Lesson
2
:
Learning About Curiosity from a Nonfiction Text
Grade
Grade 8
UNIT
4
•
Curiosity
In Unit 4, Lesson 2, “Learning About Curiosity from a Nonfiction Text,” students will develop their reading comprehension skills and learn examples of curiosity by reading a contemporary work of graphic nonfiction, Introducing the Enlightenment: A Graphic Guide, written by Lloyd Spencer and illustrated by Andrzej Krauze. Additionally, students will develop their critical thinking skills by answering questions about the text and advance their academic dialogue skills by participating in a class discussion about the book.
SUGGESTED TIME:
- 1 class period to introduce the book; 1 class period to discuss the book
- If desired, additional class periods can be devoted to in-class silent reading of the book.
- The book, Introducing the Enlightenment: A Graphic Guide, written by Lloyd Spencer and illustrated by Andrzej Krauze, is 173 pages. It is a work of graphic nonfiction.
- Suggested reading assignments, to be completed either in class or for homework, are approximately 20 pages per session:
- Assignment 1: pp. 3- 23
- Assignment 2: pp. 24-44
- Assignment 3: pp. 45-65
- Assignment 4: pp. 66-86
- Assignment 5: pp. 87-106
- Assignment 6: pp. 107-27
- Assignment 7: pp. 128-47
- Assignment 8: pp. 148-73
- Have students complete the worksheet questions as they read.
- Allow at least 50 min for in-class discussion of the book.
RELATED SUBJECT:
English Language Arts
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Read a nonfiction text and demonstrate an understanding of the central ideas
- Write answers to questions about the book, demonstrating an understanding of standard English sentence structure and grammar
- Engage effectively in collaborative discussions about the book
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
- Book: Introducing the Enlightenment: A Graphic Guide, written by Lloyd Spencer and illustrated by Andrzej Krauze
- Video: Essential Enlightenment: What was the Enlightenment? by The Fraser Institute (~2 min)
- Prohuman Grade 8 Unit 4 Worksheet 2: Learning About Curiosity from a Nonfiction Text
ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET
CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET
LESSON PROCEDURE
Step 1:
- Without providing any information or showing the caption, show students this painting: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/18461/salon-of-madame-geoffrin/
- Ask students what they notice about this painting.
- Ask students what they wonder about this painting.
Step 2:
- Explain that this is an 1814 oil painting by Anocet Lemonnier showing the Parisian salon of Madame Geoffrin (1699-1777). Original title: Une soirée chez Mme Geoffrin. The sitters include Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis Diderot, Montesquieu, and Fontenelle. Madame Geoffrin is shown seated in the front row, third from the right.
Step 3:
- Ask students if they have ever heard the term “the Enlightenment.”
- Explain that we will be reading a work of graphic nonfiction about this historical period: Introducing the Enlightenment: A Graphic Guide, written by Lloyd Spencer and illustrated by Andrzej Krauze.
Step 4:
- Have students read the book, Introducing the Enlightenment: A Graphic Guide, written by Lloyd Spencer and illustrated by Andrzej Krauze, either as a series of in-class reading assignments or for homework.
- Have students write the answers to the worksheet questions while reading the book.
Step 5:
- Set aside a class period to discuss the book. Invite students to a whole-class discussion of the worksheet questions.
GRADE 8 UNIT 4 WORKSHEET 2: LEARNING ABOUT CURIOSITY FROM A NONFICTION TEXT
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER WHILE READING THE BOOK Introducing the Enlightenment: A Graphic Guide, written by Lloyd Spencer and illustrated by Andrzej Krauze:
- How does the author define the Enlightenment?
- What two revolutions attempted to put the principles of the Enlightenment into practice?
- What did Voltaire admire about England?
- Who does the author call the “patron saints” of the Enlightenment?
- What was Bacon’s main contribution?
- What was Locke’s idea of the tabula rasa? What was his main contribution to political thought?
- What were Newton’s main accomplishments?
- What was Diderot’s major accomplishment?
- What did Rousseau see as the origin of inequality?
- What was the main argument in Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws, and who was influenced by it?
- What does the author emphasize as Hume’s major contribution?
- What were Adam Smith’s two major works and ideas?
- How does the Declaration of Independence build on the ideas of John Locke?
- How did Kant define Enlightenment, and what does “Sapere aude” mean?
- What does the author conclude about whether our age is an enlightened one? To what extent do you agree with the author?
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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