Lesson
1
:

Learning Understanding from Literature

Grade

Grade 3

UNIT

8

Understanding

Last Updated:

May 26, 2025

In Unit 8, Lesson 1, “Learning Understanding from Literature,” students will learn examples of understanding from a contemporary work of children’s literature. Students will also write sentences demonstrating their comprehension of the word understanding. 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 understanding
  • Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word understanding 
  • 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:

  • 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.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.3.2

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

Moral Character A4

Offer examples of caring and compassionate behaviors (at home, in school, in the community)

Moral Character B4

Provide an example of a friend or role model who demonstrates caring and compassion

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)

Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills A3

Understand and recognize the characteristics of healthy relationships (e.g., honesty, compromising, sharing, encouragement)

LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will learn about understanding. 

  1. Write understanding on the board. 
  2. Ask students what understanding means.
  3. Give them the definition: Understanding means that we seek knowledge and try to learn the truth. We think about other people’s views that might be different from ours.
  4. Without giving them any information other than this is from an advertisement, show students the first image (the giraffe) in this Jeep advertisement and ask what they see.
  5. Show students the second image (the penguin) in the advertisement and ask what they see.
  6. Ask what they notice about the first and second pictures. 
  7. Repeat this process for the third image (the deer) and the fourth image (the seal).
  8. Repeat this process for the fifth image (the elephant) and the final image (the swan).
  9. Ask students: What do these images teach us about understanding?
  10. Tell the students that it is important to look at things from different perspectives, even upside down. 
  11. Today we will read about an upside-down thinker. 
  12. Read the book Beatrice Zinker Upside Down Thinker by Shelley Johannes or
  13. Play the video: Read aloud of Chapter 1 of Beatrice Zinker Upside Down Thinker by teacher Nicole Angelo (~4 min)
  14. Ask students to answer the questions on their worksheet.
  15. 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 understanding. You could give examples of family, friends, historical figures, or current public figures.
  • Talk with your students about times when you have demonstrated understanding, despite hardships.

GRADE 3 UNIT 8 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING UNDERSTANDING FROM LITERATURE

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

ACTIVITY: 

  1. Who is the main character in the story? 

  1. How did Beatrice do her best thinking?

  1. What can be good about moving outside of boxes and boundaries?

  1. Why can it be good to think about maybes, what-ifs, and could-bes? 

  1. How did Beatrice show understanding?

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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