Lesson
1
:

Learning Courage from Literature

Grade

Grade 4

UNIT

5

Courage

Last Updated:

June 3, 2025

In Unit 5, Lesson 1, “Learning Courage from Literature,” students will learn examples of courage from a contemporary work of children’s literature. Students will also create their own sentences demonstrating their comprehension of the word courage. Finally, students will practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates.

SUGGESTED TIME:

  • 20 minutes to introduce the book I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis 
  • The book is 116 pages and divided into 15 chapters. The recommended reading assignments are 3 chapters per session for either in-class silent reading or homework.

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 the word courage
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar  
  • Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

VOCABULARY:

  • Courage: I do what I think is right even when I am afraid.

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.RL.4.2

Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.3

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.4

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.4.A

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.9

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].").

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

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

  1. Without giving any context, show students this image from National Geographic.
  2. Ask them what is happening in this picture. 
  3. Ask them what they wonder about the sinking of the Titanic.
  4. Play the video: How Did the 'Unsinkable' Titanic End Up at the Bottom of the Ocean? by National Geographic (~4 min)
  5. Read the book: I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis or
  6. Play the video: Read aloud of I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by MrsMorrisReads (~1 hour, 14 min for the entire book)  
  7. Ask students to complete the questions on their worksheets. 
  8. Have students read their sentences to a partner.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES - SUGGESTIONS

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

GRADE 4 UNIT 5 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING COURAGE FROM LITERATURE

Courage: I do what I think is right even when I am afraid.

ACTIVITY: 

  1. How did the main character in this story show courage?

  1. What is the story’s main message about courage?

  1. What is one way that you can show courage?

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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