Lesson
1
:

Learning Courage from Literature

Grade

Grade 2

UNIT

5

Courage

Last Updated:

June 5, 2025

Unit 5, Lesson 1, “Learning Courage from Literature,” reinforces the vocabulary word courage. Students will learn examples of courage from a contemporary work of children’s literature. Additionally, students will write their own sentences about courage. Finally, students will practice their reading and conversation skills by sharing their sentences with classmates.

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 
  • Compose sentences about the text and about courage
  • 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:

VOCABULARY:

  • Courage: I do what I think is right even when I am afraid.

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.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.RL.2.3

Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7

Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories and poetry, in the grades 2-3 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

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.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.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.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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.8

Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

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 B

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

Civic Character A

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

Civic Character B

Apply and demonstrate the character strengths of fairness, respect, volunteering and contributing to the common good

Civic Character B1

Demonstrate the ability to share, take turns and follow rules (of a game, at home or school)

Civic Character B2

Demonstrate the ability to be respectful, courteous and polite

Self-Awareness A2

Identify personal strengths (e.g., honesty, curiosity, listening)

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)

LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will learn about courage. 

  1. Ask students what courage means.
  2. Give the definition of courage: I do what I think is right even when I am afraid.  
  3. Show the students this image from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
  4. Ask the students how the person in this image is showing courage.
  5. Have students answer the first question on their worksheets—what is one way they can show courage?
  6. Today we will read a book about women who showed courage. Read the book: Standing on Her Shoulders: A Celebration of Women by Monica Clark-Robinson and/or
  7. Play the video: Read aloud of Standing on Her Shoulders by Miss Alivia Reads (~4 min)
  8. Play the video: Brief descriptions of the women featured in Standing on Her Shoulders by I Can Read (~9 min)
  9. Ask students to answer the questions on their worksheet
  10. Ask students to read their sentences to a partner.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES - SUGGESTIONS

  • Talk with your students about times you have seen people demonstrating courage. You could give examples of family, friends, and/or historical or current public figures.
  • Talk with your students about times you have demonstrated courage, despite hardships.

GRADE 2 UNIT 5 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING COURAGE FROM LITERATURE

Courage: I do what I think is right even when I am afraid.  

  1. What is one way you can show courage?

  1. Which of the women featured in the book interested you the most? 
  • Athletes: Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe, Simone Biles, Chloe Kim
  • Artists: Mary Cassatt, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Faith Ringgold
  • Politicians: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Deb Haaland, Shirley Chisholm
  • Activists: Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, Mary Church Terrell,  Jane Addams, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth
  • Educator: Septima Poinsette Clark
  • Authors: Louisa May Alcott, Maya Angelou, Zora Neale Hurston
  • Explorers: Sacajawea, Bessie Coleman, Nellie Bly
  • Scientists: Ynes Mexia, Harriet Chalmers Adams

  1. Why does this woman interest you?

  1. How did this woman show courage?

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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