Lessons

Grade 7

Lesson

1

:

Learning Grit from Literature

Lesson
1
:

Learning Grit from Literature

Grade

Grade 7

UNIT

2

•

Grit

Last Updated:

June 10, 2025

In Unit 2, Lesson 1, “Learning Grit from Literature,” students will learn examples of grit from a classic work of young adult literature, The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman. Students will develop their critical thinking and writing skills by answering questions about the text. Additionally, students will develop their academic dialogue skills by sharing their thoughts about the book with classmates.

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SUGGESTED TIME:

  • 1 class period to introduce the text; 1 class period to discuss the text; if desired, additional class periods can be devoted to in-class silent reading of the text 
  • The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman has 17 chapters, and an author’s note, for a total of 144 pages. 
  • The suggested reading assignment is 2 chapters per day for either in-class silent reading or homework. 
  • With this schedule, students will complete the book in 9 in-class reading sessions or 9 homework sessions.
  • 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.

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RELATED SUBJECT:

English Language Arts

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LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Read a classic work of young adult literature 
  • Identify and analyze the book’s central 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

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REQUIRED MATERIALS:

ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.1

Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.2

Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an objective summary of the text.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.3

Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.10

By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.1

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.1.A

Come to discussions prepared, having read or researched material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.1.B

Follow rules for collegial discussions, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.1.D

Acknowledge new information expressed by others and, when warranted, modify their own views.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.6

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

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CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.1

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

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CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

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Performance Character A6

Describe a role model who demonstrates a positive attitude, effort, and grit

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Social-Awareness A1

Experience and demonstrate empathy

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Social-Awareness A3

Demonstrate respect for other people’s opinions and perspectives

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Social-Awareness A5

Practice “perspective taking” as a strategy to strengthen your acceptance of others

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Social-Awareness A6

Demonstrate awareness and understanding that despite differences, all people have similar needs, feelings and wants

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Responsible and Ethical Decision-Making A3

Write about and share a principle you want to live by that you learned from a family member, book, movie, or personal experience

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LESSON PROCEDURE

Step 1: 

  • Explain that the novel we will be reading, The Midwife’s Apprentice by Karen Cushman, takes place in medieval England. While specific years are not stated in the text, evidence from the book suggests that the novel takes place during the late thirteenth or early fourteenth century.
  • To provide a brief history of midwifery, play the video: The Unexpected History of Midwives by Weird History (~11 min)

Step 2: 

  • Have students complete the book, either through multiple in-class silent reading sessions or as homework.
  • Students should complete the short-answer questions on the worksheet as they read the book.

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Step 3:  

  • Allow at least 50 minutes for in-class discussion of the short-answer questions on the worksheet.

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GRADE 7 UNIT 2 WORKSHEET 1: LEARNING GRIT FROM LITERATURE

Vocabulary

  • Grit: I keep trying to reach my goals even when it is hard. I don’t give up.
  • Midwife: A responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labor and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife’s own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures. The midwife has an important task in health counseling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women’s health, sexual or reproductive health and childcare. A midwife may practice in any setting including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units. (Source: American College of Nurse Midwives )

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QUESTIONS TO ANSWER WHILE READING The Midwife’s Apprenticeby Karen Cushman:

  1. When and where does this story take place? Discuss three ways the society of this book is different from our own society.  

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  1. What is the point of view from which the author decided to tell this story? What are two benefits of this point of view? What are two drawbacks?

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  1. Who is the protagonist or main character in this story? How is she mistreated? 

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  1. What are 3 types of knowledge Jane Sharp has as a midwife?

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  1. What is the importance of the main character naming herself Alyce? 

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  1. In Chapters 8-10, how does Alyce develop her skills as a midwife?

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  1. In Chapter 11, why does Alyce become discouraged?

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  1. Why do you think Alyce takes an interest in Edward and tries to help him?

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  1. How does Alyce’s helping the birthing woman at the inn give her the confidence to conclude, “She was not an inn girl or a nursery maid or a companion to old women. She was a midwife’s apprentice with a newborn hope of being someday a midwife herself”? 

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  1. How does Alyce show grit when she says to Jane Sharp: “I will try again and again. I can do what you tell me and take what you give me, and I know how to try and risk and fail and try again and not give up.” 

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  1. What is a principle you learned from this book about grit that you would like to live by? 

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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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