Lesson
2
:

Learning Humanity from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 4

UNIT

9

Humanity

Last Updated:

June 3, 2025

In Unit 9, Lesson 1, “Learning Humanity from Literature,” students will learn examples of humanity from a classic work of children’s literature. Students will also create their own sentences demonstrating their comprehension of the word humanity. Finally, students will practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates.

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 humanity 
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar  
  • Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

VOCABULARY:

  • Humanity: I see that every person is special. People are more alike than unalike. We all need to work together to make our lives better.

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 A3

Understand and explain the expression “I have the courage to stand up for what is wrong or unfair”

Moral Character A4

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

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

Moral Character B4

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

Civic Character A1

Understand the idea of fairness and the consequences of not being fair, as it relates to breaking rules, playing favorites, or taking advantage of others

Civic Character A4

Explain why it is important for everyone to serve and contribute to their family, school, community, nation, globally

Social-Awareness A3

Recognize examples of stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice

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)

Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills A3

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

Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills A4

Understand and recognize the characteristics of unhealthy relationships (e.g., hostility, intimidation, hitting)

Responsible and Ethical Decision-Making A2

Recognize, compare and contrast safe and unsafe situations

LESSON PROCEDURE

  1. Tell students that today we will learn about a boy who showed humanity. He lived in a country called Pakistan.
  2. Ask students to find Pakistan on a map or a globe.
  3. Ask students how far Pakistan is from the US. (about 7,500 miles)
  4. Ask students which continent Pakistan is in.
  5. Play the video: Uncovering the Story of a Pakistani Hero: Child Labor Activist Iqbal Masih by True Legacies (~2 min)
  6. Have students read the short nonfiction book: Iqbal: The Little Carpet Boy, a short graphic novel by Magnus Bergmar, illustrated by Jan-Åke Winqvist. 
  7. Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions after they read the book.
  8. Have students share their answers with a partner.

GRADE 4 UNIT 9 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING HUMANITY FROM A NONFICTION TEXT

Humanity: I see that every person is special. People are more alike than unalike. We all need to work together to make our lives better. 

ACTIVITY: 

Draw the country of Pakistan:

  1. How was Iqbal’s humanity not respected?

  1. How did Ehsan Ullah Khan show humanity to Iqbal and all children?

  1. How did Iqbal show courage to stand up for children's rights?

  1. How can you show humanity?

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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