SUGGESTED TIME:
20 minutes
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Listen to a read aloud to reinforce understanding of English sentence structure, syntax, and grammar
- Compose sentences about the text and about compassion
- 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:
- Compassion: I see when others are hurt or need help, and I try to help them.
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
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.
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.
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
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.
Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
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.
Recount or describe key ideas or details from a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
Know, understand, and practice the character strengths of honesty and integrity, caring and compassion, gratitude, and the courage to take initiative
Understand why caring and being concerned for the well-being of others is a character strength
Apply and demonstrate the character strengths of honesty and integrity, caring and compassion, gratitude, and the courage to take initiative
Share an example of when you practiced caring as a character strength
Explain why it is important for everyone to be respectful, courteous and polite
Apply and demonstrate the character strengths of fairness, respect, volunteering and contributing to the common good
Demonstrate the ability to share, take turns and follow rules (of a game, at home or school)
Demonstrate the ability to be respectful, courteous and polite
Identify and name different emotions (e.g., positive emotions, negative emotions, intense emotions
Identify personal strengths (e.g., honesty, curiosity, listening)
Demonstrate the ability to empathize and take the perspective of others, including demonstrating awareness of cultural differences and respect for human dignity
Demonstrate the ability to understand what another person is feeling (e.g., happy, sad, disappointed, confused, angry)
Demonstrate the ability to care about how others are feeling
Demonstrate the ability to listen carefully and intentionally to others
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 compassion.
- Write the word compassion on the board.
- Ask students what compassion means.
- Give students the definition of compassion: I see when others are hurt or need help, and I try to help them.
- Without giving any information, show students this image from Utah State University, and ask what they see.
- Ask the students if they have ever squished an ant.
- Optional activity: If your local climate makes it possible at this time of year, take students outside to find some ants.
- Tell students that we will be reading a book about the ants’ point of view.
- Read the book: Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose or
- Play the video: Read aloud of Hey, Little Ant by Mrs. Britton’s Book Nook (~4 min)
- Ask students who the book was about, what happened, where it happened, when it happened, and why it happened.
- Ask students to describe how the characters in the story responded to challenges.
- Ask students to describe the overall structure of the story, including how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.
- Ask students to answer the questions on their worksheet.
- Ask students to read their sentences to a partner.
- Activity: Tell students that we will be keeping a class compassion board, and each time students help others, or see someone in our class helping others, they should tell the teacher and we write it on the board. If we get to 20 acts of compassion by the end of the month, we will have a class pizza party.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES - SUGGESTIONS
-
Talk with your students about times you have seen people demonstrating compassion. You could give examples of family, friends, and/or historical or current public figures.
-
Talk with your students about times in your life when you have demonstrated compassion, despite hardships.
GRADE 2 UNIT 6 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING COMPASSION FROM LITERATURE
Compassion: I see when others are hurt or need help, and I try to help them.
ACTIVITY:
- What did you notice about how the book was written?
- What are 2 things the kid doesn’t understand about the ant?
- What do you think the kid should do if he is showing compassion to the ant?
- How have you shown compassion in the past?
- How would you like to show compassion 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/