Lesson
1
:
Learning Optimism from a Nonfiction Text
Grade
Grade 6
UNIT
1
•
Optimism
In Unit 1, Lesson 1, “Learning Optimism from a Nonfiction Text,” students will learn examples of optimism from the life of Anne Frank. Students will develop their critical thinking and writing skills by answering questions about the text. Additionally, students will advance their academic dialogue skills by discussing the book with classmates.
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SUGGESTED TIME:
- 1 class period to introduce the book; 1 class period to discuss the book
- Several sessions of either in-class silent reading or homework of the following excerpts from The Diary of A Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank (Author), Otto M. Frank (Editor), Mirjam Pressler (Editor), Susan Massotty (Translator):
- Assignment 1: pp. 1-9 (June 12, 1942 - June 20, 1942)
- Assignment 2: pp. 18-33 (July 8, 1942 - August 21, 1942)
- Assignment 3: pp. 52-73 (October 9, 1942 - November 19, 1942)
- Assignment 4: pp. 102-24 (May 2, 1943 - August 4, 1943)
- Assignment 5: pp. 158-64 (January 2, 1944 - January 6, 1944)
- Assignment 6: pp. 180-99 (February 3, 1944 - March 1, 1944)
- Assignment 7: pp. 243-68 (March 29, 1944 - April 17, 1944)
- Assignment 8: pp. 301-19 (May 22, 1944 - June 13, 1944)
- Assignment 9: pp. 328-40 (July 15, 1944 - August 1, 1944)
- Have students complete the worksheet questions as they read.
- Allow at least 50 minutes for in-class discussion of the book.
RELATED SUBJECT:
English Language Arts
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Read a nonfiction text and demonstrate understanding of the central ideas
- Determine the author’s purpose in the text
- Compose sentences that demonstrate comprehension of the word optimism
- Demonstrate understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar
- Practice reading and conversation skills by sharing sentences with classmates
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Video: Explained In 5 Questions: World War II by Encyclopaedia Britannica (~5 min)
- Video: Who Was Anne Frank? by The History Channel (~3 min)
- Book: The Diary of A Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank (Author), Otto M. Frank (Editor), Mirjam Pressler (Editor), Susan Massotty (Translator)
- Prohuman Grade 6 Unit 1 Worksheet 1: Learning Optimism from a Nonfiction Text
VOCABULARY:
- Growth mindset: The understanding that we can develop our abilities and intelligence. A growth mindset leads to a focus on learning, increased effort, and a willingness to learn from mistakes.
- Intellectual character: Someone who has intellectual character shows the strengths of curiosity, carefulness, intellectual autonomy, intellectual humility, open-mindedness, and critical thinking. Intellectual autonomy means you can think for yourself, especially when it might go against what is popular at the time. Intellectual humility means you recognize that your knowledge is limited and that your beliefs might be wrong. Critical thinking means you question, analyze, interpret, and evaluate what you read, hear, say, or write.
- Optimism: I have hope and believe that my actions will help things to turn out well
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
LESSON PROCEDURE
Step 1:
- Tell students that they will be reading excerpts from The Diary of A Young Girl: The Definitive Edition.
- Ask students what they know about Anne Frank. Create a list on the board.
- Tell students that it is important to understand the historical context of WWII. Play the video: Explained In 5 Questions: World War II by Encyclopaedia Britannica (~5 min)
- Play the video: Who Was Anne Frank? by The History Channel (~3 min)
Step 2:
- Have students read the book either as a series of in-class readings or as homework: The Diary of A Young Girl: The Definitive Edition by Anne Frank (Author), Otto M. Frank (Editor), Mirjam Pressler (Editor), Susan Massotty (Translator)
- Suggested reading assignments, to be completed either in class or for homework:
- Assignment 1: pp. 1-9 (June 12, 1942 - June 20, 1942)
- Assignment 2: pp. 18-33 (July 8, 1942 - August 21, 1942)
- Assignment 3: pp. 52-73 (October 9, 1942 - November 19, 1942)
- Assignment 4: pp. 102-24 (May 2, 1943 - August 4, 1943)
- Assignment 5: pp. 158-64 (January 2, 1944 - January 6, 1944)
- Assignment 6: pp. 180-99 (February 3, 1944 - March 1, 1944)
- Assignment 7: pp. 243-68 (March 29, 1944 - April 17, 1944)
- Assignment 8: pp. 301-19 (May 22, 1944 - June 13, 1944)
- Assignment 9: pp. 328-40 (July 15, 1944 - August 1, 1944)
- Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions while reading the book.
Step 3:
- Allow one full class period for a whole-class discussion of the worksheet questions.
GRADE 6 UNIT 1 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING OPTIMISM FROM A NONFICTION TEXT
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER WHILE READING THE BOOK by Anne Frank (Author), Otto M. Frank (Editor), Mirjam Pressler (Editor), Susan Massotty (Translator):
- In her entry for June 20, 1942, why does Anne say she started writing in a diary?
- Why did Anne and her family have to go into hiding and where do they hide? Who are all the people in hiding?
- In her entry for October 9, 1942, what does Anne describe is happening to the Jews in Holland?
- What are two ways that Anne develops her intellectual character while in hiding?
- January 2, 1944, how does Anne show a growth mindset in her thoughts about how she had written about her mother?
- In her entry for February 3, 1944, how does what Anne calls “invasion fever” affect the inhabitants of the secret hideout?
- In her entry for March 29, 1944, Anne wrote, “Mr. Bolkstein, the Cabinet Minister, speaking on the Dutch broadcast from London, said that after the war a collection would be made of diaries and letters dealing with the war. Of course, everyone pounced on my diary…ten years after the war people would find it very amusing to read how we lived, what we ate and what we talked about as Jews in hiding.” How do you think Anne’s awareness that her diary could be found and read affected the way she wrote in her diary?
- On July 15, 1944, Anne wrote, “I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart.” Why do you think she believes this?
- Also on July 15, 1944, Anne wrote, “It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness. I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more. In the meantime, I must hold onto my ideals. Perhaps the day will come when I’ll be able to realize them!” Why do you think Anne was able to maintain this optimism?
- What did you learn about optimism from Anne Frank?
- How can you show more optimism in your life?
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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