Lesson
2
:

Learning Grit from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 3

UNIT

2

Grit

Last Updated:

June 5, 2025

In Unit 2, Lesson 2, “Learning Grit from a Nonfiction Text,” students will learn an example of grit from the life of a real person. Additionally, students will practice their reading comprehension skills by hearing a read aloud. Finally, students will create their own sentences that demonstrate their reading comprehension and share their sentences with a partner.

SUGGESTED TIME:

20 minutes

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Hear a read aloud to support reading comprehension 
  • Demonstrate understanding of the main idea of a nonfiction text
  • Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word grit 
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar  
  • Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

VOCABULARY:

  • Grit: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.
  • Growth mindset: I believe that I can develop my skills through hard work.

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.1

Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2

Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2-3 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.C

Decode multisyllable words.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.D

Read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.4

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.4.A

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1.B

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.3.1.C

Ask questions to check understanding of information presented, stay on topic, and link their comments to the remarks of others.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1.D

Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.3

Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.6

Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1.C

Use abstract nouns (e.g., childhood).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.3

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

CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

Performance Character A5

Define grit (e.g., perseverance and passion for a long-term goal)

Performance Character B1

Provide an example of a friend or role model who demonstrates self-discipline (the ability to forgo instant and immediate gratification for a larger goal or commitment)

Performance Character B2

Provide an example of a friend or role model who is dependable, reliable, and conscientious (responsible)

Performance Character B4

Provide an example of a role model who demonstrates grit (perseverance and passion for a long-term goal)

Civic Character A4

Explain why it is important for everyone to serve and contribute to their family, school, community, nation, globally

Civic Character B6

Describe how a role model volunteers and contributes to the common good

Self-Awareness A1

Understand and explain why different situations may set in motion or give rise to different emotions (e.g., learning something new or difficult, meeting someone new)

Self-Management A4

Explain what it means to have either a “fixed” or “growth” mindset

Responsible and Ethical Decision-Making A1

Write and share with your classmates an ethical principle you wish everyone in the world would follow all the time (e.g., all people are created equal, be honest, be kind)

LESSON PROCEDURE

  1. Tell the students that in the last lesson, we learned about grit.
  2. Ask: Who wants to tell us what grit means?
  3. Remind students that grit means that we keep trying to reach our goals even when it is hard. We don’t give up.
  4. Ask students what they think a growth mindset means.
  5. Tell them that a growth mindset means we believe we can develop our skills through hard work.
  6. Today we will read a book about a boy who showed both grit and a growth mindset. 
  7. Read the book: The Boy Who Grew a Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng by Sophia Gholz or 
  8. Play the video: Read aloud of The Boy Who Grew a Forest by Vooks (~9 min)
  9. Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions.
  10. Have students share their answers with a partner.
  11. Optional activity: Take students outside or to the gym to play cornhole. Explain that to do well you have to show grit.

GRADE 3 UNIT 2 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING GRIT FROM A NONFICTION TEXT

Grit: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.

Growth mindset: I believe that I can develop my skills through hard work.

ACTIVITY: 

  1. What was the goal that Jadav Payeng wanted to achieve? 

  1. How did Jadav show grit?

  1. How did Jadav show a growth mindset?

  1. Why is it important for everyone to serve and contribute to their family, school, community, nation, and the world?

  1. Write and share with your classmates an ethical principle you wish everyone in the world would follow all the time (e.g., all people are created equal, be honest, be kind)

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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