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Clara Barton: A Hero's Heart

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Lesson Plan

Clara Barton: A Hero's Heart Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify key facts about Clara Barton's life and her contributions to helping others by reading a decodable text and completing comprehension questions.

Understanding Clara Barton's story teaches students about bravery, empathy, and the importance of helping those in need, connecting history to valuable life lessons.

Audience

2nd Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through a decodable reading, guided discussion, and a comprehension worksheet.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Clara Barton Decodable Text, Clara Barton Comprehension Worksheet, Clara Barton Answer Key, and Clara Barton Slides

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Hook

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students what they know about helping people. "Has anyone ever helped someone who was hurt or sad? What did you do?"
    - Introduce Clara Barton as a special helper who lived a long time ago. Use Clara Barton Slides to show her picture and hint at her story. "Today, we're going to learn about a real-life hero named Clara Barton. She helped so many people, especially during a big war!"

Step 2

Decodable Text Reading

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Clara Barton Decodable Text.
    - Explain that this text is 'decodable,' meaning it has words that are easy to sound out, which will help them practice their reading.
    - Read the text aloud together as a class, or have students read in pairs, providing support as needed. Encourage them to point to the words as they read.
    - Pause to discuss key events or new vocabulary as they arise, checking for understanding.

Step 3

Comprehension & Discussion

8 minutes

  • Lead a brief class discussion about the text. "What was one important thing Clara Barton did?" "How did she show she had a 'hero's heart'?"
    - Project the Clara Barton Comprehension Worksheet and model the first question together to ensure understanding of the task.
    - Distribute the worksheets and have students begin working independently.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Review

7 minutes

  • As students finish, review the answers to the Clara Barton Comprehension Worksheet as a class, using the Clara Barton Answer Key to guide the discussion.
    - Reiterate Clara Barton's importance. "Clara Barton truly had a hero's heart, and we can all learn from her kindness and courage!"
    - Conclude by asking students to share one new thing they learned about Clara Barton.
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Slide Deck

Meet Clara Barton: A Hero's Heart

Who is a hero?
What does it mean to help others?

Greet students and ask them what they know about heroes or helping people. Lead into introducing Clara Barton.

Who Was Clara Barton?

Clara Barton lived a long time ago.
She was a very special helper.
She cared for people who were sick or hurt.

Introduce Clara Barton and explain she was a very kind and brave woman who helped many people.

The Angel of the Battlefield

Clara helped soldiers during a big war.
She brought food, blankets, and medicine.
She was called the "Angel of the Battlefield."

Explain her role during the Civil War, simplifying the concept for 2nd graders.

The Red Cross

After the war, Clara started something new.
It was called the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross helps people in need today!

Introduce the American Red Cross and its purpose.

Be a Helper!

Clara Barton taught us to be kind and brave.
She showed us how to help others.
How can you be a helper today?

Review the main idea of Clara Barton's life and encourage students to think about how they can be helpers.

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Reading

Clara Barton: A Kind Heart

Clara was a kind girl. She liked to help. When she was little, she would help her mom. She would also help her dad.

Clara grew up. There was a big war. Many men were hurt. They did not have food. They did not have aid.

Clara felt sad. She said, "I can help!" She got food. She got aid. She went to the war. She met the men.

Clara gave them food. She gave them aid. She made them feel good. The men said, "Thank you, Clara!"

Clara was brave. She did not stop. She kept on helping. She helped many, many men.

After the war, Clara had a new idea. She said, "We need to help all folks!" She made the Red Cross. The Red Cross helps folks to this day. Clara had a kind heart. She was a true hero.

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Worksheet

Clara Barton: A Kind Heart - Worksheet

Read the story "Clara Barton: A Kind Heart" and answer the questions.

  1. What kind of girl was Clara when she was little?



  2. What did Clara do when there was a big war?



  3. What did Clara bring to the hurt men?



  4. What new idea did Clara have after the war?



  5. How did Clara show she had a kind heart?






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Answer Key

Clara Barton: A Kind Heart - Answer Key

  1. What kind of girl was Clara when she was little?

    • Clara was a kind girl. The text states, "Clara was a kind girl." She liked to help her mom and dad.



  2. What did Clara do when there was a big war?

    • When there was a big war, Clara went to help the hurt men. She got food and aid for them.



  3. What did Clara bring to the hurt men?

    • Clara brought food and aid (medicine/supplies) to the hurt men. The text says, "She got food. She got aid."



  4. What new idea did Clara have after the war?

    • After the war, Clara had the idea to make the Red Cross to help all folks.



  5. How did Clara show she had a kind heart?

    • Clara showed she had a kind heart by helping people, especially the hurt men during the war, and by starting the Red Cross to help others even after the war. She was brave and kept on helping.






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Answer Key

Clara Barton: A Kind Heart - Answer Key

  1. What kind of girl was Clara when she was little?
    • Clara was a kind girl. The text says,
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