Friendship and Kindness

Grade 5 | Duration: 60 minutes | Class Size: 25 Students

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

I can explain the theme of friendship and kindness as presented in Mr. Lincoln's Way.
I can identify challenges characters face and how they overcome them.
I can use evidence from the text to support my understanding of the story's message.
I can reflect on how kindness and acceptance can affect people in real life.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2: Determine a theme of a story from details in the text; summarize the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3: Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Hook: Begin with a short discussion –
“Have you ever made a new friend who was very different from you? How did you treat them at first? What changed?”
Briefly introduce Mr. Lincoln’s Way by Patricia Polacco:
“This story is about friendship, kindness, and how people can change when they try to understand each other.”
State learning goals and display “I can…” statements.
Set expectations for active listening and respectful discussion.

Read Mr. Lincoln’s Way aloud, using expressive tone to engage students.
Dyslexia-Friendly Options:
- Provide an audio version to listen along.
- Use a font like OpenDyslexic on your digital or printed copy.
- Read slowly and show pictures frequently to support comprehension.
Stop strategically after key events to ask guided questions:
- What does Mr. Lincoln do when he meets the new student?
- How does friendship help solve problems in the story?
- What challenges does Mr. Lincoln face? How does he respond?
Ask students to jot down one challenge and one act of kindness they notice on sticky notes. Collect and discuss responses briefly.

Divide students into small groups of 4-5.
Each group completes a graphic organizer:
- List characters
- Describe friendships and acts of kindness
- Identify the main challenges and solutions
Prompt groups to use textual evidence and notes from the read-aloud for support.
Regroup and share findings with the class, encouraging students to add new ideas and make connections.

Individual Reflection Prompt (written or verbal):
“How can kindness and friendship help you solve a problem? Think of a time this worked for you or someone you know.”
Invite a few students to share their answers.
Revisit the “I can…” statements and success criteria:
- Students self-assess by holding thumbs up (I feel confident), side (still learning), or down (need help) for each “I can” statement.
Summarize: Emphasize the power of kindness and understanding to overcome differences and challenges.

For struggling readers: Provide the audio version, pair with a peer buddy during discussions, and highlight key vocabulary before reading.
For English Language Learners (ELLs): Use visuals and act out simple scenes; pre-teach important words such as “kindness,” “challenge,” and “friendship.”
For students with attention difficulties: Provide a fidget tool during read-aloud, break the reading into smaller chunks with frequent movement breaks, assign active roles (e.g., “question asker”).
For dyslexic learners: Use dyslexia-friendly fonts and audio supports; offer extra time for reflection writing.

Write a journal entry from the perspective of one character explaining their feelings about friendship and change.
Create a “Friendship and Kindness” comic strip inspired by the story with original dialogue.
Research and present about Patricia Polacco and how her personal stories influence her writing style.
Lead a mini classroom discussion or role-play on how to stand up for friends and use kindness in conflict resolution.

This lesson uses Mr. Lincoln’s Way as a springboard to explore social-emotional learning aligned with literacy goals.
Ensure to use guided questioning to promote inferential thinking and textual evidence use, critical for 5th grade ELA Common Core standards.
Encourage students to link text themes to their own lives – this builds engagement and meaningful learning.
Use flexible groupings and scaffolds to address diverse needs while maintaining a high level of challenge.

Thank you for letting me support your classroom! This lesson plan balances literacy mastery with empathy-building — a powerful combo for 5th graders.