KLKidLit Librarian

Learning Units

Learning Units

Curated collections of books grouped around targeted learning goals — each with activities, discussion questions, and printable lesson plans.

Grades 1-7Making A Difference

Courage & Making a Difference

Meet real and fictional heroes who saw a problem and chose to act — from a boy who grew a forest to a girl who demanded the right to learn.

Targeted Goal

Students will analyze how determination and courage create change, and connect each character's actions to their own community.

4 booksOpen unit
Grades K-3Friendship & Kindness

Friendship & Belonging

Explore what it means to welcome others and build a community where everyone belongs — through ghost stories, pet clubs, and unlikely friendships.

Targeted Goal

Students will identify how small acts of kindness create belonging, and articulate what makes someone a good friend.

4 booksOpen unit
Grades 1-6Science & Nature

STEM Explorers

Dive into brains, sharks, birds, ocean zones, and windmills — five books that turn curious kids into scientists and inventors.

Targeted Goal

Students will investigate how observation and experimentation help us understand the natural world and solve real problems.

5 booksOpen unit
Grades 3-7Identity & Storytelling

Identity & Speaking Up

Stories of kids navigating who they are and finding the courage to raise their voices — in school, in their community, and in the world.

Targeted Goal

Students will examine how identity shapes perspective, and articulate how finding your voice can create justice and belonging.

4 booksOpen unit
Grades K-7Resilience & Courage

Resilience & Courage

Stories of perseverance, grit, and finding strength in the face of challenges — from everyday struggles to extraordinary journeys.

Targeted Goal

Students will identify how characters overcome adversity, develop resilience strategies, and apply them to their own lives.

6 booksOpen unit
Grades K-4Nature & Environment

Nature & Environment

Explore the natural world — from ocean depths to arctic tundras — and discover the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

Targeted Goal

Students will observe and describe natural phenomena, identify cause-and-effect relationships in ecosystems, and develop environmental stewardship.

6 booksOpen unit
Grades K-7Self-Expression

Finding Your Voice

Stories about creative expression, storytelling, and discovering the power of your own unique perspective.

Targeted Goal

Students will explore how characters express themselves, identify their own creative strengths, and craft personal narratives.

4 booksOpen unit

Standards Connections

Curriculum standards addressed across all learning units.

ELA: RL.K-7.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details
ELA: RL.K-7.3 — Describe characters and their actions
ELA: RL.K-7.6 — Acknowledge differences in characters' points of view
ELA: SL.K-7.1 — Participate in collaborative discussions about making a difference
ELA: W.K-7.3 — Write narratives about how characters create change
SEL: Responsible Decision-Making — Analyze how characters make ethical choices
SEL: Social Awareness — Identify community needs and ways to help
ELA: RL.K-5.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details
ELA: RL.K-5.3 — Describe characters, settings, and events
ELA: RL.K-5.6 — Acknowledge differences in characters' points of view
ELA: SL.K-5.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations about friendship
ELA: W.K-5.3 — Write narratives about friendship and belonging
SEL: Relationship Skills — Build healthy relationships with diverse people
SEL: Social Awareness — Take others' perspectives and show empathy
ELA: RI.K-5.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in informational text
ELA: RI.K-5.3 — Describe connections between scientific ideas
ELA: RI.K-5.7 — Use illustrations to understand scientific concepts
ELA: SL.K-5.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations about STEM topics
Science: ETS1 — Engineering Design
Science: LS1 — From Molecules to Organisms
SEL: Responsible Decision-Making — Apply scientific thinking to real-world problems
ELA: RL.K-7.3 — Describe characters and how they develop identity
ELA: SL.K-7.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations about identity
ELA: W.K-7.3 — Write narratives exploring personal identity
SEL: Self-Awareness — Recognize personal identity and cultural background
SEL: Social Awareness — Respect diverse identities and perspectives
ELA: RL.K-7.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in the text
ELA: RL.K-7.3 — Describe characters, settings, and events with detail
ELA: RL.2-7.6 — Acknowledge differences in characters' points of view
ELA: SL.K-7.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations about resilience
ELA: W.K-7.3 — Write narratives recounting how a character overcame a challenge
SEL: Self-Management — Set and work toward personal goals
SEL: Responsible Decision-Making — Analyze how characters make choices under pressure
ELA: RI.K-4.1 — Ask and answer questions about key details in informational text
ELA: RI.K-4.2 — Identify main topic and retell key details
ELA: RI.K-4.3 — Describe the connection between scientific ideas or concepts
ELA: RI.K-4.7 — Use information from illustrations to understand the text
ELA: SL.K-4.1 — Participate in collaborative conversations about the natural world
Science: LS1 — From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Science: LS2 — Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
SEL: Responsible Decision-Making — Environmental stewardship and care
ELA: RL.K-7.3 — Describe characters and how they express themselves
ELA: W.K-7.3 — Write narratives expressing personal experiences
ELA: SL.K-7.1 — Participate in collaborative discussions about self-expression
SEL: Self-Awareness — Recognize personal strengths and creative voice
Art: VA:Cr1 — Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work