SUGGESTED TIME:
20 minutes
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Listen to a read aloud to improve understanding of English sentence structure and comprehension
- Ask and answer questions to understand the meaning of a text
- Determine the central message, lesson, or moral of a story and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text
- Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar
- Demonstrate understanding of the word grit
- Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Several puzzles for students to work on as in teams of 4 (optional) or a game such as a child-safe dartboard (optional)
- Fiction text: A Thousand No’s by DJ Corchin or
- Video: Read aloud of A Thousand No’s by Gotham Reads (~3 min)
- Prohuman Grade 4 Unit 2 Worksheet 1: Learning Grit from Literature
VOCABULARY:
- Grit: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, in the grades 4-5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.4.A
Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.9.A
Apply grade 4 Reading standards to literature (e.g., "Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions].").
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1.B
Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1.C
Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1.D
Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.F
Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.A
Use correct capitalization.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2.D
Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3.A
Choose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
Define grit (e.g., perseverance and passion for a long-term goal)
Provide an example of a role model who demonstrates grit (perseverance and passion for a long-term goal)
Explain the ways in which you use and practice your personal strengths (e.g., your willingness to help others, your positivity)
Use “I-statements” to let others know that you have heard them
Explain a time when you put yourself in “someone else’s shoes” in order to understand their perspective and point of view
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
- Ask students what grit means.
- Give them the definition: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.
- Let’s read a book about grit. Read the book A Thousand No’s by DJ Corchin or
- Play the video Read aloud of A Thousand No’s by Gotham Reads (~3 min)
- Ask students to complete the questions on their worksheet.
- Have students read their sentences to a partner.
- Optional activity: Pass out puzzles for students to work in groups of 4 to practice their grit, or have students practice throwing darts at a child-safe dart board to practice their grit.
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES - SUGGESTIONS
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Talk with your students about times you have seen examples of people demonstrating grit. You could give examples of family, friends, and/or historical or current public figures.
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Talk with your students about times you have demonstrated grit, despite hardships.
GRADE 4 UNIT 2 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING GRIT FROM LITERATURE
Grit: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.
ACTIVITY:
- How did the main character in this story show grit?
- What is the story’s main message about grit?
- What in this story could be an ethical principle (a rule about doing good) that everyone in the world could follow all the time?
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/