Lessons

Grade 3

Lesson

2

:

Learning Understanding from a Nonfiction Text

Lesson
2
:

Learning Understanding from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 3

UNIT

8

•

Understanding

Last Updated:

July 23, 2025

In Unit 8, Lesson 2, “Learning Understanding from a Nonfiction Text,” students will learn an example of understanding from the life of a real person. By hearing a reading of a nonfiction text, students will develop their reading comprehension skills. Finally, students will create sentences that demonstrate their reading comprehension and share their sentences with a partner.

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SUGGESTED TIME:

20 minutes

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LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Hear a reading of a nonfiction text to develop reading comprehension skills
  • Demonstrate understanding of the main idea of a nonfiction text
  • Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word understanding 
  • Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar  
  • Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates

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REQUIRED MATERIALS:

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VOCABULARY:

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

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ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

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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.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2

Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2-3 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3

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

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.C

Decode multisyllable words.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.3.D

Read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.4

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.3.4.A

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.1.D

Explain their own ideas and understanding in light of the discussion.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.3

Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.6

Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.2

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

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CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

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Intellectual Character A2

Understand the skills (being prepared, focused effort, diligent practice, attention to detail, etc.) that enable someone to acquire or polish a skill

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Intellectual Character B1

Explain how a particular historical or contemporary person practiced curiosity

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Intellectual Character B4

Demonstrate the ability to analyze data, facts, and information

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Civic Character A4

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

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Civic Character B6

Describe how a role model volunteers and contributes to the common good

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Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills A7

Give and receive constructive feedback to classmates and peers

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LESSON PROCEDURE

  1. Tell students that we will continue to learn about understanding. Today we will learn about someone who developed his understanding.
  2. Read the book Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan's Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal by Karyn Parsons or 
  3. Play the video: Read aloud of Saving the Day by Early Learning Adventures with Mrs. T (~ 8 min)
  4. Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions.
  5. Have students share their answers with a partner.

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GRADE 3 UNIT 8 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING UNDERSTANDING FROM A NONFICTION TEXT

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

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ACTIVITY:

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  1. What was Garrett Morgan’s talent?

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  1. How did Garrett Morgan show understanding? 

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  1. How did Garrett use his understanding to help others?

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  1. What did you learn about understanding from Garrett, and how can this help yourself and others?

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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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