Lesson
2
:

Learning Grit from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 4

UNIT

2

Grit

Last Updated:

June 3, 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.
  • Stereotype: A false belief about a group of people that is often negative.

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1

Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.4

Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.5

Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.8

Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.1

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.2

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3

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

Moral Character B3

Provide an example of a friend or role model who “stood up” for what he or she thought was wrong or unfair

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 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

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-Awareness A2

Describe how a person will likely feel when being bullied or left out of an activity or group

Social-Awareness A3

Recognize examples of stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice

LESSON PROCEDURE

  1. Ask students for the definition of grit. 
  2. Reinforce the definition: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.
  3. Ask students what a stereotype is.
  4. Give them the definition: A false belief about a group of people that is often negative.
  5. Today, we will learn about someone who showed grit.
  6. Play the video: A Boston Marathon First: Bobbi Gibb On Her History-Making Run by CBS Boston (~3 min)
  7. Read the book: The Girl Who Ran: Bobbi Gibb, the First Woman to Run the Boston Marathon by Kristina Yee or
  8. Play the video: Read aloud of The Girl Who Ran by Andie Townhouse (~8 min)
  9. Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions.
  10. Have students share their answers with a partner.
  11. Have students show their grit by taking them outside and seeing if they can run a lap around a track or a designated area.

GRADE 4 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.

Stereotype: A false belief about a group of people that is often negative.

ACTIVITY: 

  1. What was the stereotype about women that Bobbi faced?

  1. What was the goal that Bobbi wanted to achieve? 

  1. How did Bobbi show grit?

  1. How did Bobbi make a positive change for women in America?

  1. What is one way you can show grit?

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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