Lesson
1
:
Learning Compassion from Literature
Grade
Grade 6
UNIT
6
•
Compassion
In Unit 6, Lesson 1, “Learning Compassion from Literature,” students will learn examples of compassion from a contemporary work of young adult literature, Wonder by R. J. Palacio. Additionally, students will answer questions to develop their critical thinking skills and advance their academic dialogue skills through class discussion.
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SUGGESTED TIME:
- Wonder by R. J. Palacio is 310 pages in 8 parts and 121 short chapters of 1-3 pages each. Each part is written from the perspective of a different character.
- The suggested reading assignment is 12 assignments for either in-class reading or homework sessions. A suggested chapter breakdown is:
- Assignment 1: Part 1: “Ordinary” – “Lamb to the Slaughter”
- Assignment 2: Part 1: “Choose Kind” – “Names”
- Assignment 3: Part 2: “A Tour of the Galaxy” – “The Padawan Bites the Dust”
- Assignment 4: Part 2: “An Apparition at the Door” – “Time to Think”
- Assignment 5: Part 3: “Weird Kids – “The Egyptian Tomb”
- Assignment 6: Part 4: “The Call” – “Partners”
- Assignment 7: Part 5: “Olivia’s Brother” – “The Universe”
- Assignment 8: Part 6: “North Pole” – “My Cave”
- Assignment 9: Part 6: “Goodbye” – “The Ending”
- Assignment 10: Part 7: “Camp Lies” – “After the Show”
- Assignment 11: Part 8: “The Fifth-Grade Nature Retreat” – “Aftermath”
- Assignment 12: Part 8: “Home” – “The Walk Home”
- Students should complete the short-answer questions on the worksheet as they read the book.
- Allow at least 50 minutes for in-class discussion of the short-answer questions on the worksheet.
RELATED SUBJECT:
English Language Arts
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Read a contemporary work of young adult literature
- Identify and analyze the book’s central themes and ideas
- Identify and analyze the book’s genre, point of view, characters, setting, and plot
- Write answers to questions about the book, demonstrating understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar
- Engage effectively in collaborative discussions about the book
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Book: Wonder by R. J. Palacio
- Video: Wonder (2017 Movie) Precept Discussion Video – R.J. Palacio by Lionsgate Movies (~1 min)
- Video: Wonder — film trailer from YouTube Movies & TV (~1 min)
- Prohuman Grade 6 Unit 6 Worksheet 1: Learning Compassion from Literature
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
LESSON PROCEDURE
Step 1:
- Explain that we will be reading a work of young adult literature: Wonder by R. J. Palacio, published in 2012.
- Here is a video in which the author explains one of the main concepts from the book. Play the video: Wonder (2017 Movie) Precept Discussion Video – R.J. Palacio by Lionsgate Movies (~1 min)
- The book was made into a film. Here is the trailer: Wonder — film trailer from YouTube Movies & TV (~1 min)
Step 2:
- Have students complete the book, either through multiple in-class silent reading sessions or as homework.
- Have students complete the short-answer questions on the worksheet as they read the book.
Step 3:
- Allow 50 minutes for in-class discussion of the short-answer questions on the worksheet.
GRADE 6 UNIT 6 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING COMPASSION FROM LITERATURE
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER WHILE READING Wonder by R. J. Palacio:
- How is the book structured? From what character’s points of view does the author tell the story? Why do you think the author chose this structure for the book?
- What limitations would the author have had if she had only told the story from Auggie’s point of view?
- None of the chapters are told from Julian’s point of view. Why do you think the author made this choice? How do you think the book would have changed if Julian’s point of view had been included?
- What is one other character’s perspective would you have liked to have read about? Why?
- Auggie says at the very beginning of Wonder, “I know I’m not an ordinary ten-year-old kid.” What is different about Auggie?
- How do you define bullying? According to your definition, discuss 3 times in the book when Auggie is bullied.
- Who in the book is an active bystander and how?
- Auggie’s teacher Mr. Browne provides his English class with a monthly precept and encourages students to follow these
monthly principles or rules when making decisions. Mr Browne’s first precept of the school year is: “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” Who in this book chooses kind and how?
- When Julian calls Auggie a “freak,” Jack punches him in the mouth. Who do you think behaved most badly in this situation: Julian or Jack? Is Jack justified in the action he takes against Julian?
- Towards the end of the story, Auggie and Jack are attacked by some children from a different school and Julian’s friends Henry, Miles and Amos save them. Why do you think Henry, Miles and Amos chose to stick up for Auggie and Jack rather than join in with the bullies? Why do you think their attitude towards Auggie has changed from the way it was at the start of the story?
- How would you describe Auggie as a person in the first few chapters of the book? What about the final few chapters? Has he changed significantly?
- At the end of the book, there is an Appendix with a list of Mr. Browne’s precepts. What precept made the most impact on you and why?
- What did you learn about compassion from this novel? What is one way that you can show compassion?
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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