Lessons

Kindergarten

Lesson

1

:

What is Understanding?

Lesson
1
:

What is Understanding?

Grade

Kindergarten

UNIT

8

•

Understanding

Last Updated:

June 2, 2025

Unit 8, Lesson 1, “What is Understanding?” introduces the spelling and definition of the word understanding. Students will learn examples of understanding, provided by the accompanying video. Additionally, students will practice the correct spelling of understanding, demonstrate comprehension through a pictorial demonstration, and practice conversation skills by sharing their illustrations with a partner.

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SUGGESTED TIME:

20 minutes

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LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Correctly spell and define understanding
  • Demonstrate comprehension by producing a pictorial representation 
  • Practice conversation skills by sharing pictures with classmates

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REQUIRED MATERIALS:

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VOCABULARY:

  • Understanding: I seek knowledge and try to learn the truth. I think about other people’s views that might be different from mine.

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ELA COMMON CORE STANDARDS MET

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.4

Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.10

Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1.A

Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., listening to others and taking turns speaking about the topics and texts under discussion).

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CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.K.1.A

Print many upper- and lowercase letters.

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CHARACTER AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL (CSED) NATIONAL STANDARDS MET

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Intellectual Character A

Know, understand, and practice the character strengths of curiosity, carefulness, intellectual autonomy and humility, open-mindedness, and critical thinking

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Intellectual Character B

Apply and demonstrate the character strengths of curiosity, carefulness, intellectual autonomy and humility, open-mindedness, and critical thinking

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Self-Awareness A2

Identify personal strengths (e.g., honesty, curiosity, listening)

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Social Awareness A

Demonstrate the ability to empathize and take the perspective of others, including demonstrating awareness of cultural differences and respect for human dignity

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Social-Awareness A3

Demonstrate the ability to listen carefully and intentionally to others

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Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills 1

Initiate and engage in conversation and social interactions with classmates, peers, and adults

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Interpersonal/ Relationship Skills 7

Play games and appropriately participate in small group classroom activities

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Responsible and Ethical Decision-Making 1

Describe a rule or principle that everyone should strive to live by (e.g., be kind, be honest, try your best)

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LESSON PROCEDURE

Today we will talk about understanding. 

  1. Write understanding on the board and prompt students to write it on their worksheets.
  2. Show students this classic optical illusion and ask what they see: https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/brain/optical-illusions-and-how-they-work/selecting
  3. Explain that what we see depends on our perspective. We all have a different perspective, so it is very important that we try to understand other people’s perspectives. 
  4. Play the video: Understanding Someone Else’s Perspective by Mr. Queso’s Classroom (~3 min)
  5. Give an example of understanding (e.g., I showed understanding when I didn’t agree with my brother about what movie we should watch. I listened to him to try to understand his point of view.) 
  6. Write three sentences on the board and ask students which one shows understanding:
    1. I don’t care about what other people think.
    2. I don’t think I can understand the difference between what is true and false.
    3. I listen to what other people think and try to understand the reasons behind what they think.
  7. On their worksheets, have students draw a picture of a time they showed understanding.
  8. Ask students to share their pictures with a classmate and discuss how they drew an example of understanding.

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EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

  • Talk with your students about times that you have seen examples of people demonstrating understanding. You can give examples of family, friends, and/or historical or current public figures.
  • Talk with your students about times in your life that you have demonstrated understanding, despite hardships.

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KINDERGARTEN UNIT 8 WORKSHEET 1: WHAT IS UNDERSTANDING?

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Understanding: I seek knowledge and try to learn the truth. I think about other people’s views that might be different from mine.

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Write the word understanding: 

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_________________________________________________________________________

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Draw a picture of a time you showed understanding:

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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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