Lesson
2
:

Learning Understanding from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 2

UNIT

8

Understanding

Last Updated:

June 5, 2025

Unit 8, Lesson 2, “Learning Understanding from a Nonfiction Text,” reinforces the vocabulary word understanding. Students will learn an example of understanding from a nonfiction text. Additionally, students will 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:

  • Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word understanding 
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar  
  • Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

VOCABULARY:

  • Understanding: I seek knowledge and try to learn the truth. I think about other people’s views that might be different from mine.

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.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.2.4.B

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

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 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

Performance Character A

Know, understand, and practice the character strengths of self-discipline, responsibility, goal setting and grit

Intellectual Character A

Know, understand, and practice the character strengths of curiosity, carefulness, intellectual autonomy and humility, open-mindedness, and critical thinking

Intellectual Character A3

Recognize different approaches to problem-solving

Intellectual Character B

Apply and demonstrate the character strengths of curiosity, carefulness, intellectual autonomy and humility, open-mindedness, and critical thinking

Civic Character B2

Demonstrate the ability to be respectful, courteous and polite

Self-Awareness A2

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

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 A1

Demonstrate the ability to understand what another person is feeling (e.g., happy, sad, disappointed, confused, angry)

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

  1. Play the video: Easton and Momo Meet by Microsoft (~7 min)
  2. Have students read the nonfiction text on their worksheets independently, quietly to themselves. Circle the room to support the students. (10 min)
  3. After giving the students 10 minutes to practice reading, then read the text aloud to the whole class.
  4. Ask students the who, what, where, when, and why of the text.
  5. Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions.
  6. Have students take turns sharing their sentences with a partner, reading aloud.

GRADE 2 UNIT 8 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING UNDERSTANDING FROM A NONFICTION TEXT

Understanding: I seek knowledge and try to learn the truth. I think about other people’s views that might be different from mine.

NONFICTION TEXT: EASTON’S UNDERSTANDING

Easton LaChappelle used his understanding to build a better prosthetic arm. A prosthetic is an artificial body part that replaces a missing part. As a teenager, he built a robotic arm. He won second place in engineering at the International Science Fair. Easton met former President Barack Obama, interned with NASA, and spoke to audiences around the world.

In 2014, when Easton was only 17, he founded a company called Unlimited Tomorrow. In 2017, Easton helped to create a prosthetic arm for a girl named Momo. The 100 Tomorrows campaign launched in 2019 and helped 100 limb different people who needed a below-the-elbow prosthetic. Unlimited Tomorrow’s goal is to help people from all around the world, who need prosthetic limbs, to get them.

Source: https://www.unlimitedtomorrow.com/about-unlimited-tomorrow/ 

ACTIVITY: 

Write 1 sentence that explains how Easton showed understanding:

Write 1 sentence that explains how Easton’s understanding helped people.

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/

unlock all lessons:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.