Lesson
2
:

Learning Humanity from a Nonfiction Text

Grade

Grade 5

UNIT

9

Humanity

Last Updated:

June 10, 2025

In Unit 9, Lesson 2, “Learning Humanity from a Nonfiction Text,” students will learn examples of humanity 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:

  • 10 minutes to introduce the text and play the video
  • 4 periods of in-class readings or homework for each chapter of the book, Elizabeth Blackwell: America’s First Woman Doctor by Trina Robbins, illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Anne Timmons (there are a total of 4 chapters; the book is 29 pages total)

RELATED SUBJECT:

English Language Arts

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Read a nonfiction text independently to develop reading comprehension skills
  • Demonstrate understanding of the main ideas of a nonfiction text
  • Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the text 
  • Demonstrate understanding 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.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 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

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)

Performance Character B2

Provide an example of a friend or role model who is dependable, reliable, and conscientious (responsible)

Performance Character B4

Provide an example of a role model who demonstrates grit (perseverance and passion for a long-term goal)

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 B4

Demonstrate the ability to analyze data, facts, and information

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

Civic Character B1

Describe how a role model exemplifies fairness

Civic Character B2

Describe how a role model exemplifies respect

Civic Character B6

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

Social-Awareness A2

Describe how a person will likely feel when being bullied or left out of an activity or group

Social-Awareness A3

Recognize examples of stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice

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. Ask students what humanity means.
  2. Give them the definition:  I see that every person is special. People are more alike than unalike. We all need to work together to make our lives better. 
  3. Today we will learn about an important American who showed humanity: Elizabeth Blackwell.
  4. Play the video: Meet the country’s first female doctor: Elizabeth Blackwell by New York-Presbyterian Hospital (~4 min) 
  5. Have students read the book Elizabeth Blackwell: America’s First Woman Doctor by Trina Robbins, illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Anne Timmons, either through 4 in-class independent readings or as homework over 4 days (there are a total of 4 chapters; the book is 29 pages total)
  6. When students have completed the book, have them answer the questions on the worksheet.
  7. Have students share their answers with a partner.

GRADE 5 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. 

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER WHILE READING THE BOOK

by Trina Robbins, illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Anne Timmons:

  1. Why did Elizabeth’s mother want her to study medicine?

  1. Why was Elizabeth’s plan to study medicine rare for her time?

  1. What did Elizabeth do to support the humanity of enslaved children? 

  1. How did Elizabeth experience discrimination when she applied to medical schools? 

  1. What year did Elizabeth successfully get into medical school, and what was the name of the school?

  1. Why did Elizabeth have to go to Paris to gain practical experience?

  1. How did Elizabeth show humanity to the poor women and children of New York?

  1. In Chapter 4, how did Elizabeth experience prejudice?

  1. What did Elizabeth do for women in England to help humanity, especially women?

  1. What is the status of women in medicine today? 

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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