Lesson Plan - I Love Being Special

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Learning Objective

Students will understand how a girl with alopecia is embracing her uniqueness and finding joy in helping others.

Text Structure

Description, Problem/Solution

Content-Area Connections

Civics, Social and Emotional Learning

Standards Correlations

CCSS: RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, RI.3.4, RI.3.5, RI.3.6, RI.3.7, RI.3.8, RI.3.10, L.3.4, SL.3.1

NCSS: Individual Development and Identity, Civic Ideals and Practices

CASEL: Social Awareness 

TEKS: Social Studies 3.11

1. Preparing to Read

Watch a Video: My Story: Rosie Quinn
Discuss: How is Rosie using her own experiences to help other kids?

My Story: Rosie Quinn
Watch a video to hear more from Rosie about life with alopecia.

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know. 

  • allergic
  • insecure
  • embrace


Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them look for details explaining the contents and purpose of Rosie’s smile kits.

2. Close-Reading Questions

1. How did other kids react to Rosie’s hair loss, and what effect did their reaction have on her?
Rosie noticed that other kids began pointing and staring at her. Their reaction made her feel insecure, or like she was not good enough.
RI.3.3 Cause/Effect

2. Why does Rosie call her kits “smile kits”? Support your answer with details from the text.
Rosie calls her kits “smile kits” because she wants to make other kids who have lost their hair feel happy. Rosie writes, “When I put on the head scarf, it made me feel happy and smile. I wanted to make kids like me smile too.”
RI.3.1 Text Evidence

3. What sentence or sentences help show that Rosie embraces how she looks?
Sample response: To embrace something means to accept it gladly. Rosie writes, “Living with alopecia has taught me that I like to be different. . . . Being unique is beautiful!”
RI.3.4 Word Meaning

3. Skill Building

FEATURED SKILL: Demonstrate Understanding
Use the Skill Builder “Reading Roles” to have students discuss the article in small groups. 
RI.3.1 Demonstrate Understanding

Differentiate & Extend

Multilingual Learners
Explain that the expression “shoot for the stars” in the section “How to Make Smiles” means to have high goals. Have students use it in a sentence to demonstrate understanding. 


Striving Readers
Have students read or listen to the lower-level version of the article, underlining details about the contents and purpose of Rosie’s smile kits.   


Writing Extension
Point out that this article is presented as a personal narrative. Have students write their own narratives about a time they took action to help someone else.

Text-to-Speech