Lesson
2
:

Learning Curiosity from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 5

UNIT

4

Curiosity

Last Updated:

June 10, 2025

In Unit 4, Lesson 2, “Learning Curiosity from a Nonfiction Text,” students will learn an example of curiosity from the life of a real person. By independently reading a nonfiction text, students will develop their reading comprehension skills. Finally, students will create their own sentences that demonstrate their reading comprehension and share their sentences with a partner.

SUGGESTED TIME:

  • One class period of 20 minutes: Play the video: So Live Your Life - Chief Tecumseh (A Native American Poem) by RedFrost Motivation (~3 min). Then have students complete the writing activity about the Tecumseh quote in the video (~15 min)
  • Completing the book, Native American Heroes: Osceola, Tecumseh & Cochise by Ann McGovern, will take several class periods of either in-class independent reading or assignments for homework. The book is 128 pages total. The book is divided into 3 sections: Osceloa - 9 chapters, Tecumseh - 7 chapters, and Cochise - 6 chapters, for a total of 22 chapters. It is recommended to assign 1 or 2 chapters per class or homework assignment.

RELATED SUBJECT:

English Language Arts

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

VOCABULARY:.

  • Curiosity: I want to learn new things.

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.1

Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.2

Determine two or more main ideas of a text and explain how they are supported by key details; summarize the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3

Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.4

Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8

Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.10

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 4-5 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.3

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

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4.A

Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4.C

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

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.9

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

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.B

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

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.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.3

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

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 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 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)

Intellectual Character A1

Describe why it is important for learners to be curious

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

Intellectual Character B1

Explain how a particular historical or contemporary person practiced curiosity

Intellectual Character B4

Demonstrate the ability to analyze data, facts, and information

Civic Character A4

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

Civic Character A6

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

Social-Awareness A3

Recognize examples of stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice

LESSON PROCEDURE

  1. Tell the class that today, we will learn about an important person in American history who showed the character strength of curiosity. 
  2. Play the video: Benjamin Banneker, Astronomer by Biography (~3 min)
  3. Read the book: Dear Benjamin Banneker by Brian Pinkney or 
  4. Play the video: Read aloud of Dear Benjamin Banneker by The Children’s Museum of Cleveland (~15 min)
  5. Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions.
  6. Have students share their answers with a partner.

GRADE 5 UNIT 4 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING CURIOSITY FROM A NONFICTION TEXT

Curiosity: I want to learn new things. 

ACTIVITY:

  1. How did Benjamin Banneker show curiosity?

  1. How did Benjamin Banneker experience prejudice and discrimination? 

  1. What were some of Benjamin Banneker’s contributions to the fields of science and technology? 

  1. What did Benjamin Banneker do that made him famous?

  1. How did Benjamin Banneker stand up for the rights of enslaved people?

  1. What is something you are curious about and why?

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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