Lessons

Grade 5

Lesson

Learning Gratitude from Literature

Lesson

Learning Gratitude from Literature

Grade

Grade 5

UNIT

•

Gratitude

Last Updated:

June 10, 2025

In Unit 3, Lesson 1, “Learning Gratitude from Literature,” students will learn examples of gratitude from a contemporary work of children’s literature. Students will also create their own sentences demonstrating their comprehension of the word gratitude. Finally, students will practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates.

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SUGGESTED TIME:

20 minutes

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RELATED SUBJECT:

English Language Arts

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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 character strength of gratitude
Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar
Engage effectively in collaborative discussions

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REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Book: The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor, or
Video: Read aloud of The Table Where Rich People Sit by Jennifer Khalil (~12 min)
Prohuman Grade 5 Unit 3 Worksheet 1: Learning Gratitude from Literature

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VOCABULARY:.

Gratitude: I am thankful for many things, big and small.

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ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2

Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.4

Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.5

Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 4-5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.3

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

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.3.A

Use combined knowledge of all letter-sound correspondences, syllabication patterns, and morphology (e.g., roots and affixes) to read accurately unfamiliar multisyllabic words in context and out of context.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4.A

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4.C

Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.9

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.B

Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.C

Pose and respond to specific questions by making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.3

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

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CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

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Moral Character A5

Offer examples of when you expressed gratitude to another person

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Moral Character B5

Provide an example of a friend or role model who demonstrates gratitude

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Self-Awareness A3

Explain the ways in which you use and practice your personal strengths (e.g., your willingness to help others, your positivity)

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Social-Awareness A1

Use “I-statements” to let others know that you have heard them

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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

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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)

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LESSON PROCEDURE

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Ask students what gratitude means.
Give students the definition: I am thankful for many things, big and small.
Tell students that today, we will be reading a book about gratitude. Read the book The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor, or
Play the video: Read aloud of The Table Where Rich People Sit by Jennifer Khalil (~12 min)
Ask students to complete the questions on their worksheets.
Have students read their sentences to a partner.
Discuss the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge.

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GRADE 5 UNIT 3 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING GRATITUDE FROM LITERATURE

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Gratitude: I am thankful for many things, big and small.

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ACTIVITY:

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Why does the main character in this story think her family is not rich?

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Why does the main character’s family think they are rich?

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What is the story’s main message about gratitude?

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What in this story could be an ethical principle that everyone in the world could follow all the time?

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EXTRA CREDIT:

Each day, for the next 30 days, write something for which you are grateful. It should be something different each day. There is a place for you to write on the next page.

30 DAY GRATITUDE CHALLENGE

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Day 1 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 2 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 3 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 4 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 5 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 6 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 7 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 8 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 9 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 10 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 11 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 12 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 13 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 14 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 15 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 16 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 17 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 18 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 19 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 20 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 21 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 22 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 23 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 24 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 25 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 26 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 27 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 28 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 29 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Day 30 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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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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