Lesson
1
:

Learning Curiosity from Literature

Grade

Grade 3

UNIT

4

Curiosity

Last Updated:

June 5, 2025

Unit 4, Lesson 1, “Learning Curiosity from Literature,” reinforces the vocabulary word curiosity. Students will learn examples of curiosity from a classic work of children’s literature. Students will also write sentences demonstrating their comprehension of the word curiosity. Finally, students will practice reading and conversation skills by sharing 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 
  • Spell, define, and give an example of curiosity
  • Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word curiosity 
  • 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:

  • Curiosity: I want to learn new things.
  • Empathy: I understand the emotions, needs, and feelings of others.

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.RL.3.2

Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3

Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, 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

Intellectual Character A1

Describe why it is important for learners to be curious

Intellectual Character B1

Explain how a particular historical or contemporary person practiced curiosity

Intellectual Character B4

Demonstrate the ability to analyze data, facts, and information

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)

Social-Awareness A4

Explain a time when you put yourself in “someone else’s shoes” in order to understand their perspective and point of view

Social-Awareness A5

Explain what empathy means (e.g., the ability to sympathetically understand and personally identify with the emotional states, needs and feelings of others)

LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will learn about curiosity. 

  1. Write curiosity on the board. 
  2. Ask students what curiosity means.
  3. Give students the definition of curiosity: We want to learn new things. 
  4. Ask students what empathy means.
  5. Give students the definition of empathy: We understand the emotions, needs, and feelings of others.
  6. Without giving students any context, show them this illustration by John Tenniel (1820-1914) for an edition of Alice in Wonderland
  7. Ask students what they see.
  8. Ask students what they wonder about. 
  9. Tell students that this is an illustration from the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
  10. Read the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Penguin Young Readers edition adapted by Deborah Hautzig, based on the original by Lewis Carroll) or
  11. Play the video: Read aloud of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by United to Learn (~ 9 min) 
  12. Ask students to answer the questions on their worksheet.
  13. Ask students to read their answers to a partner.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES - SUGGESTIONS

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

GRADE 3 UNIT 4 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING CURIOSITY FROM LITERATURE

Curiosity: I want to learn new things. 

Empathy: I understand the emotions, needs, and feelings of others.

ACTIVITY: 

  1. What do you see as the central message of the story Alice in Wonderland? 

  1. Use empathy to explain at least one emotion Alice must have felt during her dream.

  1. Name one thing that Alice was curious about in the story.

  1. Write one sentence explaining something you are curious about and how you can learn more.

  1. Why is it important to be curious? 

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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