteer to help his community.
Write 1 sentence that explains how you have been a volunteer to help your school or community, or how you would like to be a volunteer to help your school or community in the future.
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/